Guided visit to Cannobio and Locarno

DAY TRIP TO CANNOBIO AND LOCARNO

- CANNOBIO Italy

This gem of a town has charm oozing from every corner. Cannobio lies in the northen part of Lake Maggiore, just before the Swiss border. It's a splendid ancient little town that still conserves many old houses and the typical medieval narrow alleys all paved with stones and cobbles. A larg part of Cannobio is traffic free and its promenade along the lake front is probably the largest and most beautiful in the lake. Cannobio is elegant and lively and in this lovely town nothing is left to chance.

There is an important Sanctuary by the lake (the Sanctuary of Santissima Pietà) that was built in the 16th century because of a miracle that occured in the village.

In Cannobio there is a big and colourful market taking place on Sundays.

- LOCARNO Switzerland

Locarno is a nice and lively Swiss town located at the northen end of lake Maggiore. Its name is bound up with the renowned International Film Festival which takes places there every summer in August. The Locarno Film Festival prides itself on being the second oldest film festival in the world (its first edition dates back to 1946). The name of this town also reminds us of the not-too-distant past when,

in 1925, the important Locarno Treaties were negotiated right here and then signed in London.

The heart of Locarno is Piazza Grande, not far from the lake front, surrounded by elegant buildings with porticoes in lombard style. Just a few minutes' walk from Piazza Grande, hidden behind these old buildings, is the old part of Locarno, known as Città Vecchia. In this part of Locarno are the Church of San Antonio and the Chiesa Nuova (The New Church, but it was built in 1630!). At the other end of the Piazza, arriving from the railway station or from the pier, there is a castle (Castello Visconteo) that was built in the 13th century by the Milanese Visconti family. Another beautiful church is located in the hills of Locarno: the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso (Madonna of the rocks) that was consacrated in 1502 and it is home to paintings by Bramantino and Ciseri.

SUGGESTED FULL-DAY ITINERARY

In the morning, we drive along the western shore of Lake Maggiore as far as Cannobio. Visit to Cannobio and free time for your lunch (or free time for lunch in Locarno).

In the early afternoon we move to Locarno where we visit the town. Return to your lakeside resort by the same route.

NOTES

Locarno is part or can be part of other full-day itineraries suggested on this website. For further information please refer to the following links:

• Domodossola and the scenic Centovalli / Vigezzina train to Locarno

• Vigezzo Valley, the village of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Chimney Sweep Museum

• Vigezzo Valley and the Sanctuary of Re