Travel Eye on Locarno (Switzerland)

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Overview:

Though it was once the seat of the dukes of Milan, Locarno has been Swiss since 1516. Set on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore, Locarno has art galleries, excellent antiques and the Church of Madonna del Sasso.

A pretty city of banana and palm trees, Locarno offers visitors a chance to rest and renew in its many piazzas and outdoor cafes. You can take a cable car up to the Cimetta, a belvedere with a wonderful view over the town and lake.

In the nearby town of Melide , the Swiss miniatur provides fun for kids of all ages: It has models of hundreds of Swiss landmarks on a scale of 1:25. Melide also hosts an open-air film festival in summer.

There are many other quaint villages in this area offering spectacular scenery, peaceful lakes, stone churches and wine tasting. Among them are Ascona , Morcote , Gandria and, across the border in Italy, Como, Luino and Campione.

(If you plan to go to Italy, remember to take your passport with you.) 145 mi/235 km south of Zurich.

The area is Generally suited to well-heeled middlemarket travellers looking for a relaxing holiday, the local tempo is moderate and quiet, particularly at night, and Switzerland is one of the more expensive European destinations. Half its many visitors are from Germany.

The accommodation ranges from charming 1- and 2-stars to old-fashioned, comfortable 4-star hotels. There is nothing for backpackers in the area.

Overview:

Locarno is in south Switzerland, at the northern tip of Lake Maggiore, the largest of the north Italian lakes (25 mls NW of Lugano and its airport, 125 mls S of Zurich and its airport, 200 mls E of Geneva and its airport, 75 mls NW of Milan). It is situated right on the edge of the lake, backed by bold, beautiful, wooded mountains.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

There is a host of souvenir shops with Swiss and Italian products on arcaded side of Piazza Grande. You will find Bric-a-brac and craft shops in Old Town. Many of the local stores selling the locally made pasta,cheese, sausages, wine and a type of brioche called "panettone" abound.

During the daytime activities include a town tour, particularly Old Town with its interesting buildings and churches, lakeside promenades, 15th-century and the Visconti Castle and museum.

There are a range range of lake-based water sports along with tennis, golf, and mountain walks.

In winter, skiing on Cardada/Cimetta slopes above the town becomes popular.

The nightlife here is generally low key. There is one dazzling casino, a few cinemas with films in their original languages, concerts and theatres.

The food on sale in restaurants here is predominantly Italian cooking in a broad choice of restaurants, pizzerias and taverns. There are some snack bars, but most of the hotels are proud of their standards of cuisine.