Elisarion

San Quirico

Rivapiana

Cà di ferro

Navegna

Casa Rea

Campidoglio

Roggia molinara

San Rocco

Mappo

Verbanella and Roccabella

Baronata bassa and alta

Forest and countryside

Mondacce

Cescone

Remorino

Explore the region and history of Minusio on a walk. Every station explains a special feature or point of interest related to the place where you are. These insights into history and the natural world, enriched by a wide range of historical images, aim to encourage visitors to find out more and share their knowledge.

Elisarion

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The ‘Clarity’ movement was founded in 1911 by two inseparable, life-long friends – the writer, philosopher and painter Elisàr von Kupffer (1872 to 1942) and the philosopher and religious historian Eduard von Mayer (1873 to 1960). This movement sought to challenge patriarchal ideas, achieve the em...

San Quirico

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The church of San Quirico (Saint Cyricus) was dependent on the archpriesthood of San Vittore in Muralto. Efforts to make it an independent parish failed and in 1798 it was the church of San Rocco in Minusio that gained its autonomy despite San Quirico being older. The steeple – a stone’s throw fr...

Rivapiana

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The natural shoreline is a delightful tourist spot where people enjoy cooling off in summer and going for a stroll in other seasons. Fishing boats and other vessels can be anchored in some parts. In the past, the lake’s shore was not especially appealing as it was predominantly poor families who ...

Cà di ferro

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The historic fortress was built in 1558 by Peter von Pro of canton Uri which he used as a barracks for his mercenaries and as a warehouse. The building was entered in canton Ticino’s list of cultural heritage sites in 1997.

Navegna

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From Contra and Mergoscia there was a route down to the lake along the Navegna river. In the past, a market was also held at the river’s mouth. This meant it was an ideal spot to build a place for refreshment, a small restaurant which became the Navegna hotel and restaurant as tourism developed (...

Casa Rea

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Many artists, especially those from the north, immigrated to the banks of Lake Maggiore. These included Wilhelm Schwerzmann who continued to work at national level from Minusio for the rest of his life. In 2016, his descendants gave all the sculptures currently found in the Giardino Schwerzmann t...

Campidoglio

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In Cadogno there is the primary school and the Campidoglio park. The park was officially opened in 2017 and contains allotments rented out to citizens by the municipality. The Campidoglio with its bistro restaurant was a popular spot for decades. The origins of the name Campidoglio are not entire...

Roggia molinara

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The 'Roggia Molinara' was an artificial canal carrying water from the Navegna river – close to the bridge on the Brione to Contra road – towards San Martino before flowing into the Zandone and then the Remorino river. The canal was mentioned in the 1313 by-laws which laid down specific rights and...

San Rocco

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Historically the square was the centre of the town where all the local services were clustered: the town hall, the school, the church, the post office, the pharmacy, the newsagent, two butchers, two restaurants, a shop, a patisserie and the hairdresser. The town also bore the hallmarks of moderni...

Mappo

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Historically this was an agricultural area containing fields, meadows, vineyards and farmhouses. In 1996, the construction of the Mappo Morettina tunnel and dual carriageway and the relocation of the railway line completely changed the local morphology. Leisure and tourist activities now predomin...

Verbanella and Roccabella

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The shoreline that rises from Mappo towards Mondacce enjoys an almost Mediterranean climate. It was initially used by wealthy families from Locarno who established vineyards and built farmhouses here, and then from the 19th century onwards it attracted affluent foreigners looking to build prestig...

Baronata bassa and alta

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On the second part of the ‘Roccabella’ trail, two historic villas can be glimpsed behind the wood and the park’s greenery: the ‘Baronata bassa’ (the lower villa) and the ‘Baronata alta’ (the upper villa). They are not open to the public and are under private ownership.

Forest and countryside

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The woods around Minusio contained lots of chestnut trees which local people looked after well as they were an important source of food for both human and animal consumption. The 1313 by-laws contained provisions prohibiting the gathering of chestnuts in other people’s woods and fines for the own...

Mondacce

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In the centre of Mondacce there are still various rustic buildings which provide a reminder of farming life. Some look like those found in the valleys of Sopraceneri… and that’s no coincidence either! It was a colony founded by farmers and peasants from the Maggia Valley during the 16th and 17th ...

Cescone

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The Contra river is 3.1 km long and partly marks the boundary between the three municipalities of Minusio, Tenero-Contra and Brione sopra Minusio. In the past, the power of the water was harnessed to work and transform primary materials (cutting and grinding processes).

Remorino

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The Remorino river (riale dei mulini) runs through an area used for farming until the middle of the last century. Its current was harnessed to provide a source of power. The area underwent radical transformation with the construction of residential buildings and major public works, including the ...