Lavertezzo, Switzerland: a place that the world must know!

Read it in Italian 

August, 3rd, 2015
Lately it happened very often to speak about Lavertezzo to people from different countries (including Switzerland), who didn’t know this place, so let’s get right to the generic details: Lavertezzo is a small village with a valley and mountains along the river Verzasca (the valley is called Verzasca, of course), in the Swiss canton Ticino.

Today I discover (facebbok reminds me) that the first time I went there was exactly six years ago.
So, today I have to write about it.

I like lists, so let’s go with 7 reasons you have to go there for.

1 – If you love green

Needless to say, this area is very green and cool.

2 – If youo love blue water

The water of the river running through the valley comes from a glacier and this is very cool. The effect of colors in the summer is beautiful. The landscape is typical even in the winter, snowy and white. But don’t go there in winter if you’re not accustomed to mantles of snow. It can be dangerous with the car.

3 – If you love relaxing

The rocks accompanying the banks of the river and its lower areas are smooth and easy to sit and lie on.
A very relaxing and extreme (at the same time) thing to do? Bathing in the river relaxing in natural basins (hold on a few minutes, then the body gets used to cold or loses sensitivity) and then lie on hot rocks. It sounds like a torture, but it is one of the most pleasant sensations I’ve ever tried.

4 – If you love adventures

In addition to the experiment referred to in paragraph 3, you can walk in the woods along and around the river and climb up to the oldest part of the townr. Never seen anything so typically ‘Swiss’.

Many locals and many tourists love diving from the bridge.
(NB. some areas are off-limits because in danger of rivel flood and small landslides. If you enter these areas a guard will comes out of nowhere to kindly scold you)

5 –If you love hiking

I suggest you the route Sonogno – Lavertezzo. About 12 km long, it is a simple route, interspersed with eateries (and links to the local buses for those who decide to shorten the hike).

6 – If you love beer and good local food

After walk, bath, rocks etc. go next to the bridge (crossing the bridge, follow the road that goes slightly uphill, through the trees) you will see a ‘grotto’, which is a typically Swiss small family run establishment , with fresh products and local beer made with fresh spring water.

7 – If you come from Northern Italy 

This haven of freshness, green, and blue water is just two hours  drive awayr from Milan. In my opinion, once experienced, it’s impossible not to come back.
For me, it was a cure to stop the stifling abstinence from the sea.

Small drawback: unfortunately the main and most interesting paths above mentioned (river, rocks, grotto, forest) are not suitable for all forms of motor disability.