Page 591 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

SWITZERLAND  589

Festival. The festival aims to
keep alive experimentation,
discovery, eclecticism, and
passion for auteur cinema.
Moviegoers of all ages and
nationalities gather in the square
to watch a movie on one of the
world’s biggest open-air screens.
Winding lanes filled with
restaurants and boutiques
radiate off the piazza. Above
the town, easily accessible by a
funicular railroad, the sanctuary
of Madonna del Sasso is a
major tourist and pilgrimage
site. There has been a church
here since 1480, when a vision
of the Virgin Mary appeared to
a local monk. The Baroque
church is filled with marvelous
frescoes and commands a
fantastic view over the lake.
Probably the most charming
of the three main centers of the
region is Lugano, with its palm-
lined lakeside location and
attractive historic center of
elegant piazzas. The arcaded
streets are full of interesting old
shops selling local produce.
Away from the main centers,
Hilltop sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso, Ticino, with its lakeside views there are plenty of quaint
w Ticino three castles of Castelgrande, villages along the Maggiore and
Lugano lakes, such as Ascona
k Agno. £ Bellinzona, Locarno, in the town, Montebello, in the and Gandria. These are now
Lugano. n Via Lugano 12, Bellinzona middle, and Sasso Corbaro, filled with waterside restaurants
(091-825 7056). _ Locarno on top of the hill, feature on and arts and crafts shops. The
International Film Festival (early Aug). UNESCO’s list of protected valleys to the north offer great
∑ ticino.ch monuments. Castelgrande, with hiking and beautiful, peaceful
its imposing battlements, was scenery. Val Verzasca, north of
The Ticino, Switzerland’s most the stronghold of the Visconti Locarno, is one such valley, with
southerly canton, feels much family in medieval times. the photogenic stone hamlet of
more Italian than Swiss, with Bellinzona is also appealing on Corippo clinging to the steep
its mild climate and Italian Saturdays, when the streets of sides, and the pretty villages of
cuisine and language. It lies its old town are filled with Brione and Sonogno towards
south of the Alps, bordering tempting market stalls. the head of the valley.
the Italian lakes (see p411), and Locarno is located at the
is traversed by routes up the northern end of Lake Maggiore. + Castelgrande
Alpine passes of St. Gotthard and The suitably named Piazza Monte San Michele, Bellinzona.
San Bernadino. The three main Grande is the heart of town, Tel 091-825 8145. Open daily. &
towns of Bellinzona, Locarno, which, for two weeks in August, R Madonna del Sasso
and Lugano all make attractive becomes a giant open-air cinema Via Santuario 2, Orselina. Tel 091-743
bases for exploring the area, during the International Film 6265. Open daily.
with plenty of attractions, cafés
and restaurants. Beyond, the
valleys of the Ticino offer great
sightseeing opportunities.
Bellinzona is the capital of
the canton. Lying on the main
north–south route between the
Alps and Italy, it provides the first
hint of Italian life with elegant
piazzas, hilltop fortresses, and
fine Renaissance churches. The Crowd gathered for Locarno’s annual International Film Festival

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