Tesserete – Switzerland | Shining Canton of Ticino Gem

Tesserete,very charming neighbourhood of Capriasca close by Lugano located in a captivating valley dominated by several peaks of the Lepontine Alps and surrounded by scenic beech and chestnuts forests, a shining Canton of Ticino gem that immediately is able to bewitch every visitor.

Historically the area appears to have been colonized already during the Iron Age as the demonstration by the findings of some tombs with grave goods found near the Parish Church of Santo Stefano as well as funerary steles with inscription in the northern Etruscan alphaphet and tombs from the Roman period.

The first historical documentation of the existence of Tesserete although of dubious authenticity is linked to the year 1078 when the village was mentioned the will of a Milanese countess named Grassa who owned the local lands.

Once reached the lovely centre of Tesserete you can start the visit with the Chiesa di Santo Stefano, a beautiful, Medieval Church erected in the 9th century dedicated to St.Stephen, officially recorded in 1078 becoming since the 13th century one of the most important and representative artistic jewels of the entire Val Capriasca.

According to historic documentations the church was elevated in a traditional Romanesque style but with several changes in the course of its history which highly changed its original aspect.

In the 15th and much more in the 17th century the structure largely mutated its image with a restoration of the walls and the addition of new vaults while in the 18th century there were some transformations in the interior with a re-arrangement of the apse, part of the nave and the addition of the presbytery.

The building is highlighted by a beautiful high stone tower with slots and an attractive belfry established between a circular clock with Roman numbers and a magnificent red spire.

Beautiful in the long roof covering the entire nave with a captivating portico formed by? fine columns with capitals. Despite the several changes, the church preserved a perfect symmetry of all the elements in the layout with special mention to two splendid arched windows placed on the sides of the facade and absolutely great is the development of the? sloping gable roof.

From Tesserete you can follow a route which will lead you to another splendid attraction consisting in the high Torre di San Clemente, the outstanding medieval also known as Torre di Redde, denomination which identifies a small unhinabited village since the 16th century.

That construction was erected in the 13th century on an irregular square commissioned by the former Rusca family, a noble dynasty from Como which established that building as a check point.

Very close to that building lies the small Chiesa di San Clemente, a?church erected in the same period characterised by an ample light facade and fine architectural lines in its front side also highlighted by a charming gable roof flanked by a high bell tower.

That excursion is very suggested because it is a beautiful mix of nature, art and history, a? fantastic full immersion in a fabulous itinerary crossing a woody uncontaminated land with the opportunity to enjoy also those relevant historic gems of notable artistic value.

Many are the opportunities to immortalise in thousands of pictures that magnificent contrast art-nature which is always something of extremely appealing and fascinating.

In proximity of Tesserete I suggest to visit the village of Sureggio where you can admire the Chiesa di San Pietro e Paolo, a Romanesque Church erected in the 10th century dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul well known for its medieval frescoes and a beautiful imposing stone tower.

Probably it was one of the most relevant religious buildings established in the Middle Ages in the local territory, notable are the superb architectural details inserted in the main fa?ade.

The plastered nave is concluded by the unplastered rectangular choir added in the baroque period while the modern ceiling with exposed trusses is illuminated by four single lancet windows.

You will be delighted by splendid Romanesque frescoes dating back the 12th century framed by meandering friezes and wavy ornamental motifs.

On the northern side you can admire Three Marys at the tomb, the crucifixion with the two thieves, the fortified city of Milan and an Ostrich.

On the southern wall you will admire others such as the Presentation in the Temple, the Flight in Egypt and a 13th century Madonna on the throne with two dogs at her feet.

All those considerable works, the frescoes for artistic matrix and the constructions for architectonic canons reflect a notable resemblance with the frescoes and constructions developed and elevated in the same period in the Italian regions of Piedmont, Lombardy and Emilia Romagna including in the materials used for the construction and the development of the apse and presbytery.

Tesserete is very famous for its Carnival considered one of the most important of the entire Canton next to those of Bellinzona, Chiasso and Biasca.

Its denomination in Ticinese dialect is “Or Penangin”, a name linked to old traditions linked to the word Penagia consisting in a wooden container used to prepare the butter, an activity which always had an important cultural relevance.

Visiting Tesserete is a great experience, you will discover an authentic shining gem of the Canton of Ticino, a destination more than recommended to enjoy the beauty of this Swiss land.

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Link : https://schweizmobil.ch/en/place-92-tesserete

Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation

Casa Sisu

Albergo Hotel Tesserete

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