Among the many interesting locales on Lake Maggiore, those in Canton Ticino and Valle Cannobina definitely merit a visit.

The Swiss shores of the lake offer a myriad of leisure activities, from exploring medieval towns, like Ascona, to strolling in the shade of the luxurious vegetation found in the Botanical Park on the Isole di Brissago. For those who prefer shopping, Locarno, the well-known resort town, won’t disappoint and is also famous for its annual summer film festival.

Locarno is also the perfect point of departure for enjoyable excursions into the beautiful local valleys and the spectacular mountains in the area.
Valle Maggia, Valle Verzasca and the Centovalli all offer inique experienes.

The Centovalli, which extends from Locarno to Domodossola, has been extolled for its scenic beauty since the days of the Roman Empire and the best way to appreciate it today is without a doubt a ride on the “Centovallina” railway. The hour and a half train ride to Val Vigezzo takes passengers through an impressive landscape of waterfalls, brightly-coloured fields and bridges over breathtaking precipices.

Entering Valle Verzasca, one gets the sensation of travelling back in time. Its particular geographical position has allowed it to maintain its original state, thus preserving a picturesque rural reality rarely found elsewhere in the region. Its most characteristic villages are Vogorno, where you can try bungee jumping, Lavertezzo, with its Roman bridge and Sonogno, home to the interesting ethnographic museum.

Last but not least is Valle Maggia, offering a wealth of hiking trails, rivers, streams and alpine lakes as well as a rich historical and artistic heritage.
Bosco Gurin, at 1507 metres above sea level, is the highest commune in Ticino and is almost exclusively inhabited by descendents of the original Walzer colonists. Also worth a look is the 80-metre waterfall, the Cascata di Feroglio, highest in the region.

Monte Tamaro and Monte Limidario-Gridone can also be reached from Locarno.
The former via a cable car which takes visitors up to its stunning panoramic observation point where one of the most fascinating pre-alpine excursions, the Tamaro-Lema trail, starts. The view, encompassing Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, with the majestic peaks of Monte Rosa, Cervino and the Alps in the distance, will dazzle and impress.

The road for Monte Limidario-Gridone leaves from Brissago and goes as far as Mergugno or Cortaccio, where you can park the car and continue on the path that leads up to the top. Along the way stop at the “Al Legn” (1800 mt) mountain hut, open year round, and enjoy the splendid view of Lake Maggiore.

The VCO Province has a wealth of other worthwhile destinations just a short drive away, including beautiful valleys, parks and numerous small towns and villages which still conserve their historical and romantic fascination.

The Valle Cannobina, in the hinterlands of Cannobio, is ideal for day trips and short excursions.
Your first stop should be at l’Orrido di S.Anna, a spectacular natural gorge, with its little medieval church and Romanesque stone bridge located at the beginning of the road through the valley. Other suggested stops along the way are Malesco, Santa Maria Maggiore, Re and Ponte Brolla.

Just a few kms outside town is Carmine Superiore, an ancient medieval hamlet perched above the lake. A short walk leads up to this group of stone dwellings where a magnificent view of the lake awaits.

Val Grande National Park, undisputed realm of uncontaminated nature in an exuberance of untamed vegetation, presents a real challenge for those seeking more demanding excursions. Wild and impervious, it calls for maximum care and caution and hikers are advised to explore it in the company of an expert guide.

Not to be forgotten is the natural paradise of Val d’0ssola, where the medieval town of Vogogna, one of the valley’s most picturesque communes boasts a Pretorium built in 1348 and a 14th-century Castle.

Another gem is Macugnaga, founded by the Walzer people in the year 1200 at the foot of Monte Rosa. The Walser domestic museum and the Guja gold mine both merit a visit. For mountain lovers, panoramic hikes open up the horizon to the magnificent glaciers of Monte Rosa.

For sports-lovers, Cannobio itself offers a wide range of activities: football grounds, tennis courts, athletic track, and bike paths; then there is the lido and public beach where all sorts of water sports can be practiced, courses followed and equipment rented. Especially popular are wind surfing, sailing, water skiing and scuba diving.

For the shopper at heart the town’s clothing boutiques, wine and food shops and the vast open-air market on Sundays beckon. Alessi, the innovative, internationally-known house-wares manufacturer and Sergio Tacchini, the famous sportswear company both have conveniently located outlet shops in Crusinallo (Omega) and Gravellona Toce (Verbania).
Still not satisfied? Then try Fox Town Shopping Center with over 80 stores, in Mendrisio or Milan, Italy’s capital of fashion and design, 120 km from Cannobio. The city block bounded by Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni and Via Sant’Andrea is home to many of the world’s most celebrated designer shops.

For more information:

www.isolebrissago.ch
www.cardada.ch
www.vallemaggia.ch
www.robiei.ch
www.verzasca.com
www.centovalli.ch
www.montetamaro.ch
www.parcovalgrande.it
www.vogogna.it
www.macugnaga.it
www.trekking.ch
www.omnialacus.com
www.monterosarafting.it
www.foxtown.ch
www.sergiotacchini.com
www.alessi.it