2 Press Kit ascona-locarno.com 4 Welcome to Ascona-Locarno! Welcome to Ascona-Locarno, a lake and mountain holiday destination with an intriguing mix of Swiss quality and Mediterranean atmosphere. The lakeside towns and villages, with their natural elements and architectural treasures, offer a neat atmosphere, exclusive and lively at the same time, thanks to their colorful piazzas, their restau- rants and shops as well as markets and a rich cultural program. Are you looking forward to knowing more about our beautiful region? Browse the press kit and let yourself be inspired by our highlights! We would be delighted to provide you more informa- tion about the Ascona-Locarno region or organize your media trip. Why Ascona-Locarno? • In 1 hour from the palms to the glaciers • 2’300 hours of sunshine a year • 1’400 km / 870 mi of hiking trails • 500 and more events per year • Swiss quality and Italian style Learn more on ascona-locarno.com/media Contact us at [email protected] Follow us on AsconaLocarnoTurismo Locarno, OldTown asconalocarno ascona_locarno Freiburg (D) München (D) Distances to Join us Basel St. Gallen and from Locarno Zürich Innsbruck (A) Cities km mi Airports km mi Luzern Basel 257 160 3h00 3h30 Lugano-Agno 39 24 0h50 1h30 Bern Chur Bern 272 169 3h15 3h30 Zürich Int. Airport 213 132 2h45 3h00 Geneva 425 264 4h30 5h15 Milano Malpensa 115 71 1h45 3h45 Lausanne Zurich 197 122 2h30 2h30 Milano Linate 130 80 2h15 - Ascona– Lausanne 374 215 4h00 4h30 Sion Locarno Bellinzona Genève Milan 118 73 1h30 2h00 Lyon (F) Lugano Did you know...? Torino (I) Milano (I) Thanks to AlpTransit, the longest tunnel in the world, you reach our destination in record time. If you check-in in a hotel, youth hostel or camping you receive the Ticino Ticket, which allows you to benefit from free public transportation and ensures discounts on cable cars, navigation and many tourist attractions. Brissago Isole di Brissago Porto Ronco Ronco s/Ascona Centovalli Onsernone Valle Ascona Losone di Pedemonte Terre Gambarogno Vallemaggia Locarno Muralto Orselina Minusio Brione S/Minusio Lago Maggiore Verzasca Valle Tenero Gordola 8 Facts & Figures Fusio Geographic position Robiei Mogno Altitude: 195.50 m/618.50 ft above sea level. Locarno and its surrounding coutryside Piano di Peccia are at a distance of 25 km/15 mi from the most S.Carlo Peccia important European North–South rail link Prato Sornico Val Lavizzara and miroad arteries . Val Bavona Broglio Lake Maggiore Foroglio Menzonio Surface: 212 km/131 mi Brontallo Perimeter: 170 km/105 mi Sonogno Length: 64 km/39 mi Cavergno Frasco Last flood: November 16th, 2014 Bignasco with 196.41 m/ 644 ft Val Rovana Gerra Verzasca Bosco Gurin Cevio Climate Cerentino Linescio Riveo Mild throughout the year with lush subtropical vegetation. Considerable hours of sunshine, but Campo Brione Verzasca Someo Vallemaggia with moderate intensity. Mild temperatures with Cimalmotto Val di Campo Valle Verzasca little daily variations. Light to moderate winds Giumaglio Coglio and gentle fall in temperature with little fluctu- ations in the year. Temperature measurement in Lodano Lavertezzo degree Celsius (°C). Maggia Temperature °C Moghegno Corippo Vergeletto Languages 30 Aurigeno Gordevio Vogorno Salei Gresso The national languages of Switzerland are 25 Valle Onsernone Avegno Mergoscia 20 Berzona German (63%), Loco Comologno Russo Cimetta French (23%), 15 Crana Auressio Cardada Italian (8%) Spruga Mosogno Tegna Contra 10 Cavigliano Brione Agarone Tenero Gordola Bellinzona Romansh (0.8%). Comino 5 Intragna Verscio Orselina Locarno is located in the Italian-speaking part. Verdasio Minusio Riazzino 0 Golino Cugnasco-Gerra Besides their mother tongue, most Lake Maggiore Centovalli Corcapolo Losone Muralto Borgnone Arcegno Locarno July Rasa June Region inhabitants speak German, French and May Contone April Magadino March August Palagnedra Ronco Quartino Bellinzona January some English. October Domodossola(I) Camedo Ascona February s/Ascona December Vira G. November September Isole Porto Ronco Piazzogna Rivera Tipping di Brissago S.Nazzaro Brissago A service charge is included in restaurant and Hours of sun Gerra Gambarogno Ranzo Gambarogno hotel bills as well as taxi fares. An extra tip is not 300 Lugano expected, but is appreciated for good service. 