Ascona

Ascona was able to maintain its charm as a colony of artists and drop-out even as the touristy Locarno developed into a big tourist destination. Strict limitations for cars ensure that the main center of the town is car free. Its tranquil people make this town a calming and refreshing visit. The old buildings have been beautifully kept restored. Ascona is popular for day trips and boat tours to the Brissago Islands. The Lake Maggiore cools the town in summer and ensures a Mediterranean feeling in winter.

By Car / Road

Visitors from most of Switzerland will arrive from the east, taking one of the two bridges over the river Maggia. You can bypass the sometimes heavy traffic in Locarno using the Mappo-Morettina tunnel. To arrive from southwestern parts of Switzerland (e.g. Valais ), it can be faster to take a shortcut through the Simplon Pass and the Italian town of Domodossola . A road on the western shore of Lake Maggiore also connects Ascona to the Italian region of Piedmont via Brissago.

The old town cannot generally be reached by car, but there are several public parking lots surrounding it. From any of these, it's a short walk to the lakefront.

The town is best discovered on foot as small lanes are in general pedestrian only.

Lake promenade

Bagno pubblico - the public beach of Ascona

House Serodine ,

Town Hall Square .

Facade on three floors in Baroque style with stucco decorations Serodine of John the Baptist (1587-1626).

🌍

Museo Castello San Materno ,

via Losone 10 ,

☏

+41 91 759 81 60 ,

[email protected] .

Th-Sa 10:00-12:00, afternoon variable, Su 14:00-16:00 .

The oldest still standing part of this castle goes back to the 6th-8th century. Today it is used as an art museum.

Fr. 7/5 .

( )

🌍

Museo Comunale d'Arte Moderna ,

via Borgo 34 ,

☏

+41 91 759 81 40 ,

[email protected] .

Th-Sa 10:00-12:00, afternoon variable, Su 10:00-12:30 .

Museum of modern arts.

Fr. 10/7 .

( )

🌍

Brissago Islands

( Brissago Islands ),

☏

+41 91 791 43 61 ,

fax : +41 91 791 07 63 ,

[email protected] .

Season 2013: 20 March – 28 October .

The Brissago Islands, the Botanic garden of Canton Ticino, give you the wonderful opportunity to escape from the noise and confusion of frenetic modern life.

Adults Fr.

8, Children (6-16) Fr.

2.50 .

Ascona Locarno and the Magic Valley .

3-4 hours .

Regional bicycle path n. 31: Tenero – Locarno – Losone – Avegno – Gordevio – Maggia.

Events

JazzAscona ,

3, Luini St

( Tourist Office Lake Maggiore, Locarno ),

[email protected] .

latest 20th - 29th of June 2014 .

Jazz Ascona is one of the major world events dedicated to the classic jazz and New Orleans' Beat.

Musical weeks of Ascona ,

Tourist Office Lake Maggiore

( Locarno ),

☏

+41 848 091 091 ,

fax : +41 91 759 76 94 ,

[email protected] .

Since the founding of the Settimane Musicali of Ascona in 1946 the event represents a recurring and very much appreciated date on the annual events calendar and therefore has become an integral part of the traditions and the music entertainment panorama of the Lake Maggiore region especially and the Canton of Ticino in general.

Street Artists' Festival ,

3, Madonna della Fontana St ,

fax : +41 91 791 21 02 ,

[email protected] .

There are numerous restaurants at the lakefront. In these, you'll generally have to pay for the view - which may well be worth it, as the view is very nice indeed. On the other hand, if you're only after food, you may find better value for your money a block or two inland.

🌍

Osteria Nostrana ,

Piazza G. Motta ,

☏

+41 91 791 51 58 ,

[email protected] .

( )

Swiss wine, beer, and hot chocolate are widely available. Cafés and bars in Ascona offer a range of local and international beverages.

🌍

Hotel La Perla, Ascona ,

Via Collina 14 ,

☏

+41 91 791 35 77 ,

[email protected] .

from Fr.

144 .

( )

At the lakefront there are mostly hotels and restaurants, but the narrow pedestrian streets leading away from the lake have dozens of little stores where you can find almost anything.

Locarno is the next city, just across the river and offers all modes of transportation.

Losone is the neighboring town just upriver. It is mostly residential and less touristy than Ascona or Locarno, but there are several traditional Ticinese "grotto" restaurants there.

This article is issued from Wikivoyage . The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.