Ascona

Ascona is often called the Queen of Lago Maggiore for its cultural heritage as well as for its touristic possibilities. It is situated near the delta of the Maggia river, on the shore of a splendid and sunny bay. This unique position, together with a wide variety of landscapes, its mediterranean climate, its touristic tradition and the well known hospitality of the Ticinese people, make Ascona a famous holiday resort. Because it is the most ideally located holiday resort on Lago Maggiore and has a wide choice of hotels including a dozen of luxury classes. Ascona has a lot to offer from a touristic point of view. Its artistic and cultural heritage, dating from the middle ages and the renaissance, is still very much alive in the old centre of the little town, which is called "borgo". Many artists who lived in Ascona from the sixteenth century on, left behind clear evidence of their talent, themostfamous of their works being the baroque "Casa Serodine". Ascona reached its cultural climax at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century, when a group of idealists, whose wish was the return to a natural way of life, founded a colony on Ascona`s beautiful hill, which they then called Monte Verità "the Mountain of Truth". Among the settlers were revolutionaries, philosophers, writers,poets,dancers and painters of international fame (Hermann Hesse, Karl Jung, Marianne von Werefkin, Alexej Jawlensky, and so on), who intended to reach a highly cultural and spiritual ideal. shops. Ascona, with a population of about 5`000, developed around its historical centre and offers a wide choice of exclusive shops, boutiques, museums, art galleries and antique. Thanks to a newly opened tunnel under Ascona`s hill, the town has grown into a little paradise with a large pedestrian zone - traffic free - in its historical centre, a splendid boardwalk along the Lake, and a magical view of the natural bay.

The tourist area surrounding Ascona includes Locarno (a town of 20,000 inhabitants, known worldwide foritsInternational Film Festival) as well as the Lake Maggiore basin, with its famous Borromeo Islands (in the Italian part of the lake, about one hour away by boat). Nearby are the luxurious Brissago Islands, renowned for their botanical garden rich in sub-tropical plants and flowers. And not to be missed are the splendid and wild valleys north of Ascona. Surrounded by high peaks and clear water rivers, Vallemaggia, Valle Verzasca and Valle Onsernone are scattered with solitary picturesque villages immersed in chestnut tree woods. Themajesticlandscape, sculpted by glaciers ten thousand years ago, uniquely contrasts with the soft profile of Lake Maggiore. Away from the palm trees of Ascona (200 meters above sea level) and from the vineyards found on the plains (you must taste the wonderful local Merlot wine!), one enters an increasingly rugged and untamed world, which culminates in the alpine region, where excellent cheeses are produced from 3000 meter high peaks and glaciers. In addition tothewide range of nature excursions accessible by foot, or the romantic trips by train, bus, or boat, the region also offers opportunities for relaxation and entertainment, including many sports (golf, sailing, bungy jumping, and so on). The cultural program is also rich: main events that take place are the JazzAscona New Orleans & Classics festival, the International Locarno Film Festival, and the Musical Weeks of Ascona (a series of high quality classical music concerts). The region is also home to a number of restaurants mentioned in prestigious guides and produces excellent wines. Among the gastronomical specialties are polenta, cheeses from the Alps and various cured pork meats.