La Collina Alta (Locarno Monti-Contra)

The walk begins at the Piazzetta dei Monti della Trinità, which can be reached from Locarno by bus or funicular railway. From here, visitors can enjoy sweeping views over the Maggia delta, as well as Ascona, the Brissago Islands and part of the Italian basin of the lake. The route initially follows the path towards Roncaccio, which starts beside the church, before reaching Via Patocchi. Around 50 metres further uphill, after the Ristorante Verzaschese, the trail turns into a chestnut forest and shortly afterwards arrives at the small village of Orselina. Beyond the last houses, yellow signposts mark the footpath winding up the mountainside, where the old pastureland can still be glimpsed through the trees. The route then reaches Via Selva in the Brione s. Minusio area. At the fork on Via Selva, the path continues uphill into Val Resa. Along the way, it passes the “Capèla Rota”, an unfinished chapel dating from around 1500. A little further on, the trail crosses the picturesque humpback bridge over the Navegna stream before finally reaching the drivable road leading to the path towards Contra, the destination of this delightful excursion.