Ascona

Canton: Ticino (TI)

Altitude: 196 m/643ft

Population: 5,000

Thanks to its beautiful situation in a mist-free bay on Lake Maggiore, sheltered from the north winds, and to its sub-tropical vegetation, Ascona has developed from a little fishing village into one of Switzerland's most popular holiday resorts, excellently equipped for visitors. It has long hours of sunshine and a mild winter. The main areas of activity from spring into autumn are the picturesque town, a pedestrian precinct with numerous little shops, art galleries and antique dealers, and the piazza on the lake. A prehistoric cemetery excavated in 1952 provided evidence of a Bronze Age settlement here (ca. 800 B.C.). The town was "discovered" by a group of