Find relaxation and la dolce vita under the sun in Locarno

A Mediterranean atmosphere

Let yourself be taken over by the sweet life of Locarno, a city that prides itself on having the mildest climate in Switzerland - with no less than 2,300 hours of sunshine a year!

Pilgrimage to Madonna del Sasso’s church

Locarno is a beautiful city, with its blooming Mediterranean vegetation, palm trees and lemon groves. To live like the locals, go diving in the Lido, open all year round and boasting 4 slides, an Olympic pool and a spa bath. The Piazza Grande is the heart of the city. This square famously hosts open-air film projections during Locarno’s Film Festival. Admire the cobblestone pavement of the square - with its stones set on edge in typical Ticino fashion - and let yourself be tempted by a drink break. Nearby, you can admire the Castello Visconteo, a twelfth-century fortress of which only one original wall remains today. The headquarters for the city’s bailiffs between 1513 and 1798, the castle now houses an archaeological museum and a rich collection of Roman glass excavated in Ticino.

The most visited site, high above the city, is the pilgrimage church of Madonna del Sasso, built after an apparition of the Virgin Mary. A true masterpiece of architecture, it hosts notable frescoes and altarpieces such as “Flight into Egypt” by Italian painter Bramantino, dating from 1522, and “The Entombment“ by the Swiss-Italian painter, Antonio Ciseri. Extraordinary views of Locarno, the lake and the mountains can be enjoyed from this wonderful site. You can walk up from the town following the way of the cross or you can take the funicular up to Orselina before continuing your walk.