Mappo

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 predominate.
Camping in Tenero, 1956

Since the 1950s, ‘Canadian-style’ tents have started to appear in the campsites of Mappo. What was once an unwelcoming place of hard toil has become a recreational area, attracting both tourists and locals.
Hunter with shotgun, A. Branca

In the past a flat-hulled boat was used to get into the marshland to hunt for ducks: the hunter would lie flat on the bottom and when the dog made the ducks fly up into the air, he would shoot them using a type of punt gun known as a ‘spingarda’. The dog then fetched the animals hit.
Verzasca dam, Giovanni Bianconi

In addition to the recently completed Verzasca Dam, the building site of this imposing structure built between 1957 and 1965 can also be seen. It is a symbol of the economic development that transformed the entire canton in just a few decades. Transport is particularly prevalent in the Mappo area (entrance to the Mappo–Morettina tunnel, the A13 Locarno–Bellinzona carriageway and the railway).
Common reed (Phragmites australis)
The term ‘lischeto’ refers to a marshy field which was once scythed in autumn to obtain materials used in the stables as bedding for livestock. As transport via cart was an arduous task, boats were the preferred option. The common reed – part of the Graminaceae family of grass plants – provides a hospitable natural habitat for many migratory birds on the lake’s shores.