2 Press Kit ascona-locarno.com 4 Welcome to Welcome to Ascona-Locarno, a lake and mountain Ascona-Locarno! 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 restaurants 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. Learn more on ascona-locarno.com/media Contact us at [email protected] Follow us on AsconaLocarnoTurismo asconalocarno ascona_locarno 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 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 3h20 Lugano-Agno 39 24 0h50 3h51 Bern Chur Bern 272 169 3h15 3h25 Zürich Int. Airport 213 132 3h00 3h15 Geneva 425 264 4h30 5h10 Milano Malpensa 115 71 1h30 3h30 Lausanne Zurich 197 122 2h30 2h15 Milano Linate 130 80 1h45 - Ascona– Lausanne 374 215 4h00 4h30 Sion Locarno Bellinzona Genève Milan 118 73 1h30 2h15 Lyon (F) Lugano Did you know...? Torino (I) Milano (I) AlpTransit, the fast and efficient new rail link through the Alps, is the high-speed option for those who want to reach the destination of Lake Maggiore and Valleys in record time. From December 2016 your journey to the Ascona-Locarno region will take around 1 hour less. Brissago Isole di Brissago Porto Ronco Ronco s/Ascona Centovalli Onsernone Valle di Pedemonte Terre Ascona Losone Gambarogno Vallemaggia Locarno Muralto Orselina Minusio Brione S/Minusio Lago Maggiore Verzasca Valle Tenero Gordola 8 Facts & Figures Fusio Robiei Geographic position Mogno Altitude: 195.50 m/618.50 ft above sea level. Piano di Peccia Locarno and its surrounding coutryside S.Carlo Peccia are at a distance of 25 km/15 mi from the most Prato Sornico Val Lavizzara important European North–South rail link and miroad arteries . Val Bavona Broglio Foroglio Lake Maggiore Menzonio Brontallo Sonogno Surface: 212 km/131 mi Cavergno Frasco Perimeter: 170 km/105 mi Bignasco Length: 64 km/39 mi Val Rovana Last flood: November 16th, 2014 Gerra Verzasca Bosco Gurin with 196.41 m/ 644 ft Cevio Cerentino Linescio Riveo Climate Campo Brione Verzasca Someo Vallemaggia Mild throughout the year with lush subtropical Cimalmotto Val di Campo Valle Verzasca Giumaglio vegetation. Considerable hours of sunshine, but Coglio with moderate intensity. Mild temperatures with little daily variations. Light to moderate winds Lodano Lavertezzo and gentle fall in temperature with little fluctu- Temperature °C Maggia Corippo ations in the year. Temperature measurement in 30 Moghegno Vergeletto Aurigeno degree Celsius (°C). 25 Gordevio Vogorno Salei Gresso 20 Valle Onsernone Avegno Mergoscia Languages Berzona 15 Loco Comologno Russo Cimetta Auressio 10 Crana Cardada The national languages of Switzerland are Spruga Mosogno Tegna Contra Cavigliano Brione Agarone German (64%), 5 Tenero Gordola Bellinzona Comino Orselina 0 Intragna Verscio French (22%), Verdasio Minusio Riazzino Golino Cugnasco-Gerra Italian (8.5%) Centovalli Corcapolo Losone Muralto July June May April Borgnone Arcegno Locarno Romansh (0.5%). March August Rasa Contone January October Magadino February Bellinzona Locarno is located in the Italian-speaking part. December November September Domodossola(I) Camedo Palagnedra Ronco Ascona Quartino Besides their mother tongue, most Lake Maggiore s/Ascona Vira G. Isole Porto Ronco Piazzogna Rivera Region inhabitants speak German, French and di Brissago S.Nazzaro some English. Hours of sun Brissago Gerra Gambarogno 300 Ranzo Gambarogno Tipping 250 Lugano Alpe di Neggia 200 Cannobio(I) Luino(I) Indemini A service charge is included in restaurant and 150 hotel bills as well as taxi fares. An extra tip is not expected, but is appreciated for good service. 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 Ascona-Locarno Maggiore. Today it is an exclusive Discover the old and most characteristic part ascona-locarno.com tourist destination, a lakeside of the town of Locarno. While strolling along the paradise; its extraordinary history quiet, mostly traffic free lanes, you will find some is filled with art and culture. ancient emblems, reminders of the old town’s The city of film on Lake Maggiore history: the Visconteo Castle with the Rivellino, a bulwark attested as a Leonardo da Vinci work, is Locarno; with culture, lake and beautifully shaped windowsills, some charming mountains you run no chance of portals, the courtyards and small gardens sur- getting bored. It is the perfect des- rounded by bright arcades. tination for your holidays, whether you plan on relaxing or you are looking for pure entertainment. 