Locarno Attractions

Locarno boat services on Lake Maggiore are available.

Motor ships (in summer also hydrofoils) to the islands and places on the lake (departure from Lungolago G. Motta).

An archaeological museum featuring articles from the Bronze to middle ages is housed in this medieval palace.

Route: Domodóssola-Locarno.

Length: 52km/32mi; duration two hours. Highlights: This railroad links the great European lines of the Simplon and the Gotthard on narrow gauge. It traverses the wildly romantic Centovalli past idyllic gorges and over numerous bridges with a maximum gradient of 17%.

Special features: Visitors who have a complete day at their disposal should combine the Centovalli railroad with a return trip (Zurich-St Gotthard-Centovalli-Simplon-Lötschberg-Brig-Zurich).

This annual festival takes place in mid-March.

A beautiful lakeside promenade, the Lungolago Guiseppe Motta, skirts Locarno's bay. To the south this leads to the Lido (swimming pool, camping site), the Parco della Pace and the Trade Fair grounds on the Maggia delta. To the east is Rivapiana in the district of Minusio.

Bronzes and drawings of the sculptor Fiorenzo Abbondio (1892-1980).

Northeast of Muralto is the outer district of Minusio, with the interesting old church of San Qurico. The bell tower (13th/14th C.) is a former watch tower.

On the lakeside is the imposing 16th C. Cà di Ferro, once a barracks occupied by mercenaries in the employ of the Governor Pietro à Pro. In the cemetery (northeast entrance in the wall on the right) is the grave of the German poet Stefan George (1868-1933).

In the Muralto district to the east of Locarno's station stands the parish church of San Vittore, originally Romanesque (12th C.) but much altered in later centuries (campanile, completed only in 1932; fine Romanesque crypt).

Locarno's main square is the broad Piazza Grande, which extends westwards from the landing-stage for some 400 m/1,312ft, with arcades containing shops on its north side.

Along the south side of Locarno's Piazza Grande are the Giardini Pubblici (Public Gardens) and the Kursaal (restaurant). In Via della Pace, which runs south through the gardens to a fountain, is the Pretorio (Law Court) or Palazzo della Conferenza, in which the Locarno Pact was signed in 1925.

To the southwest of Locarno's Castello, on higher ground, is the conventual church of San Francesco, a basilica (1528-72) with massive granite columns and wall-paintings, now serving the German-speaking Catholics of the town.

To the north of Locarno's Castello is the 17th C. church of Sant'Antonio which contains painting with perspective effect by G. A. F. Orelli.

To the east of Locarno's Sant'Antonio church is the small but fine Baroque church of Santa Maria dell'Assunta, also known as Chiesa Nuova (17th C.). Its facade is dominated by a large statue of St Christopher; the interior contains beautiful stucco work.

West of Locarno's Sant'Antonio Church are the cemetery and the former church of S. Maria in Selva and the tomb of Hans Arp (1887-1966), with sculpture.

From the Madonna del Sasso a cableway 2km/1mi long ascends in 10minutes to the Alpe Cardada (1,350 m/4,429ft; hotel), with magnificent views. Chairlift (869 m/2,851ft, six minutes) to Cimetta (1,676 m/5,499ft; good skiing with several skilifts.

From Monti a road (6km/4mi) runs steeply uphill through the forest, with many bends, to the little mountain village of Mont Bré (1,004 m/ 3,294ft). 1km/ 0.6mi beyond this along the mountainside is San Bernardo (1,096 m/3,596ft), with a 16th C. chapel. From both villages there are splendid views.