Sacred Mount Madonna del Sasso - Ascona - Isole di Brissago

Route: Lugano - Sacred Mount Madonna del Sasso - Ascona - Isole di Brissago - Lugano
Duration: 6 h
Our first stop will be at the Sacred Mount Madonna del Sasso in Orselina is one of the most important religious and historical sites in the canton of Ticino. Tradition says that Fra ' Bartolomeo , a Franciscan friar of the convent of Locarno, wanted to build a place of worship on the "Rock " of Locarno as a result of an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Today it consists of the Church of the Annunciation at the foot of the Mount, the Via Crucis and the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso , the Sacred Mountain is a wealth of art, history and spirituality. Leaning on a spectacular outcrop of rock, the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso pilgrimage church above Locarno is preceded by a large square from which you can see the deep valley and the wild. Next to the church, a porch allows you to enjoy a fantastic view over Locarno, the lake and the surrounding mountains. Our next stop will be at city center of Ascona. Ascona is located in the Ticino on a river delta formed by the River Maggia and on the shores of a splendid and sunny bay of Lake Maggiore. Sheltered by the mountains of the Alps, Ascona enjoys an exceptional climate in which hydrangeas, magnolias and camellias blossom as early as in March. Its unique position, together with a wide variety of landscapes, the mediterranean climate, the resort’s touristic tradition and the well known hospitality of the Ticinese people, make Ascona a famous holiday destination. Ascona, often called the “Pearl of Lake Maggiore” for its cultural heritage as well as for its touristic offer, is one of the most exclusive tourist destinations in Switzerland. The Old Town of Ascona was built around the 16th century church of “Pietro e Paolo” and exerts a special fascination: an intricate web of lanes containing every kind of shop leads to the piazza, which lies directly on the lake. The panorama opens out over the lake where you will find cafes and restaurants in the sunshine. From ascona we will swim by local boat to Isole di Brissago, where mild climate at Lago Maggiore  enables subtropical plants to flourish in the open air on Isola Grande. The Botanical Gardens of the Canton of Ticino house around 1,700 plant species. There you will walk and see Lotus blossoms, giant sequoias, bald cypresses, perennial banana plants, and even eucalyptus trees grow in the Botanical Gardens on the two Brissago islands in Lago Maggiore. The water of the lake stores warmth so well that there are hardly any days with frost in the winter, and the Alps also form a protective barrier against cold air from the north. This climate favors the growth of exotic plants. The 2.5-hectare park houses plants from nearly all of the subtropical regions of Asia, South Africa, America, Australia and the islands of Oceania.After we will return to Lugano.
Price: Per person