Cave architecture in Ticino - Living under the rock - spectacular apartment in the Alps
In these structures, known as Costruzioni sotto roccia or constructions under rock in Italian, one cannot easily hammer a nail into the wall: The rooms are made of massive rock walls, as are the ceilings. These Alpine dwellings are not buildings that were constructed from wood or stones, but rather caves and grottos that were only excavated by human hands.
This form of natural shelter can be found throughout the Alpine region. They served as protected overnight accommodations, storage spaces, work areas for food production, and animal shelters in higher altitude regions.
These Splüi, as they are called in the Tessin region, likely originate from the Latin word spelunca for cave. Especially in the Tessin, in the side valleys of the Maggiatal northwest of Locarno, these hidden buildings can still be found today. Many of them were built out of necessity and have been maintained and further developed over generations.
On the following pages of the photo series, we give you a glimpse into a Splüi that was still inhabited until the 1980s.
- Trekking in Tessin, Part 1: Hiking Above Lugano's House Mountain
- Trekking in Tessin, Part 2: Monte Lema and Monte Tamaro: Hiking on the Most Scenic High Way of Southern Switzerland
- Trekking in Tessin, Part 3: A Sliding Village and Hot Springs from the Depths: Hiking from Centovalli to Rovana
- Trekking in Tessin, Part 4: Between Heaven, Water, and Earth – Hiking from Airolo to Upper Valle Maggia
The Splüi, discoverable in the Tessin's side valleys, often feature entrances hidden behind large rocks or boulders. During our hike in Part 3 of the Trekking in Tessin series, we might stumble upon one of these ancient Shelters carved into the natural rock formations of Switzerland.
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