The best traffic-free bike rides around Gnosca

Went many times - departure from Ascona - beautiful but this June the sun exhausted us

Grotto Bassa since 1910, Lumino The Grotto Bassa in Lumino is a historic restaurant, opened in 1910 by Andrea Franzi. It has been passed down from father to son and is today managed by Carlo Franzi. The restaurant offers a unique atmosphere with century-old trees that provide shade and tranquility. Specialties include cured meats from the Misox, alpine cheese, Formaggini from the valley, typical Ticino dishes, and the famous Roastbeef à la Mila. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. Bassa di Fuori 1, 6533 Lumino Text / Source: Niedere Grotte, Via Bassa di Fuori 1, Teelicht https://www.grottobassa.ch/

In Bellinzona's Old Town From the train station, the bus takes us to the stop at the end of Via Lugano. To the east is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. On the other side of the railway line, we pass the Villa dei Cedri, nestled in a magnificent park and home to the municipal art collection. We head north along Via Pedotti to Piazza San Biagio, where the 13th-century church of the same name can be admired. The church, one of the most interesting in the region, has been restored and stripped of its Baroque additions. The remarkable frescoes date from the late Middle Ages. We return and follow Via Lugano north to Piazza Indipendenza, where we find the Church of San Rocco, a building dating back to 1330 and enlarged in 1478. This is where the actual old town begins. The town hall, with its elegant courtyard, was completely rebuilt in 1924, using materials from the previous 15th-century building. At Piazza Nosetto, with its beautiful porticoes, we turn left onto Via Teatro, passing the restored theater building from the previous century and reaching the government building. The oldest part consists of the former Ursuline convent, dating back to the 13th century and rebuilt in the previous century. Returning to Piazza Nosetto, we approach Piazza Collegiata, passing the Casa Rossa, a brick-clad building inspired by the Lombard style of the 15th century. The massive church of SS. Pietro e Stefano reflects the Renaissance style with Baroque elements. A lively market is held every Saturday in Piazza Collegiata. On Viale Stazione, we find ourselves in the city's commercial district. The post office building is noteworthy, a prime example of contemporary Ticino architecture. Text / Source: Agenzia turistica ticinese SA., Via C. Ghiringhelli 7, Bellinzona https://www.ticino.ch/de/commons/details/In-Bellinzonas-Altstadt/3156.html

The Fortress of Bellinzona and its Castles Once upon a time, there were knights and drawbridges. Where? In Bellinzona, of course! Take a journey back in time and visit the castles, which were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000. Arm yourself with a camera and discover Castel Grande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro. Tin-reinforced walls, towers, and enormous gates: you'll be catapulted straight into the Middle Ages! Dream of the knights' heroic deeds and immerse yourself in life back then. The Fortress of Bellinzona offers visitors a hands-on experience of medieval history. You can purchase the Fortress Pass online, at the InfoPoint in Bellinzona, or at the ticket offices of the three castles. It allows you to visit the fortress and its walls, the Castel Grande Museum, the Archeologia Montebello exhibition trail, and the temporary exhibitions. Are you primarily interested in visiting the exhibitions? Then buy the new Expo Pass: a combined ticket that grants access to the temporary exhibitions at Castel Grande, Sasso Corbaro, and the Museo Villa dei Cedri! Text / Source: Bellinzona e Valli Tourism https://www.bellinzonaevalli.ch/de/discover/castles.html

