SWISS
HOLIDAYS
Bellinzona is the southernmost capital of Switzerland. The skyline of the
capital of Ticino is defined by the powerful fortifications, comprising three of
the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland, which are listed as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
Bellinzona is strategically positioned where the valley narrows on the way to the Alpine passes of St. Gotthard, San Bernardino and Lucomagno. The town acts as a gateway to Italy for those travelling from the North, and the keyhole to the Alps for those coming from the South.
The picturesque corners and squares, the courtyards and the neo-Classical, Italian-style theatre, and the sympathetically restored old houses tell visitors the history of what is culturally a Lombardy town. In its alleyways are richly decorated patrician houses and beautiful churches. Yet behind the austere charm of the medieval town is all the dynamic life of a modern meeting-place. Numerous boutiques, cafés and specialist shops offering culinary delicacies invite you to linger and window-shop. Each Saturday there is a big weekly market on the Piazza Nosetto.
Bellinzona is ideally located for excursions to the nearby holiday resorts of Locarno and Ascona, over Monte Ceneri to the southern Tessin with its main town, Lugano, up the romantic side valleys of the Tessin or northwards into the Leventina, with the Bedretto valley, or into the sunny Blenio valley.
Highlights
• Three castles – the medieval fortifications, with the castles of
Castelgrande, Castello di Montebello and Castello di Sasso Corbaro, are a 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 artists from the local area.
• 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 inn signs from a bygone era.
• Teatro Sociale – inspired by La Scala in Milan, the building is in the typically 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.
Top Events
• Carnevale Rabadan Bellinzona – highly traditional carnival, with a big masked procession, street performers and masked balls (February).
• Open-air cinema in the Castelgrande – at the castle, in a romantic setting under the stars (June).
• Piazza Blues Festival – for a few days, Bellinzona becomes the blues Mecca of Switzerland, with international stars (June).
• PerBacco! – traditional wine-growers’ festival with a procession in national dress, wine-tasting, theatre and lots of music (September).
• Cheese market – autumn festival with fresh produce, cheese and wine produced by Ticino farmers (October).
• Castellinaria Youth Film Festival – the spotlight is on children and young people in the films shown here (November).
• Christmas market – in the Old Town of Bellinzona (December).
The fortifications of Bellinzona are among the most important examples of
medieval defensive architecture in the Alps, and have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since the year 2000. From the Castelgrande,
Bellinzona’s oldest and mightiest castle, there is a beautiful view over the Old Town and the surrounding area. A little museum in the Castelgrande documents the history of Bellinzona’s castles and town centre. There are also museums in the other two castles.
It was the Romans who realised the strategic importance of the site, and
first built a castle here, in the first century A.D. In the Middle Ages this was extended to form a long, impregnable fortress. Because of its location, Bellinzona was always a bone of contention between the Dukes of Milan and the Swiss. It was only in 1516 that the town first became part of the Swiss Federation.
Amighty bastion
Bellinzona’s impressive castles are among the best surviving examples of medieval military fortification. The three fortresses, linked by walls, occupy a defensive position that has been strategically important since the Roman era. Rebuilt several times over the centuries, Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro have recently been restored to their full glory.
Everthything about Bellinzona and the UNESCO World heritage castles is stunning. Come and enjoy the history stepping back through the ages in the only Italian canton (state) in Switzerland!
If you wish to fly, we can assist you with scheduled flights from most airports to Basel, Geneva & Zurich.
With SWISS, you get free baggage allowance, drinks, food, on-line check-in and they fly from London Heathrow, London City, Birmingham and Manchester.
If you prefer, you are welcome to use one of the Low Cost Base Airlines, such as EasyJet who fly from 12 regional airports to Switzerland, so we should be able to find a good value flight for you!
If you fly we also include a 3-day Flexi Pass offering you 3 days of your choice of unlimited travel on Swiss Travel System – maybe visit Locarno or Lugano for the day!
If you wish to drive, we include cross-Channel Ferries & Eurotunnel.
| Train Transfer Time from Basel: | 2hr 40min |
| Train Transfer Time from Bern: | 2hr 45min |
| Train Transfer Time from Geneva: | 4hr 42min |
| Train Transfer Time from Zürich : | 2hr 00min |
| Driving Distance from Calais: | 566 miles |
View the Swiss Rail timetable.
We have a wonderful hotel available for your stay in Bellinzona, Hotel Internationale. Perfectly located, a traditional Ticino building thoroughly and sympathetically modernised inside. Right by the train station and an ideal location to explore the town and maybe visit Locarno or Lugano for the day.
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