Claro and its Monastery (SwitzerlandMobility 627)

It stands solitary on a rocky spur above the village of Claro, covered by chestnut woods, set in a stunning landscape and wrapped in contemplative silence. The church, dedicated to the Madonna, instead dates back to the 1300s.

You ascend from upper Claro, following the marked mule track that starts after the parking lot near the little church of Sant’Ambrogio.

Walking along the mule track is like taking a dive into the past, it is a metaphor for life: at times challenging, full of curves and forks that lead from the frenzy of everyday life to silence. If the climb is somewhat tiring and steep, once you reach the rock you can admire the beauty of the panorama and the tranquility. Visiting the Monastery, besides admiring paintings and sculptures of rare beauty, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Riviera Valley, stretching from Bellinzona to Biasca.

In recent years the monastic buildings have been restored, giving them new beauty and harmony. Art lovers in all its forms will be amazed. Inside there are three neoclassical altars and mural paintings from the late 15th century. Of particular artistic interest is also the Pietà, a sculptural group in gilded and painted linden wood, located in a side altar that dates back to the 15th-16th century.