Oratorio di Sonlerto

Oratorio di Sonlerto is a small chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph (Oratorio San Giuseppe) in the hamlet of Sonlerto, in the Val Bavona, municipality of Cevio, canton of Ticino, Switzerland. It should not be confused with San Carlo, a separate village further up the same valley.

What is the oratory in Sonlerto?

The chapel stands in one of the main settlements of the Val Bavona, alongside Fontana and Foroglio. Ticino's official tourism guide dates it to 1768 but notes that the site of worship is older than that date. Inside hangs a canvas by A. Rinaldi showing the Transito, the death of Saint Joseph.

What else is there to see in Sonlerto?

The hamlet sits at roughly 807 m above sea level; Foroglio lies lower (about 697 m) and San Carlo higher (about 957 m). Beside the chapel, the village's best-known sight is its torba, a wooden granary typical of the Ticino valleys. The Valmaggia Museum says it was most likely built in 1497. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland dates it to 1591, and tree-ring analysis shows that part of the timber was felled in 1497. The Mario Della Valle Foundation bought the granary, restored it and donated it to the museum in 1989.

How does it fit into the Val Bavona?

The valley holds a dense network of chapels and oratories. Foroglio has a 16th-century church with a Presentation in the Temple painting from Rome (1768) and a winged altarpiece from 1553. Fontana has the oratory of Saints James and Philip, from the 1600s and extended in 1780. Gannariente was built in 1595 as thanks for surviving a rockfall at Foroglio the year before. Sonlerto fits easily into a day spent visiting the neighbouring villages.

How do you get to Sonlerto?

The Val Bavona branches off the Vallemaggia at Bignasco, in the municipality of Cevio. A narrow road runs up the valley through Foroglio to San Carlo, and Sonlerto lies along it. Check bus timetables and parking charges on the Vallemaggia region's websites before you go.

When should you visit?

Many Val Bavona settlements are inhabited only part of the year, so summer is the best time, when the valley is lively. The chapel is small; a short stop between Foroglio and San Carlo is enough.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sonlerto the same as San Carlo? No. They are two different settlements in the Val Bavona. Sonlerto is at about 807 m, San Carlo at about 957 m.

Who is the oratory dedicated to? Saint Joseph. Inside is a canvas by A. Rinaldi showing his death.

When was the chapel built? The Ticino guide gives 1768 and notes that the site is older.

What else is worth seeing in the hamlet? The historic torba, a wooden granary linked to the date 1497 (museum) or 1591 (Historical Dictionary of Switzerland), owned by the Museo di Valmaggia.