#Ponte dei Salti (Bridge of Jumps)

[fotos-art]

Rocks in the Verzasca River near the hamlet of Lavertezzo in the Valle Verzasca of Switzerland

© Robert Seitz

Offset by Shutterstock

In just a few months it'll be warm enough to perch for a while on this smooth river rock, dangle your feet into the water, and take in this gorgeous Swiss scenery. We're here in the Valle Verzasca, a valley in Ticino, Switzerland, close to the Italian border. There in the near distance is the tiny hamlet of Lavertezzo, where most everyone speaks Italian. Tourists normally flock to this area in warm summer months to swim and snorkel in the Verzasca River's famous turquoise waters and to jump off the 17th-century double-arched bridge known as the Ponte dei Salti (Bridge of Jumps). The very, very brave bungee jump off the nearby Contra Dam, made famous in the 1995 James Bond film 'GoldenEye.'

[doktorzo]

The bridge "ponte romano" also called "Ponte dei salti" (jump bridge) crosses the Verzasca river in Lavertezzo, Switzerland, and is a typical medieval construction made of stone.

[deliciouslydark]

Ponte dei Salti (Bridge of jumps)

[travelonlinetipsofficial]

Things to do in Lugano and the Ticino Region of Switzerland

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Things to do in Lugano and the Ticino Region of Switzerland

Get a dose of the Italian lifestyle in the Ticino region of Switzerland. While it may not be as famous as Zermatt-Matterhorn, as cosmopolitan as Zurich or as rugged as rolling hills and jagged peaks of Jungfrajoch in the Bernese Oberland region, Ticino is an enchanting lake district bordering the Italian border. It is a place to slow down, sip wine and watch the sunset.

With pastel buildings lining the likes of Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore, its captivating beauty has lured visitors to southern Switzerland to enjoy its beaches and palm trees swaying in the breeze of the sunniest region in The country. If Ticino hasn’t been on your radar, read on to see all the things to do in Switzerland’s Mediterranean.

Where to Stay in Ticino – Resort Collina d’Oro

Located on a vineyard standing above Lake Lugano, Resort Collina D’Oro is a gorgeous wellness retreat. After spending time hiking through the mountains of the Swiss Helps, this little slice of heaven is a place to unwind and soothe your aching muscles in the spa and sauna.

Located on 25 hectares of vineyards and parkland with a scenic pool overlooking Lake Lugano you may never want to leave. The dining here was second to none and our dinners on the terrace of Resort Collina d’Oro Restaurant offered our favourite meals in Switzerland with Mediterranean cuisine. Visit their website for rates and availability.

Things to do in Ticino

Ticino is a huge region and you will definitely want a car to explore. There are several villages and towns lining the lakes with hiking trails, scenic lookouts and attractions scattered throughout its 2800 square km. The places we suggest visiting in this guide are all within an hour or two from each other and can be experienced in four days.

1. Stroll Along Lake Lugano

Nestled between Lake Como in Italy and Lake Maggiore in Switzerland, Lake Lugano has top billing as one of the best things to do in Ticino. Strolling along the Lugano waterfront lets you take in all its beauty. While walking along the lake, it will remind you of Rio de Janeiro as Monte San Salvatore and Mount Bre frame the city.

Lugano boasts a beautiful lakeside park where international university students swim on its shores and people hop on paddle boats to see the city from a different view. Make sure to walk the 2km Lugano walk from Paradiso to Parco Ciani.

Things to do in Lugano

Explore Centro Storico – The Old City has beautiful Baroque and Reinaissance buildings

Go window shopping on Via Nassa – Like most places in Switzerland, shopping was beyond our budget, but it was fun to window shop.

Take a stroll through Caro Ciani to peruse art sculptures (my particular favourite is the huge whale showcasing the devestation marine noise traffic causes)

Visit the Santa Maria degli Angeli

 the Lido di Lugano

2. Valle Verzasca

Whenever you look up things to do in Ticino or Lugano, Valle Verasca always shows up in the photographs. This is a very popular place in Ticino that is a 30-minute drive from Locarno. The beautiful turquoise waters are the top draw here as the water rushes through the rocky river tumbling through waterfalls, boulders, and under historic bridges.

