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Monte Lema: The green terrace
By foot the Monte Lema can be reached from Miglieglia within around two and a half hours. Though, there is also a less arduous way to reach the peak’s altitude of 1624 metres: the funicular takes only ten minutes to climb the 849 metres to the top of the mountain.
The Monte Lema offers a spectacular panorama: on bright days, westwards, behind the Lake Maggiore, it is possible to see the Bernese and Pennine Alps with the Mont Blanc, the Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn; southwards the view goes far over Lake Lugano to Milan and the Apennine Mountains.
On the peak there is not only a restaurant with a marvellous lookout terrace but also an observatory with a weather and radar station which measures the precipitations on the southern side of the Alps.
The Monte Lema offers an all-round mountain experience: one can see highland cattle grazing on the meadows, discover abandoned iron mines, drink fresh Alp milk and let the typical atmosphere of the villages of the Malcantone soak in.
The climate and the composition of the Monte Lema are ideal to enjoy the magic of a hang-glider flight or to experience the nature by mountain bike. And naturally also hikers are awaited by a wide offer of trails and tracks.
Indeed, the Monte Lema is the starting point for one of Switzerland’s most beautiful mountain hikes. The so-called Traversata, which leads to the Monte Tamaro, runs close to the Swiss-Italian border and almost exclusively on the mountain ridge.
The dreamlike panorama is always present during this hike, which includes only two major climbs: one to the Monte Gradiccioli and the other towards the end, leading to the Monte Tamaro. Still, for those who prefer a lighter hike, it is easily possible to avoid these two “challenges” .
For those who are still looking for more, a five hours hike from the Monte Lema leads to the Alpe Foppa (1530 metres of altitude), the mountain rescue hut of the cableway to Rivera. Between Rivera and Miglieglia there is a regular bus service, allowing hikers to flexibly start their trip in one point and end in another.
Opening hours of the cableway to the Monte Lema:
From 02/04 to 06/11daily from 9.00 – 17.00
From 01/07 to 20/09 daily from 8.30 – 17.30
The Monte Lema offers a spectacular panorama: on bright days, westwards, behind the Lake Maggiore, it is possible to see the Bernese and Pennine Alps with the Mont Blanc, the Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn; southwards the view goes far over Lake Lugano to Milan and the Apennine Mountains.
On the peak there is not only a restaurant with a marvellous lookout terrace but also an observatory with a weather and radar station which measures the precipitations on the southern side of the Alps.
The Monte Lema offers an all-round mountain experience: one can see highland cattle grazing on the meadows, discover abandoned iron mines, drink fresh Alp milk and let the typical atmosphere of the villages of the Malcantone soak in.
The climate and the composition of the Monte Lema are ideal to enjoy the magic of a hang-glider flight or to experience the nature by mountain bike. And naturally also hikers are awaited by a wide offer of trails and tracks.
Indeed, the Monte Lema is the starting point for one of Switzerland’s most beautiful mountain hikes. The so-called Traversata, which leads to the Monte Tamaro, runs close to the Swiss-Italian border and almost exclusively on the mountain ridge.
The dreamlike panorama is always present during this hike, which includes only two major climbs: one to the Monte Gradiccioli and the other towards the end, leading to the Monte Tamaro. Still, for those who prefer a lighter hike, it is easily possible to avoid these two “challenges” .
For those who are still looking for more, a five hours hike from the Monte Lema leads to the Alpe Foppa (1530 metres of altitude), the mountain rescue hut of the cableway to Rivera. Between Rivera and Miglieglia there is a regular bus service, allowing hikers to flexibly start their trip in one point and end in another.
Opening hours of the cableway to the Monte Lema:
From 02/04 to 06/11daily from 9.00 – 17.00
From 01/07 to 20/09 daily from 8.30 – 17.30
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