Ticino is the canton with the most abandoned places in Switzerland: our database geolocates 791 spots here, more than in any other canton. High-altitude sanatoriums, depopulated mountain villages and old spa buildings shape this topography of decay.
This article is part of our dossier on the Lost Places of Switzerland. The terms Lost Places Ticino, abandoned places in Ticino and urbex Ticino all mean the same thing. Under every spot there is an Add to map button that drops the GPS coordinates into your profile for free.
Key takeaways: with 791 geolocated Lost Places, Ticino is the densest canton in Switzerland. This article presents 3 dated places, from a sanatorium to an abandoned mountain village. Free GPS under each spot.
1. Sanatorio del Gottardo: the icon above Piotta
Photo: Wendelin Jacober, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Sanatorio del Gottardo is a tuberculosis sanatorium abandoned since 1962, at around 1,160 metres above the village of Piotta, in the municipality of Quinto. Built between 1903 and 1905, it served as a military hospital after the First World War and as a cantonal sanatorium from 1921. Empty for more than sixty years, it is the most photographed Lost Place in Switzerland. In 2016 the canton sold the building to a consortium of investors; the project failed, the holding company has been in liquidation since July 2025, and the building was put up for auction.
Discover all the abandoned places in Ticino on the urbex map.
2. Indemini: the almost abandoned mountain village
Photo: Hadi, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
Indemini is a largely depopulated mountain village in the municipality of Gambarogno, high above Lake Maggiore near the Italian border. First mentioned in 1260, the village still had around 409 inhabitants around 1850; by December 2009 there were only 43 left. It long remained isolated: a road reached it on the Swiss side only in 1917/18, on the Italian side in 1964. Most of the more than 200 dwellings are now occupied only seasonally, and the rustic architecture is preserved, the image of an almost frozen mountain village.
Discover all the abandoned places in Ticino on the urbex map.
3. Terme di Acquarossa: a forgotten Belle Époque bath
The Terme di Acquarossa in the Valle di Blenio are an abandoned Belle Époque thermal bath. The iron-rich, reddish water had been known since the 17th century; the bath company was founded in 1885, and the large "Albergo delle Terme" was built in 1887. In 1971 operations closed for good because of modernisation costs. The historic building stands empty and locked to this day; the current "Sun Village" tourism project is a new, separate complex, not the restoration of the old bath.
More Lost Places in the canton of Ticino
Besides these places, our map lists hundreds of other Ticino sites: abandoned houses in the valleys of the Leventina and the Blenio valley, derelict farmsteads around Biasca. Add them straight to your own map:
Lost Places in Ticino at a glance
| Place | Type | Built | Status 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanatorio del Gottardo | Sanatorium | 1903-1905 | abandoned since 1962 |
| Indemini | Mountain village | from 1260 | largely depopulated |
| Terme di Acquarossa | Thermal bath | 1887 | closed since 1971 |
Why does Ticino have so many Lost Places?
Ticino combines the great sanatorium era in the high valleys, the exodus from mountain villages that depopulated entire hamlets, and old spa and industrial facilities. In our database it is the densest canton in Switzerland with 791 sites.
What is the best-known abandoned place in Ticino?
The Sanatorio del Gottardo above Piotta, abandoned since 1962 and the most photographed Lost Place in Switzerland. Added to it are depopulated mountain villages like Indemini and forgotten spa buildings like the Terme di Acquarossa.
Is urbex legal in Ticino?
Viewing from the outside is allowed; entering someone else's building is trespassing under Article 186 of the Criminal Code, as soon as the place is fenced off or marked as private property.
Where do I find the coordinates of the Ticino spots?
Under every spot in this article there is a free button. The full Ticino map shows all 791 sites.
Conclusion
Ticino is the heart of abandoned Switzerland, from the Sanatorio del Gottardo to the mountain village of Indemini and the forgotten bath of Acquarossa. You will find more sites on the Ticino urbex map or in the national dossier on the Lost Places of Switzerland. With respect: take nothing, damage nothing, enter no one else's property.