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In 13th
century, when the family of Visconti (Milan) spread its influence till Lake Maggiore, were in charge
asked  an
architect to build a castle in Locarno. The inhabitants - of the fortress -
had their own private port, protection walls were well fortified and plenty guard towers.
The palace was employed like a house for the soldiers and gave them prestige and power. The
Visconti were definitely pulled out from the region about in 1513 by their successors,
the bailiffs of the confederation, who impose their law for the subsequent 300 years.
The castle was destroyed and rebuild several times but it was always considered the
centre of city life. In 1803, when Ticino entered the Swiss confederation and the bailiffs
leaved, the castle (or better its ruins) belonged to Canton Ticino.
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