Locarno
Locarno
is the most northerly
lakeside town in the world which enjoys a Mediterranean climate.
Despite being the warmest town in Switzerland, it still comes as a
surprise to many that Mediterranean
plants such as palm trees and lemon trees thrive in Locarno - and on
the plains of Magadino even rice grows successfully!
Even in
the Middle Ages Locarno was an
affluent urban settlement - today there are numerous palaces, churches
and attractions which tell the story of the town's eventful history.
The heart of the
town is Piazza Grande, an elongated cobblestone square, which is
considered to be the most beautiful square in Ticino. Weekly markets
and open-air concerts liven up the Piazza Grande, and in August each
year the famous Locarno International Film Festival is broadcast on a
big
screen in the square.
The
sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso in
Orselina above the town, which offers magnificent views of the town,
lake and mountains, is one of the main attractions in Locarno, and is
also a popular pilgrimage destination.
