Biasca is situated where the Valle di Blenio and the Leventina meet. Biasca is the designated southern portal of the Gotthard base tunnel and has several buildings worth visiting, for instance the SS. Pietro e Paolo Church.

The united valley to the south of Biasca is called Riviera. Three kilometres to the east of Biasca on a terrace of the Pizzo Magno lies the small Carigiolo Lake, source of the stream that feeds the up to 80m high waterfalls that can be seen cascading down opposite Biasca railway station. These frothing landmarks are a familiar sight to many rail passengers.

Situated on the old Gotthard railway line, Biasca is also the designated southern portal for the Gotthard base tunnel of the new NEAT transalpine railway link. A highlight for railway fans is the mountain hiking trail «Gottardo» that runs from Biasca to Airolo and to the north of the Alps from Göschenen to Erstfeld. With over 70 information panels and well-positioned vantage points, it offers a wealth of fascinating facts on what is considered the most important stretch of railway line in Europe.

In the Middle Ages, Biasca was the site of one of the largest mountain landslides in the history of Switzerland: in 1512, a landslide from Monte Crenone (today’s Pizzo Magno) destroyed many houses, killed hundreds of villagers and blocked the entrance to the valley. The blockage succumbed to the pressure of the dammed lake and burst in 1514, wreaking heavy damage as far as the Piano di Magadino.

Biasca’s 12th-century SS. Pietro e Paolo Church is well worth a visit. A cultural heritage site of national significance, it boasts monochromatic frescos dating back to the 13th century. A Via Dolorosa or Way of the Cross with 14 chapels was consecrated in 1742 and leads to the oratory Santa Petronilla with 17th-century frescos. The historic Santa Petronilla bridge is also worth a look.

Other sights worth seeing are the parish church of San Carlo (1891-1905), a monumental structure that never quite reached completion and the Forte Mondascia Museum of Military History. Some of Biasca’s old patrician or noblemen’s houses have also been preserved.

Highlights

• Waterfalls - up to 80m high cascading waterfalls. Frothing landmarks of Biasca and a familiar sight to many rail passengers.
• The Gottardo-Weitwanderweg (hiking trail) between Erstfeld and Biasca was opened to commemorate the 125-year anniversary of the Gotthard Railway. There are over 50 information panels with a wealth of information on the region and the Gotthard Railway.
• Transalpine construction site near Biasca – the visitor centre has plenty of information about the construction site of the Gotthard base tunnel, the new 57km long tunnel for rail traffic traversing the Alps.
• SS. Pietro e Paolo Church in Biasca – a cultural heritage site of national significance with 13th-century monochromatic frescos.
• Valle di Blenio towards the Lukmanierpass – also called «Sonnental» (Sun Valley). Sun drenched due to its north-south alignment.