Bellinzona
Bellinzona is arguably Switzerland's most Italianate town and the Capital of the Ticino canton. It is located conveniently for excursions to the nearby holiday resorts of Locarno and Ascona. From Bellinzona, it is easy to go over Mt. Ceneri and journey to the southern area of Tessin and its main town, Lugano. Visitors can travel north of the romantic side valleys of the Tessin and into the Leventina, the Bedretto valley, or the sunny Blenio valley. The skyline of Bellinzona is defined by the powerful fortifications, comprising three of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland. These three castles are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bellinzona is located near where the valley narrows and eventually leads to the Alpine passes of St. Gotthard, San Bernardino, and Lucomagno (Lukmanier). The town acts as a gateway to Italy for those travelling from the North, and the passageway to the Alps for those coming from the South.

The fortifications of Bellinzona are among the most important examples of medieval defensive architecture in the Alps. From the Castelgrande, Bellinzona's oldest and largest castle, there is a beautiful view over the Old Town and the surrounding area. A small museum in the Castelgrande documents the history of Bellinzona's castles and town centre. There are also museums in the other two castles.

Discover Bellinzona
The picturesque corners, town squares, and courtyards lend charm to this small city. The neo-Classical Italian-style theatre and the carefully restored houses tell visitors the history of this Lombardy town. In its alleyways, visitors can view richly decorated patrician houses and beautiful churches. However, behind the austere charm of the medieval town resides the exciting spirit of a modern meeting-place. Numerous boutiques, cafés, and shops offer culinary delicacies and invite you to linger and window-shop. Each Saturday, there is a large market on the Piazza Nosetto.

Tourist Office Bellinzona
Piazza Civico, 6500 Bellinzona, Tel. 091 825 2131

Ticino Discovery Card
This card entitles holders to free travel around Ticino for 3 days. You can use it to travel with the public and tourist transportation (bus, train, railway, funicular, cable car or boat) within the Canton of Ticino. Also included in the offer are several tourist attractions which are included in the price of this advantageous card!

The Highlights:

• Three castles – the medieval fortifications, with the castles of Castelgrande, Castello di Montebello and Castello di Sasso Corbaro (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Villa dei Cedri – municipal art gallery with Swiss and Italian paintings from late 19th and early 20th century, as well as contemporary art. There is a particular focus on local artists.
• Old Town – in the area around the Piazza Nosetto, Via del Teatro and Piazza del Governo, the Old Town boasts a wealth of beautiful merchants' houses, stone gateways, balconies with wrought iron railings, and insights into a bygone era.
• Teatro Sociale – inspired by La Scala in Milan, the building is considered an Italian Classical style, and is the only theatre in Switzerland to have been preserved from the 19th century.
• Modern architecture in Bellinzona – in the Castelgrande, the architect Aurelio Galfetti has cleverly integrated a boldly designed restaurant, while the Convento delle Agostiniane on the Monte Carasso has been converted into a modern training centre by the architect Luigi Snozzi.

Bellinzona Market
The Bellinzona market is a popular event that is recognized as one of the best traditions of Ticino. In the city's historic district, among the signs of the ancient inns, multicoloured well prepared stalls draw in visitors to buy fresh top-quality products, at favourable prices. The market has become a fun place to meet people, and many restaurants in the area offer typical lunches at moderate prices. Open Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM.

Excursions
Lugano
Lugano is nestled on the eponymous lake and among numerous hills and mountains. It is the third financial hub in Switzerland after Zurich and Geneva, and a holiday destination for many Swiss since the late 1800's. Along the lake, visitors can observe many Venetian-style villages which show the proximity between Lugano and Italy.

Monte San Salvatore - Lugano
An aerial cable car whisks you from Lugano-Paradiso to the peak of Mt. San Salvatore. The new panoramic cable car transports tourists to the peak of San Salvatore in 10 minutes time. The cars run every half hour from March to November. At the peak of the mountain, visitors can find the beautiful church of San Salvatore, from the roof of which, they can enjoy the unique 360Ëš view. From the peak, travelers can hike down a trail to Ciona (Carona) or hike a loop which leads through a nature park, where they are constantly surrounded by the regional flora and fauna. 

Swiss Miniature - Melide
Swissminiatur is an open-air museum where one can admire the most important Swiss buildings and means of transportation. There, a self-service restaurant serves local, Chinese, and Indian cuisines and visitors have access to a playground on the premises. Dotted around the park, viewers can admire the 120+ scale models of the most famous buildings and monuments in Switzerland. All of the scale models are inserted in a 14,000 m2 area that is decorated by 15,000 flower varieties and more than 1,500 trees. Swiss Miniatur is only 5km from Lugano.

Restaurants
Italian: Ristorante Casa del Popolo – Traditional with emphasis on local (Viale Stazione 31 – 091 825 29 21)