The autumn climate has arrived. Summer, as always, is gone without warning and the wardrobe has to be tidied up anew. And of course, as autumn means chestnuts, leaves rustling underfoot and a beautiful palette of colours on the trees. I like this time of year, as long as it’s not raining day after day. You can then go to the Italian canton of Tessin, for example, and stroll along the chestnut path in Bellinzona.
The route I propose not only has edible chestnuts to pick along the way, but also some interesting stops.
Medieval fortifications in Bellinzona
Anyone who has already been to Bellinzona probably associates the town with its three castles situated in a line at different heights. They were intended to protect this strategically located town from invaders.
Castelgrande is located on a rock just outside the town centre, and its defensive walls connect with Montebello Castle. The Sasso Corbaro castle, on the other hand, is the highest located. From here there is a magnificent view of the surrounding area.
This entire complex of castles, including the walls, is one of the most important examples of defensive architecture in Switzerland. You can enter each of them, but the museums and interiors are accessible by ticket.
I like to look at them from a distance, from where the entire structure and walls are visible. That is when they impress me the most.
Prada – the ghost village
Another very interesting point on the route is the abandoned village of Prada, or rather what is left of it. This is because nature has taken in the crumbling walls of the old buildings, creating a unique atmosphere for the place.
At the end of the 16th century, around 40 families still lived there. However, in the first half of the 17th century, the village was abandoned for unknown reasons. This is thought to have been influenced by unfavourable weather conditions such as frequent floods, droughts, long winters and consequently poor agricultural yields. In addition, a plague raged in the area between 1629 and 1630, which was certainly also the reason for the village’s desolation.
At the edge of the village is the small, well-maintained church of Sts Girolamo and Rocco. Services are still held there several times a year.
The village is now in the care of the Prada Foundation, which intends to restore one of the best-preserved buildings and create an information centre about the site.
After the village of Prada, the trail already leads downhill, through forest and vineyards, towards the town and the last castle of Castelgrande.
