Those leaving the Gotthard Pass behind as they travel south, enter the Valle Leventina. This valley is divided into three regions by its topography. The Piottino Schlucht (gorge) separates the northern Alta Leventina from the Media Leventina situated in the middle. This in turn is separated from the Bassa Leventina in the south by the Biaschina Schlucht (gorge). Both the Piottino and Biaschina gorges form extremely narrow passages in the Leventina with very steep inclines. The sudden height changes create differing climatic conditions in the Alta, Media and Bassa Leventina. In Bassa Leventina you feel you're almost in Italy, while in Alta Leventina, the climatic conditions are Alpine.

Lavorgo lies on the valley floor of Media Leventina at the northern end of the Biaschina Schlucht. People settled here very early on, evidenced by prehistoric finds and Roman graves. After bypassing the almost impassable Biaschina Schlucht, Lavorgo was probably a resting place for mule-train traders. The gorge remains a considerable hindrance even for modern-day traffic. It is mastered by the railway through two helical tunnels and by the motorway by means of a viaduct. Construction of the Gotthard Railway, which made a halt at Lavorgo, brought a significant boom to the village at the end of the 19th century. However peace has returned to the village and its 250 inhabitants with the closure of Lavorgo railway station. The area around Lavorgo, such as the sunny terrace above the Leventina, can now be explored far from tourist hustle and bustle.