7 secret spots of Ticino: a piece of Italy in Switzerland
A piece of Italy in Switzerland: that is the Ticino region. Italian flair, palm trees and a wonderful climate. Here, the northernmost parts of Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore extend across the Swiss border. Discover the 7 secret spots of Ticino.
Tip-1 Island hopping in the Alps
Admittedly: most of Lake Maggiore is in Italy, but from Switzerland you can go island hopping. Take Isola Grande, the 'big island', where you can walk among subtropical plants. And what about the island of San Pancranzio, part of the Brissago Islands. Here you'll find a magnificent palace with palms, enormous yuccas and bamboo – as if you were on an island in the South Pacific!
Tip-2 Like James Bond on a bungee cord
It is one of the most spectacular stunts in film history: the jump Pierce Brosnan made as James Bond, from the 220-meter high Verzasca dam, in the film Goldeneye. You can do that same jump yourself: the Goldeneye Bungee Jump takes place at Lake Vogorno, on a bungee cord. More than 7 seconds of free fall guarantee an adrenaline rush that you will feel for the rest of the day. You reach the bungee location from the village of Gordola. Be sure to book in advance,you can do that here
Tip-3 The olive route
A beautiful winding route with a wonderful view over Lake Lugano. That is the olive walk, which takes you along old olive groves. You start at the old town hall of Castagnola and then you just follow the signs. Or you walk it exactly the other way around, from the village of Gandria. It's nice that you constantly come across information panels along the way with interesting facts about olive cultivation and the history of those small green balls. And when you're done walking? Then you can take the bus back to where you started. More information can be found here
Tip-4 The Hippie Mountain
Okay, okay, 'hippie mountain' might be a bit crude for Monte Verità (Mountain of Truth, near Locarno), but around 1900, this 321-meter high hump was a commune for hippies from all over the world. Vegetarian food, free body culture, and free love were on the agenda, but after 20 years, that was pretty much over. Now, all that remains is a museum, a Bauhaus-style hotel, and a tea garden with a thousand tea plants where you can experience a special tea ceremony.
Tip-5 Cycling & Hiking
You need strong calves and at least twenty gears, but then you're all set for a spectacular bike ride around Lake Maggiore, with gradients up to 20 percent. But: no one will look at you strangely if you walk the trickiest parts. You can find sporty cycling routes under 'what to do' on this website
If you're more into hiking, put the Bavona Valley on your bucket list, with its spectacular waterfall near the village of Foroglio. Here, a crystal-clear stream plunges 80 meters down, to splash apart on the rocks in the Calnegia Valley. Bring your camera!
Tip-6 To the table!
Sausage, polenta, and risotto – these are the specialties you'll find everywhere on the menu in Ticino. Also special are the dishes in which farina bona plays the main role: flour from roasted corn, with an intense flavor. In the past, the corn flour was only prepared with water, milk, and blueberries, but nowadays you can order it in restaurants as cake and even ice cream. The tiny restaurant Grotto Efra, in Sonogno (Valle Verzasca), specializes in local dishes – eating is an experience in itself, but so is the journey there and back: from the village, you can only reach it on foot. More information can be found here
Tip-7 Train spectacle
It's almost a century old: the 52-kilometer long railway line through the Centovalli, literally: the hundred valleys. And if you're already near Lake Maggiore... You'll never forget this train journey. You board at Locarno station and then pass no less than eighty bridges, thirty tunnels, bizarrely high viaducts, dizzying abysses, countless waterfalls, and green vineyards. The railway line is officially called 'Ferrovia Vigezzina Centovalli' and ends in the Italian Domodossola. And the return journey? That looks completely different! Read more on this website
Camping tip in Ticino
Camping Campofelice is a luxurious family campsite directly on Lake Maggiore and on the Verzasca River. Water lovers will be in their element here: you can sup (stand-up paddling), surf, and rent canoes and motorboats. The campsite even has its own small harbor. There is a free boat connection to Tenero and Locarno, but the beautiful Ascona is also just around the corner. The campsite has 600 pitches available for camping enthusiasts and various luxurious rental accommodations. Click here for the Campofelice website
How to get there
From Utrecht via Antwerp and Brussels, cheap refueling in Luxembourg and then via France towards Basel and on the A2 to Lucerne and finally the destination Ticino. Or via Germany, mostly on the 61, then keep to Basel and on the A2 to Ticino.
Distance Utrecht – Ticino: approximately 970 km.
Looking for a nice camper or caravan with which you can explore Ticino? Take a look at CampersCaravans.nl