250 Alpe di Neggia Cannobio(I) Luino(I) Indemini 200 150 100 50 0 July June May April March August January October February December November September Lago Maggiore Ascona, the pearl of Lake Old Town – Locarno Maggiore. Today it is an exclusive Ascona-Locarno Discover the old and most characteristic tourist destination, a lakeside part of the town of Locarno. The Visconteo ascona-locarno.com paradise; its extraordinary history Castle with the Rivellino, a bulwark attest- is filled with art and culture. ed as a Leonardo da Vinci work, beauti- The city of film on Lake Maggiore fully shaped windowsills, some charming is Locarno; with culture, lake portals, the courtyards and small gardens and mountains you run no chance surrounded by bright arcades. of getting bored. It is the perfect destination for your holidays, whether you plan on relaxing or you are looking for pure enter- tainment. Piazza Grande – Locarno With its typical arcades it is one of the most famous town squares in Switzerland and, during the Locarno Festival, transforms itself into the most wonderful open-air cinema in the world. This is a meeting place as well as the heart of the town where the main commercial and cultural activities Digital Concierge and iziTravel take place, like the weekly market every Save the link (digitalconcierge.ch) on your Thursday and the Moon & Stars concerts. phone and take the Digital Concierge with you: top events, next public transport connection, restaurants and all the infor- mation you need during your stay. Downloading the free app iziTravel and listening to the audio guides will allow you to discover history and traditions of Locarno’s and Ascona’s historic centre. Did you know…? Lungolago G.Motta, Ascona The Thursday’s market in Locarno has been taking place on the Piazza Grande since 1164. Ascona lake promenade The historic townhouse Negromante it is As soon as you catch a glimpse of the Asco- considered the oldest house of Locarno na lakefront, the colorful lakeside houses, (14th century). Today the building hosts which imbue the scenery with a Mediter- a popular Bar & Restaurant. ranean character, will impress you. It is the ideal location for relaxation, taking walks and enjoying the splendid sunset on the lake. Leaving the lake area and moving Cabel car Zott–Salei up into the valleys, the landscape Mountain Areas In the pasture fields of the Onsernone becomes more wild, characterized Valley, at 1’777 m.a.s.l., it is possible to find ascona-locarno.com/transport by impressive peaks, Alpine lakes, the Refuge Salei, which can also be rivers, waterfalls and forests. Here reached by following the hiking trails you will find more typical villages, from the local villages in the valley. With important witnesses to centu- a short walk, there is the little lake Salei, ries-old history. Modern and com- famous for its panoramic view, stretching fortable lift systems will bring you as far as Lake Maggiore. up to these small gems and to beautiful mountain sceneries. Cable car Verdasio–Rasa The enchanting little village of Rasa (898 m.a.s.l.), the only car-free village in Ticino, can be reached by cable car or on foot; still to this day the children depend on the cable car to get to school. Noteworthy is the cruciform church dating back to 1753. Cable car San Carlo–Robiei Installed in the 1960s, this cable car can Cable car Verdasio – carry up to 125 people to Robiei: in only Monte Comino 15 minutes you reach 1’900 m.a.s.l. and find yourself at the foot of the impressive Monte Comino is located in the pictur- Basodino glacier. Every summer more esque Centovalli at 1’200 m.a.s.l., a region than 20’000 visitors enjoy the amazing characterized by an authentic landscape, landscape. where traditions are alive and well. From 1993, a cable car – interlinked with the famous scenic train Centovallina – makes this location ideal for a day-trip excursion and, why not, an exciting trekking with lamas. Did you know…? The Basodino glacier is the largest in Ticino. Onsernone Valley In the mountains above our valleys there are more than 30 huts. The left bank of Lake Maggiore has witness the skill with which the inhabit- Gambarogno been blessed with extraordinary ants of the past have built their houses and lakeside shores, enchanting hills cattle sheds. ascona-locarno.com/gambarogno and small picturesque villages. It is a region of tradition and pleasant scents, which offers a botanical park with a magnificent view and the unique natural reserve of the Bolle di Magadino (water mead- owland). Walking trails wind along the hills and valleys, through chestnut woods and thriving meadows. Botanical Garden of Gambarogno This magnificent botanic garden is locat- Bolle di Magadino ed in the Gambarogno area on a hillside between Piazzogna and Vairano. Otto Between the mouth of the Verzasca and Eisenhut, a patient and talented cultivator the Magadino plain, there is a precious of plants and trees, cultivated thousands of and renowned wildlife refuge. The Bolle beautiful and colorful flowering plants like di Magadino, one of nine water meadow 950 types of camellias, 350 different mag- landscapes considered by the Swiss nolias, azaleas, peonies and Rhododendron Academy for Natural Science to be of on a surface of more than 17’000 m2. international importance, includes the delta of the Ticino and Verzasca river at Lake Maggiore. Did you know…? A new and exciting singletrail for the most experienced mountain bikers; 8 km of a technical trail Alpe di Neggia, Gambarogno to discover the magnificent region of Gambarogno.