The Valle Maggia is one of the most beautiful, largest, varied and most visited valleys of the Ticino. It is regarded as an important holiday area as well as a nature reserve. Visitors and also the local inhabitants find the region "wildly romantic". Surrounded by majestic, awe inspiring and valley dividing granite and gneiss formations which have towered up during the alpine unfolding in ages past, we find, almost like a miracle or a geological surprise, the occurrence of marble in Peccia.
The Valle Maggia is one of the most beautiful, largest, varied and most visited valleys of the Ticino. It is regarded as an important holiday area as well as a nature reserve. Visitors and also the local inhabitants find the region "wildly romantic". Surrounded by majestic, awe inspiring and valley dividing granite and gneiss formations which have towered up during the alpine unfolding in ages past, we find, almost like a miracle or a geological surprise, the occurrence of marble in Peccia. This is a huge mass of lime formations which has come under pressure in the central alpine massif during the process of unfolding and which has crystallized as a result of the intense heat.
The quarry at the foot of the "Punta della Rossa" was opened in 1946. Every year it produces up to 621cubic meters for the most varied interests, from floor coverings to marble frontages right up to interior decoration work, and not least the many kinds of sculptural creations.
The Peccia or "Cristallina" marble is the only quarried marble in Switzerland. The deposit is so massive that it will still be possible for the next few thousand years to supply mankind with this high quality and beautiful material.
Since the beginning of Greek culture marble has been "the material" used in the representation of divine as well as human figures, the building of mighty columned temples and other buildings. This significance runs through the history of art right up to modern architecture and sculpture of our time. Even if all other materials, including non high-grade ones, are today able to satisfy art, there has always been room for those who use stone or marble to sculpt. Sculpture is and remains the oldest cultural form pursued by man and this is perhaps why many people feel so close to it.
Pizzo Castello seen from Peccia. The bright lines on the mountaintop show up the marble.