Make sure to get out and go for a hike along the river and watch the death-defying locals leap into the water from the  Ponte dei Salti stone-arched bridge.

3. Visit the Verzasca Dam

On your way to the valley, make sure to pull over to see the 220-meter high Verzasca dam. You may recognize it from James Bond’s GoldenEye starring Pierce Brosnan where he lept from its dizzying heights in only a manner that James Bond could. It is free to visit only costing the price of parking (2CHF) and you can book your own bungee jump in advance living your own 007 dreams.

4. See the Largest Piazza in Switzerland in the Lovely Locarno

Located on Lake Maggiore, Locarno is another lovely waterfront town with painted buildings lining the harbour. Get lost in its cobblestone streets or sip an espresso in Switzerland’s largest Piazza Piazza Grande. Locarno is famous for hosting festivals in its square and while we were visiting, they were setting up for the Locarno Film Festival, one of the most highly anticipated film events in Europe. While in Locarno, take the funicular up to the 14th century church, Santa Maria della Misericordia.

5. Explore the Shores of Lake Maggiore in Ascona

Ascona was our favorite town to visit in Ticino. It is truly a beautiful town with cafes lining the waterfront. The pedestrian village doesn’t allow cars and as you walk the streets perusing the galleries and boutiques you feel as if you’ve been transported in time. Make sure to still along the treelined waterfront at Piazza Giuseppe Mot-ta and pull up a seat at one of the many cafes. Make sure to take a boat ride on Lake Maggiore to cross into Italy.

6. Take the Ritom Funicular to Piora

If you haven’t taken a funicular in Switzerland, you haven’t truly experienced the country. Funiculars are a part of life here with the steep historic trains taking visitors high into the mountains for hiking and cycling. The Ritom Funicular is one of the steepest railways in the world. Built in 1921, the 15 minute journey takes you up 1787 meters where you can hike to the Ritom Dam and tlake Cadagno with beautiful views over the Piora Valley. Make sure to pack water and if you don’t have snacks, don’t worry, you can grab lunch at Capanna Cadagno.

7. Bellinzona and its three UNESCO Castles

The capital of the Ticino Region is not to be missed for its three castles that were designated to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bellinzona has long been considered the entryway to the Alps and the gateway to Italy making it a strategic location throughout the Middle ages. These three castles represent the strength of the land. Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro and the castle walls of Bellinzona have all been restored and are open to tourists. You can hike to each of them with Castlegrande being located right downtown Bellinzona.

8. See the Terraced village of Gandria

Gandria is just around the corner!

Sadly, we didn’t make it to Gandria, but not for lack of trying. It was a rainy day and we were on route to St. Moritz when traffic seemed extremely heavy and blocked. LEaving from Lugano, we started to have second thoughts about parking our car to walk in the rain, so instead we drove on to St. Mortiz. However, this is supposed to be a beautiful village that must not be missed.

9. Swings to Ticino

A cool thing to keep an eye out when traveling in Ticino is the Swing the World Project. A young couple from Ticino came up with the idea during lock down to install swings are particularly scenic spots around Ticino. There are 14 swings around Ticino, you can find out where they all are at the Swing the World website.

10. Drive the Winding Nufenen Pass

The drive from Zermatt to Ticino was surprising. The winding roads took us throug the Alps with several incredible scenic stops. We didn’t even realize we were on an epic drive until we started taking steep switchbacks up a mountain pass. It was then that we found out we had arrived at Nufenen Pass, Switzerland’s second-highest paved alpine road pass (2478m, 8130ft). The views were gorgeous and drivers and cyclists can stop at the top to go for a hike or have a picnic while taking in the panoramic vista. But better yes, the drive is fun and exciting.

11. Stop for a photo at Church Sant’ Abbondio / Gentilino 

This church wasn’t on our radar, but when driving back to our hotel at Resort Collina D’Oro from Lugano, we made an abrupt stop when we saw the Church Sant’ Abbondio / Gentilino. It is the classic view that explains why Ticino is often compared to the Tuscany of Italy. With cypress trees lining the avenue leading to the church, it is a beautiful photo opportunity.

