Giornico is a village in Leventina, known for the “Battaglia dei Sassi Grossi” (the Battle of the Big Rocks), which took place in 1478. It was an important event in the history of Switzerland, in which the Confederates defeated the Milanese and gained control of the Gotthard Pass. The village is located in a fork in the river that forms a peculiar islet and boasts a rare pearl: the church of San Nicola, an outstanding example of the Romanesque period. Also interesting is the ethnographic museum, where visitors can get an impression of the valley's past, supported by interactive games, historical documents and photographs.
The important "Battaglia dei Sassi Grossi", in which the Confederates defeated the Milanese at the end of 1478, is commemorated with a monument by the Ticino sculptor Apollonio Pessina, which stands at the northern entrance to the village. In the historic center, divided into two halves by the cantonal road, are some medieval buildings. The upper part surrounds the 14th century Torre Attone with its square plan, which has been scaffolded for years and is awaiting restoration. In the lower part, between the cantonal road and the left bank of the river, traces of the old road still remain .