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 take place, like the weekly market every Thursday and the Moon & Stars concerts. Markets Local food like our farmers’ fresh cheese, eggs, fruit and vegetables or handmade products and second hand merchandise. Enjoy the lively atmosphere at the traditional markets of Ascona (Tuesdays on the lake promenade) and Locarno (Thursdays on the Piazza Grande). Lungolago G.Motta, Ascona Did you know…? Ascona lake promenade The Thursday’s market in Locarno has been taking place on the Piazza Grande since 1164, As soon as you catch a glimpse of the Ascona lake- granted by Emperor Federico I Barbarossa front, the colorful lakeside houses, which imbue (1122 – 1190). the scenery with a Mediterranean character, will impress you. It is the ideal location for relaxation, The historic townhouse Negromante was built taking walks and enjoying the splendid sunset on in the 14th century and it is considered the oldest the lake. house of Locarno. Today the building hosts a popular Bar & Restaurant, which maintains the character of the building. Leaving the lake area and moving Cabel car Zott–Salei Mountain Areas up into the valleys, the landscape In the pasture fields of the Onsernone Valley, ascona-locarno.com/transport becomes more wild, characterized at 1’777 m.a.s.l., it is possible to find the Refuge by impressive peaks, Alpine lakes, Salei, which can also be reached by following the rivers, waterfalls and forests. hiking trails from the local villages in the valley. Here you will find more typical With a short walk, there is the little lake Salei, famous for its panoramic view, stretching as far villages, important witnesses to as Lake Maggiore. centuries-old history. Modern and comfortable lift systems will bring you 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. Notewor- thy is the cruciform church dating back to 1753. Cable car San Carlo–Robiei Cable car Verdasio-Monte Comino Installed in the 1960s, this cable car can carry up Monte Comino is located in the picturesque to 125 people to Robiei: in only 15 minutes you Centovalli at 1’200 m.a.s.l., a region characterized reach 1’900 m.a.s.l. and find yourself at the foot of by an authentic landscape, where traditions the impressive Basodino glacier. Every summer are alive and well. From 1993, a modern cable car – more than 20’000 visitors enjoy the amazing interlinked with the famous scenic train landscape. 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. ValleOnsernone In the mountains above our valleys there are more than 30 huts. The left bank of Lake Maggiore has Gambarogno been blessed with extraordinary ascona-locarno.com/gambarogno lakeside shores, enchanting hills 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. Indemini Located at 930 m.a.s.l., connected to the rest of the Gambarogno region by a road only since Bolle di Magadino 1917, the village of Indemini has retained its characteristic agglomerate mountain. Houses Between the mouth of the Verzasca and the leaning against each other and arranged along the Magadino plain, there is a precious and renowned contour lines, stone roofs, arcades exposed to the wildlife refuge. The Bolle di Magadino, one of sun have survived the passage of time and witness nine water meadow landscapes considered by the skill with which the inhabitants of the past the Swiss Academy for Natural Science to be of have built their houses and cattle sheds. international importance, includes the delta of the Ticino and Verzasca river at Lake Maggiore. Gerra Gambarogno Botanical Garden of Gambarogno This magnificent botanic garden is located in the Gambarogno area on a hillside between Piaz- zogna and Vairano.