Ticino
Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. It lies almost entirely in the Ticino basin, a tributary of the Po. The canton is traditionally (but not administratively) split into two regions.
The northern region, the Sopraceneri, is formed by the valleys around Lake Maggiore and includes the highest mountains of the canton and the main Alpine watershed. The southern region, the Sottoceneri, is the region around Lake Lugano, and marks the beginning of the southern Alpine foothills.
Ticino is composed of eight districts with major cities of Bellinzona, the capital of the canton, Locarno, Ascona and Lugano.
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is one of the most popular destinations in Switzerland with ancient churches and chapels, as well as vineyards, forests, and crystal clear lakes.
Bellinzona is ideally located and easily accessible from many other large towns and cities in Switzerland. In just 20 minutes you can reach it from Lugano or Locarno. Bellinzona is less than two hours away from cities further north, such as Lucerne and Zurich.
Bellinzona is known for its three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro). The three castles, the defensive wall, and ramparts of Bellinzona have been listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 2000.
Locarno
Locarno is a picturesque city located on the shores of Lake Maggiore, surrounded by high mountains. The city is famous for its mild climate — already in March, hydrangeas, magnolias and camellias begin to bloom. This is one of the sunniest places in Switzerland.
Most importante curiosities of Locarno are Piazza Grande, Madonna del Sasso, Castello Visconteo, Cimetta-Cardada, Falconeria Locarno, Valle Verzasca and Valle Maggia.
The International Film Festival is an open-air film festival in August, one of the five most important in Europe, gathering stars from all over the world. The film festival is held in the central square of Locarno, which turns into an open-air cinema hall. The rest of the time, this square is the most touristic place in Locarno.
The village of Ascona, near Locarno, is incredibly charming and picturesque. It has a beautiful waterfront promenade and a historic old town. Ascona was once a fishing village. It is one of the most visited places in canton Ticino today.
Ascona’s Best Attractions are Chiesa dei SS. Pietro e Paolo, Casa Serodine, Lake Maggiore, Santa Maria della Misericordia, Museo Comunale d’Arte Moderna, Monte Verità, Isole di Brissago and Pizzo Leone.
The picturesque lakeside city of Lugano is famous for its beautiful quasi-Mediterranean scenery, its Film Festival, and for being the residence of the Nobel Prize winner, Hermann Hesse. Nicknamed the «Monte Carlo of Switzerland», the city is a popular destination for its lovely scenery and its laid back lifestyle, and it attracts several notable people to its shores.
By far the main attraction of Lugano is its beautiful, eponymous lake, which measures 50 square kilometres in size. It is a glacial lake situated on the border between Italy and Switzerland.
Right by Lake Lugano is the lovely park of Civico-Ciani, 63,000 square meters of greenery and parkland. A perfect escape from Lugano’s cityscape, the park offers long, tree-lined pathways, flower beds, and fountains. The garden abounds with trees typical of the Ticino region: maple, lime, oak and plane trees are visible everywhere. There’s a play area for children. Aside from this, the Natural History Museum is also located within the park, as is the Cantonal Library and the Villa Ciani.
With a magnificent view over Lugano, Monte Brè is Lugano’s closest mountain and it can be reached via funicular rail. The small, quaint village of Brè has a traditional character and also houses many paintings by the Swiss painter, Wilhelm Schmidt. There are plenty of things to do in the outdoors, including several hiking trails and mountain biking. The observation point gives you a view not only of the entire Lake Lugano valley, but often stretches as far as the views of Monte Rosa and the Bernese Alps.
The must see places are San Lorenzo Cathedral, Hermann Hesse Museum, Swissminiatur, The Olive Grove Trail, The Alprose Chocolate Museum, Vico Morcote and Monte San Salvatore.
Ticino has a busy calendar of events — as well as one of Switzerland’s longest open-air festival seasons. Throughout the year the canton stages film festivals, theatrical performances, music festivals, sports events and concerts, adding to the enjoyment of any stay. With events ranging from local festivities to internationally important gatherings, the calendar has plenty for visitors of every age and interest.
Culinary traditions of Ticino are represented by delicious minestrone soup, polenta and risotto. Connoisseurs are well aware that those are typical Venetian dishes; Italy had a big impact on culinary traditions of the region.