In Bellinzona's Old Town From the train station, the bus takes us to the stop at the end of Via Lugano. To the east is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. On the other side of the railway line, we pass the Villa dei Cedri, nestled in a magnificent park and home to the municipal art collection. We head north along Via Pedotti to Piazza San Biagio, where the 13th-century church of the same name can be admired. The church, one of the most interesting in the region, has been restored and stripped of its Baroque additions. The remarkable frescoes date from the late Middle Ages. We return and follow Via Lugano north to Piazza Indipendenza, where we find the Church of San Rocco, a building dating back to 1330 and enlarged in 1478. This is where the actual old town begins. The town hall, with its elegant courtyard, was completely rebuilt in 1924, using materials from the previous 15th-century building. At Piazza Nosetto, with its beautiful porticoes, we turn left onto Via Teatro, passing the restored theater building from the previous century and reaching the government building. The oldest part consists of the former Ursuline convent, dating back to the 13th century and rebuilt in the previous century. Returning to Piazza Nosetto, we approach Piazza Collegiata, passing the Casa Rossa, a brick-clad building inspired by the Lombard style of the 15th century. The massive church of SS. Pietro e Stefano reflects the Renaissance style with Baroque elements. A lively market is held every Saturday in Piazza Collegiata. On Viale Stazione, we find ourselves in the city's commercial district. The post office building is noteworthy, a prime example of contemporary Ticino architecture. Text / Source: Agenzia turistica ticinese SA., Via C. Ghiringhelli 7, Bellinzona https://www.ticino.ch/de/commons/details/In-Bellinzonas-Altstadt/3156.html

Bellinzona Old Town With elegant churches, magnificent parks, and squares, Bellinzona's old town offers a fascinating insight into the region's history and culture. The remarkable post office building also reflects contemporary Ticino architecture. Bellinzona undoubtedly deserves its reputation as the most authentic old town in Ticino. The popular "Viale Stazione" street, which leads directly from the train station and into the old town, makes access particularly easy and convenient. An absolute highlight that shouldn't be missed is the 15th-century Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. It impresses with its elegance and houses a stunning Renaissance fresco that transports visitors back to a bygone era. Bellinzona's old town also offers a variety of charming shops, cafés, and restaurants where you can enjoy local cuisine and the Ticino ambiance. The picturesque alleyways invite you to stroll and continually offer new discoveries. Not to be forgotten are the well-preserved city walls and castles that surround the old town, offering an interesting insight into medieval defensive architecture. Text / Source: Bellinzona e Valli Turismo, Piazza Collegiata 12, Bellinzona https://www.myswitzerland.com/de/erlebnisse/old-town-of-bellinzona/

Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Stephen, Bellinzona This Renaissance building was designed by a master, Tomaso Rodari from Maroggia (sculptor and architect of the Como Cathedral). The stately façade, constructed of dark Castione stone, dominates the high flight of steps and, between the small, early Renaissance-style side portals, encloses the magnificent main portal, decorated in the upper part with the city's coat of arms. Of particular interest is the large, twelve-pointed rose window (5 m in diameter), created in the late 15th or early 16th centuries. The single-nave interior dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. The church, dating from the 17th century, is rich in stucco work from the 17th century and features a double row of side chapels decorated with paintings from various centuries, predominantly from the 17th century, by famous artists such as Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli (known as Morazzone), Camillo Procaccini, and Bartolomeo Roverio (known as il Genovesino). Among the frescoes, the "Musical Angels" by Giuseppe Antonio Felice Orelli from Locarno, painted in 1770, is particularly noteworthy. The main altarpiece, a Crucifixion attributed to Simone Peterzano, is beautiful. Also worth seeing is the pulpit made of polished colored plaster (an imitation of precious marble), created in 1784, and the holy water font located at the entrance (to the left of the right side portal). This is also called the "fontana trivulziana" (Trivulziana Fountain) because in the 15th century it was a castle fountain owned by the Trivulzio family of Mesocco. A faithful replica of this gem of 15th-century Lombard sculpture stands in the Sforza Castle in Milan. The Collegiata, property of the city of Bellinzona, is the seat of the city center's Catholic parish. It is administered by a chapter of canons under an archpriest. The oratory of St. Martha leans against the northern side wall of the church. The interior consists of a rectangular hall, the walls of which were completely covered with frescoes by Varese painters in 1762. The vaulted ceiling is also painted and depicts the "Triumph of St. Martha," the saint whose 17th-century wooden statue sits enthroned on the marble altar consecrated in 1763. Text / Source: Agenzia turistica ticinese SA., Via C. Ghiringhelli 7, Bellinzona https://www.ticino.ch/de/commons/details/Stiftskirche-St-Pietro-e-Stefano/2841.html

Fine gelato over Gass.