To truly experience all the amazing things to do in Ticino, you would need weeks, but as a part of a grand Switzerland tour, three to four days is the perfect amount of time to catch the relaxing vibe of Lugano and Ascona before you head on to see more mountains in the Alps. Our trip to Ticino is sponsored by Switzerland Tourism.

Read More and Plan Your Travels to Switzerland

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[erikacousland]

Stones in a river near the hamlet of Lavertezzo, in the Valle Verzasca of Switzerland © Robert Seitz/Offset by Shutterstock

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Today on Bing February 18, 2021

A river runs through it In just a few months it'll be warm enough to perch for a while on this smooth river rock, dangle your feet into the water, and take in this gorgeous Swiss scenery. We’re here in the Valle Verzasca, a valley in Ticino, Switzerland, close to the Italian border. There in the near distance is the tiny hamlet of Lavertezzo, where most everyone speaks Italian. Tourists normally flock to this area in warm summer months to swim and snorkel in the river’s famous turquoise waters and to jump off the 17th century double-arched bridge known as the Ponte dei Salti (Bridge of Jumps). The very, very brave bungee jump off the nearby Contra dam, made famous in the 1995 James Bond film ‘GoldenEye.’

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Today on Bing February 18, 2021

A river runs through it In just a few months it'll be warm enough to perch for a while on this smooth river rock, dangle your feet into the water, and take in this gorgeous Swiss scenery. We're here in the Valle Verzasca, a valley in Ticino, Switzerland, close to the Italian border. There in the near distance is the tiny hamlet of Lavertezzo, where most everyone speaks Italian. Tourists normally flock to this area in warm summer months to swim and snorkel in the Verzasca River's famous turquoise waters and to jump off the 17th-century double-arched bridge known as the Ponte dei Salti (Bridge of Jumps). The very, very brave bungee jump off the nearby Contra Dam, made famous in the 1995 James Bond film 'GoldenEye.'

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Today on Bing 18 February 2021 Into the Valle Verzasca Let's perch for a while on this smooth river rock, dangle our feet in the water and soak up this gorgeous Swiss scenery, virtually speaking that is. We’re in the Valle Verzasca, a valley in Ticino, Switzerland, close to the Italian border. There in the near distance is the tiny hamlet of Lavertezzo, where almost everyone speaks Italian. In normal years, tourists flock to this area come the warm summer months to swim and snorkel in the Verzasca river’s famous turquoise waters, which flow over colourful rocks and pool into natural jacuzzis. They also come to jump off the 17th century double-arched bridge known as the Ponte dei Salti (Bridge of Jumps). The huge bungee jump off the nearby Contra dam was made famous in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye.

[since1291]

The double-arched stone bridge Ponte dei Salti crosses the Verzasca river next to the small town Lavertezzo. Past the big dam, deep in the Verzasca valley in the Italian-speaking canton Ticino, the bridge allows farmers to cross the river with their mules. It is often referred to as Roman bridge, but only dates back to the 17. century. In the summertime, locals and tourists alike jump the 14 meters off the bridge into the green water for a refreshing swim.

[crazylemurinswitzerland]

Day 10: Valle Verzasca

Another valley today, just as magical as yesterday's, except this one is called Valle Verzasca. Valle Verzasca is immediately east of Valle Maggia--siblings digging parallel paths into the alpine peaks. What drew us here were photos of the dazzling green-blue Verzasca River. Have you ever been to a place based on a photograph and been disappointed? It seems to be a rare thing when the actual destination is more spectacular than the tourist brochures claim it to be. But that was the case with our first stop within the valley--a town called Lavertezzo. The multiple parking areas in a town of just a bit over 1000 souls is the first sign that you have arrived at a serious Ticino weekend destination.

There was definitely no color adjustment going on in the photos we saw. The river is stunning, almost otherworldly, with smoothed rocks on either side serving as both beach and diving platform. We got lucky with parking and quickly made our way to the main bathing area. This meant first a walk across Ponte dei Salti, an old stone 18th century bridge--two gentle curves sitting high above the river.

