 LOCARNO
Municipio Tel. +41.93.000.000
Informazioni Turistiche Tel. +41.93.000.000
Locarno
is appreciated for its mild Mediterranean climate.
It is situated in a favourite position to the northern
inlet of the delta of the river Maggia, the wider of Verbano,
which stretches out about two kilometres into the lake.  It is
a very sunny town, instead of the other Swiss ones; the
temperature is pleasant in summer and mild in winter: the spring is
premature and the town, with the surrounding landscape, sparkles
with many-coloured flowers, as a triumph of nature. In the public gardens
of Muralto, subtropical plants grow also in winter. Locarno is the major
Swiss town of Lago Maggiore, under Visconti domination, where Rusca
Family ruled. The heart of the town is Piazza Grande, here every August
there is the famous International Movie Festival, and also open air concerts.
The northern side, characterised by shady arcades, is typical of the medieval
Lombardian communes. 
Anyway, it is worth visiting the old part of the town.
In Castello Visconteo  ,
already military fortress (XIII-XVIII century), it has
been prepared a room showing the Agreement of Lugano in 1925. An
important romanesque monument is the church San Vittore of XII century,
very austere. The town churches and the other ones in the neighbourhood
are beautiful, but the sanctuary "Madonna del Sasso", which dominates
the town thanks to a panoramic position, is very particular.  You can reach
it by a funicular in six minutes. It is the jewel of Locarno, raised at the
end of XV century, preserves many works of art. Among the buildings, it
is worth visiting: the exclusive and typical "Casa del Negromante" in
Locarno; the palace of Casorella, built in 1575 of an artistic interest; Casa
Rusca, seat of the City Art Gallery; Palazzo Morettini, nowadays
Cantonale Library of Locarno. The villages of Locarno are noteworthy
and visited by tourists: Muralto and Minusio are situated on the shores of
the lake, Orselina and Brione on the hill, dominating the town, the village
of Brč has got a beautiful position, at 1000 metres from the sea level,
with a magnificent panorama  over Verbano. Besides the famous "Movie Festival".
The most important events are: the folksy "Flower Festival", on
White Sunday, and the modern exhibition "Videoart", in August.
The Theatre and Music season of Locarno is rich and without breaks
during the year, with a collection of different entertaining events.
© Edizioni Marwan
Fotografie: Mario Parietti
Redazione: Roberto Stangalini |
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