Day trips on Lake Maggiore - the finest sights in Locarno

Lake Maggiore is considered a holiday region with something for everyone. Around the second-largest lake in Italy, whose surface area of 212.5 km² belongs 19.9% to Switzerland, lie numerous interesting destinations for day trips. The town of Locarno on the northern shore is of historical significance and became known worldwide through the international peace treaty signed there in 1925. Locarno is part of an extensive lakeside leisure area and hosts the International Film Festival every year.

A resort with historical significance

The small town of Locarno is one of the Italian-speaking resorts in the south of Switzerland and is known for its sunny climate. Thanks to its sheltered position on the Magadino plain, Locarno is also the warmest town in Switzerland. The cosy town centre, with its small cafés and street restaurants and its splendid street gardens, where camellias and magnolias are already in bloom in spring, is easily explored on foot. The focal point of many excursions to Locarno is the Piazza Grande. Trips to popular destinations on Lake Maggiore should be well organised. If you are travelling in your own vehicle, it is best to find out about parking in advance. Families, clubs or groups can hire a coach. A coach hire normally includes the necessary driver, so there is no need to request one separately. Coach companies in the region can usually be found online through the relevant networks for coach operators. On a day trip, you should not plan too many activities, so that there is enough time to visit the sights and to take breaks along the way. A visit to Locarno should begin on the Piazza Grande in the town centre. This cobbled square is regarded as the most beautiful in the Swiss canton of Ticino.

Piazza Grande, the Sacred Mountain, interesting museums and mighty castles

Cultural events take place in Locarno at any time of year. You can find out about current events in Locarno in the town's events calendar. The town's territory also includes the sacred mountain of the Madonna del Sasso in Orselina, one of the most important historical and religious sites in the canton of Ticino. At the foot of the mountain you can still find the pilgrimage church and a monastery with a small museum. The pilgrimage church of Madonna del Sasso, fully restored in 1902, houses valuable 17th-century stucco work decorated with frescoes by the artist Alessandro Gorla. The historic church stands on a spectacular rocky outcrop and is surrounded by a large terrace offering breathtaking views of Locarno and the lake. The sacred mountain is also an ideal starting point for mountain walks in the area around Locarno. On the western edge of the old town lies the Castello Visconteo. This lowland castle stands at an altitude of 205 metres and was built on rocky ground. The castle houses an interesting archaeological collection, which includes cultural treasures of national importance. Alongside Roman glass, the collection includes other exhibits from the Bronze Age and Roman period. Locarno also has a falconry centre, where flying displays with falcons, vultures, eagles, owls, marabou storks, storks and northern bald ibises can be seen daily. The displays, accompanied by horse-riding performances, recall medieval traditions presented in a modern form. As the spectators' stand is covered, the flying displays at the falconry also take place in the rain.