The water in the river is cold cold cold--straight from the mountain peaks. Every entry was accompanied by an "Ack, eek, oof" along with some version of "Jesus, it's cold" in Italian, German, French, or English. Nonetheless, I went in and, frigid as it was, thoroughly enjoyed floating around in the crystal clear water. (It's green from far away and super clear close up--sort of swimming pool kind of effect). Maneuvering your way down to the river across the rocks is not the easiest thing, but it is well worth it. I figured since my heart didn't stop within the first 15 seconds or so, I would probably be fine (though there are quite a number of signs warning about the river's dangers: cold, sudden flooding, currents, etc). Honestly, you eventually get kind of numb and it is pleasant in a masochistic sort of way.

I spent an hour dipping in and out, lolling on the rocks, and watching the brave folks diving from a tall rock next to the bridge and the crazy folks diving from the bridge itself. We'll get to ludicrous jumps, but you'll have to read to the end of today's entry. (In the picture two below, you can see the diving rock and the bridge.)

After Lavertezzo, twenty minutes of driving brought us to Sonogno, the last village in the valley and a beautifully preserved little town all in gray stone. Sonogno has a small but very intriguing museum that explains the traditional lifestyle of the valley. Half of the museum is in an original home, where two families lived with ten billion children.

The town of Sognono is known in Switzerland as the setting for a classic children's book called Die Schwarzen Bruner (The Black Brothers). The story based on very real history--child chimney sweeps who were drafted from the area in the early to mid 1900s. Our very kind and knowledgeable steward at the museum explained that Ticino was traditionally a relatively poor region, where a semi-nomadic lifestyle was required due the challenging environment (little pastureland meant moving from higher to lower elevations and back as the seasons changed). In those days, chimney sweeps were necessary in order to prevent fires. Men--bosses--would travel to Ticino valleys such as Valle Verzasco and recruit young boys aged 7 to 10ish for this work. Families were often desperate and would agree to hand their small children (literally physically small) over to these bosses, with no guarantee the children would return. The bosses would gather a number of kids and take them to northern Italy to serve as seasonal chimney sweeps during the winter (when these children would otherwise have been able to attend school). It was dangerous work--the boys had to be small to fit into the narrow chimneys. They would clean and climb and clean and climb--when they reached the top, they would stick their hand out to prove they had gone the entire way. The boys received no payment for this work, were barely fed, and were frequently beaten by the bosses. According to the woman at the museum, a book was written a number of years back in which many of these boys, now old men, were interviewed about their experiences. Some were still so traumatized that they refused to--or simply could not--talk about their experiences.

We needed a palate cleanse after the museum so decided to take a short hike to a nearby waterfall. Our path took us along the river, here quite shallow and strewn with rocks across its width. We were hot and it was too enticing. We were once again glad of our bathing suits. This was not an official bathing area though there were a couple of other folks around. The water was shallow--but so cold of course that even a shallow dip was enough to cool us off. We spent about a half hour playing river goddesses and sitting in the current or on the stones watching the waterfall above.

It was late afternoon and time to head back to Lugano. A few last stops though. First, back in the village, a man was taking freshly baked bread out of a traditional oven build into the side of one of the houses. It was still hot! We bought a loaf, dotted with ash from the oven, and it fed us on the ride home--still steaming well after we'd bought it.

Oh, and we made a new friend.

Last stop. Remember how I talked about the brave and the crazy? Now let's talk about ludicrous. At the mouth of the valley, the Verzasca River feeds into Lago di Vogorno. And at the mouth of THAT, is an absolutely enormous dam. And it's a famous dam. Because it's the scene of one of the greatest movie stunts ever--the bungee jump by James Bond in the movie Goldeneye. And because humans have an irrepressible desire to do ludicrous things, you can now make the same jump off the dam. It's the tallest bungee jump in the world. We walked out to the middle of the dam and I couldn't even look over the edge in the center, it's so high and disorienting. There were no jumps happening when we were there, but you could see the starting point and it made me woozy to think about it (720 feet high over bare rock). For $255, you can stare death in the face for 7.5 seconds. You can see the small scaffold for jumping in the upper right of the picture below.

I preferred to drive back to the hotel and eat spaghetti bolognese. It was dangerous and thrilling because I drank rose instead of red.

[leonalorrainem]

Switzerland: Locarno, Ponte Dei Salti, Swissminiatur