IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SAINT BERNARD

The Via dell'Abate offers the traveler a journey immersed in history and nature, traversing places of extraordinary beauty and cultural significance from the very start.

In Baceno, the route opens with the monumental Church of San Gaudenzio, a true artistic jewel built on a rocky spur, considered the most beautiful church in the Alps. Its interior houses medieval frescoes, Renaissance stained-glass windows, and neo-Gothic polychrome wooden sculptures.

Continuing towards Premia, the hiker encounters the Orridi di Uriezzo, deep rocky gorges carved by subglacial streams, rich in prehistoric evidence. Premia is now a renowned thermal spa town, which also preserves valuable cultural artifacts such as the mineralogical museum. Here stands the ancient Hospice of San Bernardo, founded in the 13th century by the de Rodis lords and today one of the few surviving examples of a medieval church-hospice in the Alps.

Ascending the valley, the path reaches Cristo, a fortress-settlement that was the seat of the de Rodis-Cristo lords, where a medieval tower still dominates the landscape. On the border between the Antigorio Valley and the Val Formazza lies the Sanctuary of Antillone, famous for a cycle of frescoes depicting the oldest pilgrimage to the St. Gotthard (17th century). The sanctuary also houses a 16th-century fresco of San Bernardo by Luigi Reali Fiorentino. A little lower down, the small Lake Antillone represents a natural habitat for a rare species of alpine newt, offering striking landscapes that change color with the seasons.

The path continues towards Formazza, passing through Fondovalle and Chiesa, the religious capital of the valley. Here stands the Parish Church of San Bernardo d'Aosta, the oldest in the entire Alpine arc, dedicated to the patron saint of the Alps and mountaineers.

In Ponte, an unmissable stop is the Casa-Forte, a museum on the Alpine passes housing a collection of 15th-16th century German polychrome wooden sculptures. The Via dell'Abate then leads to the spectacular Cascata del Toce, with a 143-meter drop, long admired by scientists, artists, and writers.

At Riale, the route continues towards the high natural area of Val Toggia, between Lake Kastell and Fischersee, an area of particular environmental value, framed by the Dolomieu Ridge, a majestic dolomitic wall.

After crossing the San Giacomo Pass, the Via dell'Abate descends into the Val Bedretto as far as Airolo, where it connects with the Via delle Genti, leading to the St. Gotthard Pass. From there, the route continues to Madrano, climbing into the Valle di Piora, home to the Alpine Biology Center, managed by the Universities of Zurich and Geneva. The path then reaches the Passo dell’Uomo, descending into the Valle del Lucomagno, characterized by one of the most important Swiss stone pine forests in the Alps.

Upon reaching the Lukmanier Pass, the trail follows an ancient medieval route used by emperors heading to Italy. After crossing the Medel Valley, one finally reaches Disentis and its Benedictine monastery, active for fourteen centuries. Here, the traveler can immerse themselves in history through the Monastery Museum, rich in valuable natural history collections and artworks of great significance.

With the exception of a few sections (Baceno-Formazza, Bedretto-Airolo, and Passo del Lucomagno-Disentis), the entire route crosses Alpine regions without carriage roads, at altitudes between 800 and 2300 meters. Well-marked trails lead the hiker through still-active mountain pastures, where it is possible to taste and purchase prized Alpine cheeses such as Bettelmatt and Piora, two of the finest Alpine dairy products. Other typical products include Formazza potatoes, and the bread and pastries of the Surselva region in Graubünden.

Along the way, one can admire well-preserved stretches of medieval mule track, such as those near the Cascata del Toce and in Val Piora, as well as over sixty alpine lakes of extraordinary beauty. The architectural heritage of Alpine rural houses is also significant, with ancient Blockbau wooden Höfe visible in Formazza and Medel (Lucomagno). The Via dell'Abate was also traversed by illustrious travelers such as Saint Charles Borromeo and Déodat de Dolomieu, who, crossing the entire itinerary in 1801, gave this historic route further consecration.