Bellinzona and is located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, in the Canton of Ticino, at the crossroads between the Mediterranean and Alpine worlds. The region extends north of the city of Bellinzona and includes four clearly defined subregions: the Bellinzonese, Biasca & Riviera, Leventina, and the Blenio Valley. All four are crossed by the Swiss Italian stage of the Giro d’Italia.

Bellinzonese is the historical and institutional heart of the region. It is home to the Fortress of Bellinzona, with the castles of Castel Grande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. This unique complex dominates the city and reflects centuries of history in a lively urban setting, surrounded by vineyards and sunny slopes.

Further up north, Biasca & Riviera form a natural gateway to the Alpine valleys, characterized by imposing rock faces, water-carved gorges, and striking vertical landscapes. The area is especially popular for sport climbing, bouldering, and canyoning, as well as hiking routes that run through forests and along rivers.

The Leventina Valley is a wide, bright Alpine valley crossed by the Ticino River and framed by high peaks. It offers opportunities for road cycling, mountain biking, and hiking, as well as winter sports during the colder months. The valley is home to major ski resorts and features alpine and cross-country skiing trails set in an open, authentic landscape.

The Blenio Valley, known as the “Valley of the Sun,” stands out for its well-preserved villages, rural architecture, and a way of life rooted in tradition. It is an ideal destination for restorative walks, nature-based wellness routes, and more demanding itineraries for hiking and mountain bike enthusiasts.

Bellinzona and Valleys is therefore a diverse and accessible region, offering outdoor activities in every season: challenging excursions with elevation gain, gentle walks immersed in nature, MTB and road cycling routes, climbing, canyoning, and, in winter, alpine and cross-country skiing across the region’s various locations.

Alongside nature and sport, food and wine play a central role. The area has a long winemaking tradition, with vineyards cultivated for generations and wines that have received significant recognition. The cuisine ranges from high-level gastronomic experiences with internationally renowned chefs to traditional local dishes, where regional products, artisanal cured meats, and polenta-based recipes express the region’s most authentic identity.

Overall, this territory brings together past and present, culture and nature, sport and conviviality. It is a destination to experience at your own pace or with intensity, following the rhythm of the seasons – and one that the Giro d’Italia crosses in its entirety, highlighting all four of its subregions.