20 Attractions to Explore Near Castles of Bellinzona

The castle of Montebello is located in Bellinzona. Its previous names were "little castle", "New Castle" and "middle castle" from the fourteenth to 1506, then Castle of Schwyz until 1818 and finally to San Martino Castle. The medieval complex to which it belongs, which includes Castelgrande, Sasso Corbaro and the walls connecting them, since 2000 is part of the UNESCO. Today it houses the Archaeology and History Section of the Municipal Museum of the city's origins.

The church of San Bernardo di Mentone is a religious building located in Bellinzona, in the Canton of Ticino. Built at the end of the 11th century, it was enlarged in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the bell tower, the portico in front of the facade, and an internal chapel were built. The church has a single nave plan covered by an exposed beam ceiling. The interior is almost completely covered with frescoes.

Monte Bar is a mountain of the Lugano Prealps, located north of Lugano in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. It lies on the range west of the Gazzirola, between the Val d'Isone and the Val Colla. A panoramic tour in the hills where you come across pastures, a typical Alpine hut, a lodge, a farm and a mountain meadow. This is one of the classic mountain bike paths of the Lugano region situated on the slopes of Monte Bar, where there’s an alpine hut with the same name, with “Bike Friendly” service

Gazzirola is an imposing mountain, from whose top there are three ridges. From the south-western side of the mountain rises the Cassarate river which forms the Val Colla. It was a nice place which is blessed with natural beauty and also it gives some opportunities for some adventure activities too.

Pizzo di Vogorno is a beautiful Pyramid shaped mountain located in the Italian part of Switzerland: Ticino. It is often called the 'Home mountain' of Locarno. Vogorno towers high above this famous city since the altitude difference between summit and city is over 2200 meters. Vogorno is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the Verzasca region.

Pizzo di Claro is a fine pyramid-shaped mountain towering high above the village of Claro as well as the city of Bellinzona with an altitude of 2727 meters above sea level. Climbing Pizzo di Claro is not for those without patience. The low elevation of the valley floors in the region creates a big altitude difference with the mountain's summits. A small lake lies west of the summit at 2,198 meters, Lago Canee. Marked trails lead to the summit from both sides, the shortest route starting from ab

Lago di Vogorno is a reservoir near Tenero, in Ticino, Switzerland. The reservoir on the Verzasca river is formed by the Verzasca Dam, built 1961–1965. The water surface area is 1.68 km2. It was one of the architectural wonders in this area and it attracts a lot of tourists here.

The Contra Dam, commonly known as the Verzasca Dam is an arch dam on the Verzasca River in the Val Verzasca, Ticino Switzerland. The dam became a popular bungee jumping venue after a James Bond stuntman jumped off it in the opening scene of the 1995 film GoldenEye; a stunt voted as the best movie stunt of all time in a 2002 Sky Movies poll.

The striking 1962 meter-high mountain lies precisely between Locarno und Lugano – and is famous for the Santa Maria degli Angeli church. Monte Tamaro has a fabulous choice of activities for a full day out. There is also a cable car to reach the summit and it offers beautiful views of the Swiss and Italian mountains and lakes.

The church of Santa Maria Degli Angeli is a late Romanesque religious building located in Lugano Centro. The church, which was originally part of a Franciscan monastery, is home to Switzerland's most famous Renaissance fresco. It covers the whole wall of the nave. The "Passion and Crucifixion of Christ" is defined by the great expressiveness and vividness of the individual scenes.

Verzasca Valley, Valle Verzasca in Italian is a long narrow valley located in Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. This valley offers a wild and fascinating landscape, with the Alps on one side and a lake on the other. The river has an emerald green color, and thanks to its good visibility, it is famous as a river diving destination.

Alpe di Neggia is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It connects Vira and Indemini. The pass lies in the saddle between Monte Tamaro and Monte Gambarogno. The maximum grade of the pass road is 12 percent. One of the beautiful and panoramic location in this area which is suitable for trekking and camping too.

Cimetta is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps, it is located above Locarno and Lake Maggiore. The Locarno–Madonna del Sasso funicular links Locarno city center with Orselina. From there a cable car connects to Cardada, from which a chair lift runs to the summit. It was one of the picturesque locations and a nice trekking destination in this area and you can enjoy each and every moment here.

Monte Gradiccioli is a mountain of the Lugano Prealps, located between Indemini and Sigirino in the canton of Ticino. It lies south of Monte Tamaro, on the range between Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano. One of the beautiful mountain in the area which is suitable for trekking and other adventure activities too.

Monte Gambarogno is a mountain of the Lugano Prealps, overlooking Lake Maggiore in the canton of Ticino. It lies on the range between Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, culminating at Monte Tamaro. The summit is a popular vantage point and is easily accessible with a road culminating at the Alpe di Neggia.

The Locarno–Madonna del Sasso funicular, is a funicular railway near the city of Locarno in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The line links a lower station in the city center with the pilgrimage site of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso and the municipality of Orselina. It forms part of the route to the summit of nearby Cimetta mountains.

The Val Calanca is a valley of the Swiss Alps, located in the Lepontine Alps. The valley is drained by the Calancasca, a tributary of the Moesa , at Roveredo. The highest mountains surrounding the Val Calanca are the Puntone dei Fraciòn and the Zapporthorn. The valley belongs to the Moesa District, in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The main villages are : Rossa, Cauco, Selma, Arvigo, Buseno and Santa Maria in Calanca.

The historic core of Locarno extends from the slopes of the Cimetta to the ancient bank of the Verbano towards which the front of porticoed buildings on the north-west side of today's Piazza Grande opened. The alleys leading up to the old town, characterized by several ancient buildings, depart from the Piazza Grande. The front of arcaded buildings at the foot of the hill, once located near the shore of the lake, is dominated by the civic tower referable to the fortifications commissioned by the

The Madonna del Sasso in Orselina above Locarno is the most important sanctuary in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. For centuries, pilgrims would walk to the Sacred Mountain where, according to the tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared. Two routes are possible: the steep Via Crucis or the trails in the natural valley where a few chapels are located. Numerous works of art preserved in the sanctuary - stuccoes, frescoes, ex-votos , Bramantino and Ciseri canvases - were revitalized by the r

The Castello Visconteo, now an archaeological museum, is located on the edge of the old town and was built in the 12th century, probably as the residence of a Captain Orelli, who remained true to the Emperor. In 1260, it fell into the hands of the Ghibellines. In 1342 the Visconti of Milan, for whom it is now named, attacked the castle from both the land and the lake side and took it. It first came into the hands of the Eidgenossen in 1503.