Bellinzona
Fly here
Three medieval castles, UNESCO listed, barring the Ticino valley.
From the basket
At the heart of Ticino, in the valley carved by the river of the same name, Bellinzona guards a passage. From the balloon you can see why: this is where the routes from the great Alpine passes come together, the St. Gotthard, the Lukmanier, the San Bernardino and the Nufenen. To control them, three castles were built.
The first, Castelgrande, sits enthroned on a rock right in the town. The second, Montebello, stands a little higher up the slope. The third, Sasso Corbaro, keeps watch at the very top, above the forest. A long wall links them and once barred the valley. The ensemble has been on the World Heritage list since 2000.
For a long time the town obeyed the Dukes of Milan, until long wars handed it to the Swiss cantons. Today it is the capital of Ticino, with churches holding ancient frescoes and an old town lying beneath the castles.
Fly over the three castles, from the rock of Castelgrande to Sasso Corbaro, then let yourself be carried towards the valley.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Bellinzone” (in French).
All around
- Lake Maggiore, 13 km to the west
- Lake Lugano, 19 km to the south
- Lugano, 21 km to the south
To discover around Bellinzona
Augustinian Monte Carasso Monastery
The foundation of the monastery and its associated church dates back to the year 1450. However, the mid-19th century saw the monastery closed and left to decay. It was only in the eighties of the 20th century that the monastery was shaken awake through a total renovation – and brought back to life at the village center under the supervision of the eminent Swiss architect Luigi Snozzi.
Bellinzona Saturday market
Each Saturday, people come together to enjoy the colourful weekly market that stretches from Piazza Nosetto to the alleyways of the old town.
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Built in the late 15th century, Santa Maria delle Grazie is one of the most precious churches in Ticino.
Crossing the suspension bridge Carasc
The mountainside above the Magadino Plain is the perfect place to enjoy a scenic hike. In addition to the breathtaking views, the tour also takes in several impressive sights.
Fortress of Bellinzona
The fortifications of Bellinzona are an extraordinary example of a late-medieval defensive structure located at a key strategic point on the Alpine pass. The castles of Bellinzona are among the most marvelous examples of medieval fortified architecture in the Alps.
Photo Spot Bellinzona
Montebello Castle is situated on a hill of the same name, 90 metres above the city and looking down on Castelgrande. Accessible from the Piazza Collegiata or Nocca district on foot or via a road branching off from the Viale Stazione, it offers wonderful views of the region.
Sasso Corbaro Castle
The name of this fortress is based on its geographical location: the Castello is located on a rock as dark as the feathers of a raven (from dialect “corbatt”).
Villa dei Cedri Park
The park surrounding the Villa dei Cedri, which today is home to the Municipal Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, is a living example of an English-style park of the 19th century. A further attraction is the vineyard behind the villa, whose grapes are used to produce the popular Merlot.
Source: Switzerland Tourism — myswitzerland.com, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.