Today I am going to tell you about a great hike, suitable for active families… because yes, sometimes we have one of those active moments. We are in the Bellinzona area, to test our nerves on the Tibetan suspension bridge of Curzutt in Sementina-Monte Carasso.
How to reach the suspesion bridge
Honestly, I would have chosen to reach to Curzutt by cable car, using the Monte Carasso Mornera cable car, or else by shuttle bus (to write about it … not because I am lazy!). The way we organized the day was “superficial”, to say the least, so we arrived at the Info point without having booked any “way up” – and we were told we would have a very long wait – hence we were kind of forced to hike it all the way up to the bridge… so book in advance,my friends!
To Curzutt on foot
Starting from the info point we walked towards the Fortini della Fame in Sementina and from there we started to go uphill…. and uphill… and uphill, admiring beautiful vineyards, and walking past well-preserved traditional, then through beautiful forests. Spoiler: do not be fooled by the photos, I did not have the energy to take photos of the steepest parts!
After about an hour walk, we arrived at Curzutt, (a picturesque old hamlet belonging to the town of Monte Carasso).
Curzutt is where the cable car and shuttle bus stop. This is the first place to stop for some refreshments: it is a great place for a picnic, or else you can choose to eat at a restaurant, the Ristorante Ostello Curzutt. My kids loved the beautiful playground (and adjoining fountain!) and we (adults) the wide shaded lawns.
From Curzutt to the suspension (Tibetan) Bridge
After some rest (if you came on foot, obviously!) we set off towards the charming Church of San Bernardo, built in Romanesque style in the late eleventh century. 
It is really worth a quick visit for its precious frescoes, and for its characteristic location. Here you will also find some Public Restrooms, which, in the past, were specifically built for “pilgrims”!
After the church, we started walking uphill (again) for another hour or so. Fortunately, along the way we found plenty of fountains to fill our water bottles. The kids played with water and sprayed each other, so they stayed cool.
After a while, there was a sudden scream coming from behind me – someone had seen something…
At first, far away in the distance, then closer and closer…
Finally, the suspension bridge
Here it is, the long-awaited bridge…. 270 meters long, suspended at a height of 130 meters … .really impressive! Time to cross it, then – though the experience is not for all. More than one person in our party (no matter if adult, kid or dog) at first hesitated a bit.
Still we had walked such a long way to get here, that we felt we had the moral obligation to cross the bridge. One by one, we did it; some of us even more than once. What an unforgettable experience.
Getting back down to the departure point
Then it was time to turn back, walking all the way down. It seemed as it would be an easy task, and we set off full of energy. Ideally you would walk to the Church of San Defendente (where a shuttle would drive you to point of departure) but at a fork we took the wrong way and followed the sign for Sementina; it was a “shortcut” but it was really steep.
If you are with kids I definitely do not recommend it. I am sure that the regular path is a lot less steep and allows you to visit the Church of San Defendente (which looks stunning in pictures, so sooner or later we will return and tell you all about it).
The arrival is again at the Fortini della Fame, but on the opposite side. Upon leaving the woods, before continuing on the path that runs along the forts, you will find a small refrigerator with drinks and ice cream, help yourself and leave the money in the box provided. Amazing!
Before our drive home, we took a short break at the Bar del Convento near the Info point. The children still had some energy to burn and enjoyed the playground, while we adults collapsed on the chairs.
This is the end of the adventure, we sweated, we got lost (some of us, the others managed to retrace their steps and find the right way) , we had fun, we experienced some fear (on the bridge) but we all had a truly memorable day.
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