Claro e il suo Monastero

The still inhabited St. Maria Assunta convent is situated on a rocky spur above Claro. The walk zigzags up a mule track to the oldest convent in the Ticino, continues to the Cavri hamlet and then a small gravel road winds through chestnut groves down to Claro.

The six-kilometre circular hike begins in the heart of the village at the Claro, Paese bus stop. Right at the start, the route passes the Chiesa di San Rocco. The ascent begins between houses and open meadows before entering the forest.

After around two kilometres, the Monastero di Santa Maria comes into view. Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the monastery is home to a community of Benedictine nuns. Above the monastery, the path narrows and becomes a mountain trail marked in white-red-white. It continues to climb through the wooded slope, reaching the highest point of the route at around 770 m.

The return route initially remains in steeper terrain before rejoining a yellow-marked hiking trail. The forest begins to thin, and the houses of Claro draw closer. After just over two hours and around 480 metres of ascent in total, the route returns to the Claro, Paese bus stop.