From the Grisons to Canton Ticino: discover Italian Switzerland by bike

Just over the border with Valtellina, Valposchiavo presents itself as an intimate and coherent alpine valley, where the landscape changes rapidly from the 500 metres of Campocologno to the higher altitudes of the Bernina massif. Villages, churches and historic houses alternate with pastures, small lakes and protected areas such as the Val di Campo, offering an environment suitable for slow tourism and nature that reflects beauty. Here, cycling is one of the most effective ways to experience the area and more than 30 itineraries cross the valley and connect points of natural and cultural interest, while the presence of the Rhaetian Railway (a Unesco heritage site) makes it possible to modulate the stages and reduce the differences in height, transporting bikes and cyclists along the Bernina line. Among the best-known routes, the Bernina Express Trail follows the railway line from Ospizio del Bernina to Poschiavo, with a technical and scenic descent, while other routes lead to Val di Campo or touch on iconic sites such as the church of San Romerio and the glacial formations of Cavaglia. A date to mark in your calendar is 13 June, when Valposchiavo will host the Nova Eroica Svizzera for the first time, a cycling event that attracts fans from all over Europe and the spirit of a race made up of challenging routes, alpine landscapes and attention to the convivial dimension of the journey. Going further south, the Canton of Ticino further expands the possibilities for those who love to travel on two wheels, with over 650 kilometres of mountain bike trails and about 175 kilometres of cycle paths. One of the most popular and accessible routes is the Valle Maggia cycle route, which links Bellinzona to Cavergno along the river and through vineyards and small villages. More challenging, on the other hand, are the Valle di Blenio route to the Lukmanier Pass and the ascent to the Gotthard along the historic Tremola road with its stone hairpin bends.

https://valposchiavo.ch/en/experiences/bike

https://www.rhb.ch/en/transport/train-bike/