The fortified hills of Bellinzona

Prada is, for Bellinzona, like a treasure guarded by the forest, a precious core of history and art perched on the mountain of Ravecchia; a place somewhat secluded and still little known, but easily reachable with an easy walk along three different routes. Let's imagine starting from the FFS station. You go up to Ravecchia, then take a rather steep but well-kept path at Pedevilla, interspersed with steps, and following the signs you reach in about forty minutes first Scarpapè then the remains, some sixty ruins including farmhouses and stables - of the Prada core, which was abandoned during the so-called Borromeo Plague (1629-1630). From Prada it is possible to continue the walk to the Sasso Corbaro Castle, above Artore (and vice versa): right at the beginning of that stretch of path you discover the ruins of the old houses, stones intertwined with tree trunks. The site is reachable, in addition to Pedevilla, from Scarpapè or also from the mule track that starts from the San Giovanni Hospital.