Locarno, Switzerland

Locarno, Switzerland
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Locarno,_Ascona_%26_Lago_Maggiore_von_Brione_sopra_M.jpg
Author: Glenn Steiger


Locarno is a small Italian-speaking town in southern Switzerland. It is located on the northernmost part of Lake Maggiore, in the canton of Ticino. The town covers 19.27 sq km (7.44 sq mi) and has a population of 15,000 (2011 estimate). It is at an average elevation of 200 m (656 ft) and observes the Central European Time (UTC+1) and in summer the Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).

View of Lake Maggiore from Locarno
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tessin2006_picture_037.jpg
Author: Gürkan Sengün


Locarno is today a tourist destination attracting visitors to enjoy its Mediterranean climate. Its setting on Lake Maggiore is particularly picturesque.

Three quarters of the population of Locarno speaks Italian, with German being the second most common language. Human habitation in the Locarno area is believed to date back to at least the 14th century BC, based on the discovered in 1934 of 14 urn graves in a necropolis in the area. The following year another necropolis was discovered yielding graves spanning nearly a thousand years, right up to the 3rd century AD.

Roman-era tombs have also been discovered in the Locarno area, providing evidence of Roman occupation of the area. One of the earliest mention of Locarno dates back to 1164, when Emperor Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, granted market rights to the town. A market is believed to have been held in the area going back to Roman era.

Chiesa Sant'Antonio Abate, Locarno
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Locarno-Antonio-Abate.jpg
Author: Roland Zumbuehl


Locarno was annexed into the Swiss Confederation in 1503. The Protestant Reformation that swept across Central Europe in the 16th century brought the faith to Locarno, which has a small group of Protestants in 1535. However, friction and discrimination against Protestant resulted in the town declaring itself as Catholic in 1550, and four years later, issuing an ultimatum for Protestants to either renounce their faith or leave. This forced some 100 people to leave Locarno, trudging to Zürich.

Locarno became the capital of the Canton of Ticino in 1803 and remains so until 1878. Today it is the administrative capital of Locarno District within Ticino.

Visiting Locarno

You can reach Locarno by train from Zürich, Basel, Lucerne and Milan. If you come by road, the A2 and A13 are the main expressways to reach the city from other parts of Switzerland.

Street in Locarno
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Locarno_Altstadt.JPG
Author: Jungpionier

Sights & Attractions in Locarno

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