Ticino
Ticino offers a little of everything. A touch of the shimmering lake life and dolce vita can be had in Ascona, Lugano and Locarno. Their mirror-like lakes, dotted by colourful villages with mansions and palm trees, are framed by grand, verdant mountains. To the north, Bellinzona, the region's capital, is a quieter but stunning medieval fortress town, comprising three of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland which are listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Those in search of rural quiet have come to the right place. Various valleys spread across the length of the northern half of the canton, blessed by homely hamlets, Romanesque chapels and endless hiking options past lakes and roaring mountain streams.
Ascona
The charming village of Ascona nearby Locarno is situated on a sunny bay on Lake Maggiore, which, with its picturesque Old Town, lakeside promenade, elegant boutiques and many excellent restaurants, golf and tennis facilities, is a popular and exclusive holiday destination in Switzerland. While Lake Maggiore offers a wide range of water sports, the unspoilt valleys in the hinterland are ideal for excursions, hiking and mountain-biking.
Lugano
Largest town in the holiday region of Ticino. It is not only Switzerland's third most important financial centre and a conference, banking and business hub, but also a city of parks and flowers, villas and sacred buildings. With Mediterranean flair, Lugano on scenic Lake Lugano offers all the advantages of a world-class city, combined with the cachet of a small town.
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| Attractions | |
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| Swiss Miniatur, Melide-Lugano | |
Swissminiatur shows you the most picturesque features of Switzerland - towns, villages, monuments, transportation, all at a scale of 1:25. |
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| Museum Hermann Hesse, Montagnola-Lugano | |
The Museum hosts precious evidence of Hermann Hesse's last 43 years in Montagnola up until his death. |
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| 63rd International Film Festival - Locarno | 04.08.2010 - 14.08.2010 |
International Film Festival in Locarno on the famous Piazza Grande – each year the best productions are awarded with the coveted "Golden Leopard". |
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| Monte Generoso, Capolago-Lugano | |
A vantage summit in a class of its own is the Monte Generoso mountain (1704 m above sea level) from where visitors enjoy the best views in the entire Ticino. The top can be reached by means of a convenient little cogwheel railway, which departs from Capolago (a 40 minutes' ride). The panorama view extends from the Po Valley over Lake Como to the Bernese Alps and the Valais. |
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| 65. Musikfestwochen von Ascona - Classic Music Weeks of Ascona | 31.08.2010 - 15.10.2010 |
The music weeks of Ascona are the most important classic music festival of Italian speaking Switzerland. For over 50 years the concerts have been renowned for its high level of performance and have becoming very popular. Visitors will have the pleasure to listen to the performing artists in the beautiful Church of Collegio Papio Ascona. |
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| Chestnut and Autumn Festival, Ascona | 09.10.2010 - 09.10.2010 |
Each year during the Autumn Festival, a celebration of chestnuts, the Ascona lakeside promenade offers visitors two occasions for eating, drinking and enjoying themselves in the pleasant autumn sunshine. Chestnuts, a fruit with which Ticino's woods are bursting, are the focus of numerous festivals dotted all over the Swiss canton. In this village on the shores of Lake Maggiore, visitors are invited to taste over 2000 kg of chestnuts roasted on the fire by the local maronatt as well as various chestnut-based delicacies such as jams, honeys and cakes and a host of the region's traditional food and wine products. Strolling among the numerous stalls of the little market, to the sound of folk music, there is still more local produce and craftsmanship to be discovered. |
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| 1st of August Fireworks (Swiss National Day), Lugano | 01.08.2010 - 01.08.2010 |
Lugano invites to celebrate the Swiss National Day on 1st of August with magnificent fireworks over Lake Lugano, starting at 22H30. |
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| Hotels in the region | |
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Hotel Casa Berno, Ascona
The stylish, elegant hotel with a breathtaking panorama of Lago Maggiore. |
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Hotel Delfino, Lugano
The ideal residence for guests who appreciate an individual touch. |
