Things to see and do Locarno

The castle, built between 1575 and 1593, has uncertain origins and part of the building is even said to date from 1342. According to studies, it is Leonardo da Vinci who drew the current plans. The exterior - an outstanding example of Renaissance style - was restored in 1923. It now houses the Archaeological Museum, which contains objects found in the Locarno area from the late Bronze Age through the Roman remains to the early Middle Ages. A section of the museum is dedicated to the history of the Protestant Reformation in Locarno.

The Pinacoteca Casa Rusca is housed in a restored 18th century building. It was inaugurated in 1987 and houses the city's art collections. It has a total of 4,500 works - paintings, sculptures and graphic arts. Mainly 20th century modernist artists. The collection includes works by Theo Van Doesburg, Alexander Calder... The museum does not have a permanent exhibition and displays its collection in temporary exhibitions. Find out more on their website.

This park is located on the Riviera del Gambarogno, between the small villages of Vairano and Piazzogna. Occupying a small elevation, it owes its creation to the nurseryman Otto Eisenhut who, in an area of 17,000 square metres, has gathered more than 950 species of flowers (camellias, magnolias, azaleas, junipers, exotic firs). It can be reached by car and bus (stop in front of the Gambarogno restaurant; the park is 2 minutes away, just after the bridge).