Sentiero etnografico Revöira (SvizzeraMobile 629)

This walk back in time starts in Lavertezzo, famous for its two-arched bridge "Ponte dei Salti". You can get there by car or bus (Locarno-Tenero-Sonogno route). The ascent leads first to Sambugaro, an extensively renovated village. You continue along ancient paths used by cattle to reach the summer grazing pastures, or alps.

The footpath continues its gentle ascent through a chestnut forest, up stone steps and past ruins. Revöira is where you first come across the basins (of which there are 35 with a total capacity of some 4800 litres) used to capture and store rainwater. The groundwater was collected in cisterns using an ingenious basin system.

You then continue on to Casa di Dentro, the second summer alp: look out for various remains of this water system along the way. The descent finds you traversing the Piantagione dei Valdell nature reserve above Motta. Once on the valley floor, you follow the green river to Lavertezzo, passing a picnic chalet in Piano.