Switzerland: Ascona

[bjorn]

Ascona is the "Swiss Riviera." Picture blue water, red tiled roofs, and swaying green palm trees. With its Mediterranean climate and sunny location on the shores of Lake Maggiore, Ascona makes a perfect resort town. It's quite a change from the modest little fishing village Ascona was a hundred years ago. Around the turn of the century, a group of artists and intellectuals wanted to create a Utopian, vegetarian artist colony in Ascona. These days, this Italian-speaking village is a favorite vacation spot of German Suisse from the north.

When to go:
Summer is resort time in the Tincino. (That's the region where Ascona is located.) But thanks to the warm Mediterranean sun, Ascona is much warmer than the rest of Switzerland. It is worth looking into off-season visits.

During the summer high temperatures are in the 80s. The lake water temperature is in the 70s.

What to Do:
History/Ruins:
Coliego Pontifico Papio is famous for its beautiful renaissance courtyards. Next door, Santa Maria della Misericordia is a church that was built in the late 14th century. Be sure to check out its 15th century gothic frescoes. Chiesa SS Pietro e Paolo has a stone clock tower that marks Ascona's location on the lake. It also has frescoes dating from the 1400s.

Museums:
Across from Chiesa SS Pietro e Paolo is Casa Serodine. It's what's left of a renaissance artist colony. Museo Casa Anatta is a museum dedicated to the Utopian movement. Follow its demise in documents and photographs. (There's no English labeling in the Museo Casa Anatta).

Shopping:
The places to shop in Ascona are the town's antique shops and art dealers. In these places you'll find a wealth of art from Tincino artists. What you won't find in Ascona are touristy shops. If you've got to have a postcard, look in the newsstands around via Borgo. And if cash is burning a hole in your pocket, there are plenty of stylish, upscale boutiques, like Baccarat, around via Orelli.

Food/Culinary Info:
Ascona is the kind of cross-cultural town where you can find delicious crepes and incredible Italian cooking. Be sure to try both!

Beach:
Ascona has a beautiful waterfront. The lido (beach) is a popular place in the summer. But the place to see and be seen on the waterfront is along the string of terrace restaurants at the end of via Borgo and in the Piazza Motta.

Natural Wonders:
Ascona's Monte Verita is responsible for much of the town's celebrity. A century ago a community of people began their quest for a perfect world on the hill above the city. The best way to tour the Lago Maggiore is by boat. You can rent paddle or motorboats on the waterfront. Or if you prefer to have someone else navigate, ferries run from village to village along the lake's coastline.

Cultural Comments:
International theater companies visit the Teatro di Locarno year-round. In the fall, look for the International Festival of Marionettes. The puppet many of the shows are geared more for adults than kids.

Festivals/Events:
The biggest musical attraction in Ascona is summer's Ascona New Orleans Jazz Festival. You'll hear the music on the waterfront and in cafes in late June and July. In August, don't miss the International Horse Jumping Competition.

Nightlife/Bars:
Ascona's sister city, Lugano, has a more energetic nightlife, but the establishments you'll find in Ascona will also be glad to serve you. Check out the cluster of bars, clubs, and discotheques next to the waterfront just off of via Borgo.

Cafe Quotient:
Once again, via Borgo is your place, near the lake. It's a great place to chill on the street or on the terrace of a cafe.

Cost:
For the budget conscious traveler, beware: Ascona is a resort town. You may be able to find more affordable accommodations in neighboring Lugano.

Getting Around:
The easiest way to get to Ascona is by bus from Locarno. You also can take the ferry from other towns on Lago Maggore. As for getting around town, you don't need much more than your feet. There are shops that rent bicycles.

Language:
Italian is spoken in Ascona. You'll also find a lot of German and some French... but less English than you might expect.

Party/Social Scene:
Ascona isn't a hard partying city. There are enough bars and clubs to keep from getting too bored.

Other Info:
Click here for weather forecast from Weather.com.