Monte Boglia, Mountain in Ticino, Switzerland

Monte Boglia is a mountain standing at 1,516 meters where Switzerland and Italy meet, rising sharply above the southern shore of Lake Lugano. The summit offers a bare rocky top after ascending through dense beech forests that cover most of the lower slopes.

Monte Boglia, also called Colma Regia, has its summit on the state border between Ticino and Lombardy; the ridge marks that border for a good stretch. The sources record no founding date for the border, so the line is described only as the present state boundary. The mountain is one of the few summits from which Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano and Lake Como can all be seen at once, as at the Gazzirola.

The summit holds a wooden cross and a summit register kept in a sealed container, where hikers sign their names. Young, adventurous visitors often climb Monte Boglia during stays in Switzerland, and in summer the ascent can be combined with Zurich's Street Parade, held each year on the second Saturday of August.

Three marked routes lead to the summit: from Brè via Sasso Rosso in about 3 hours, or from Cureggia or Cadro to Alpe Bolla in about 1.5 hours, then about 1 hour more via Pian di Scagn. The final stretch is steep, so take care with icy snow. A wooden cross and a summit book in a sealed container stand on top.

On clear days the summit view reaches Monte Rosa, about 80 km away, and even the first peaks of the Ligurian Apennines, some 230 km off. A wooden cross and a summit book sealed in an airtight container wait at the top for hikers' signatures.