In the olden days, those that crossed the Gotthard Pass still had a long way to the plains far below. There was another barrier in Rodi in the Upper Leventina: the narrow Piottino Gorge carved out of the Monte Piottino by the Ticino River. The historic throughway was so narrow that it was an ideal place to put a customs house and an inn, the Dazio Grande. The original Urner Route dating back to 1561 was restored to its former being.