Locarno & Surroundings

The apartment hotel "Residenza Motta" is located in the heart of the picturesque old town in the city of Locarno in the immediate vicinity of the Piazza Grande and the "Visconti Castle". Grocery stores, restaurants, boutiques etc. are just around the corner.

Locarno - the city at the Lago Maggiore

On the shores of Lake Maggiore with Locarno and Ascona is one of the most beautiful holiday regions in Switzerland. It lies where the Latin culture unites with the Germanic. Here the Mediterranean region kisses the Swiss alpine world. Where else can you climb snow-capped mountain peaks and swim under palm trees the same day? Italian "Dolce vita" meets Swiss cosiness. This unique combination will also inspire and cheer you up in the globalized travel age.

Discovering Locarno

Locarno lets you revive in every respect. Conquer the city from the sea side. From the pier in both directions the generous subtropical flowered lake promenades with their parks, the camellia garden, the sculpture park of Jean Arp, the new marina and the spa center right on the shore. Here you will also find bars and restaurants to linger.

From the jetty, you can also dive straight into the urban culture, where you go straight to the Piazza Grande.

The Piazza Grande - The venue for many events in Locarno

The piazza, with its Lombard arcades, is one of the most famous and largest squares in Switzerland. It is the pulsating centre of the city. Every summer, the International Film Festival takes place here. Even the concerts under the stars, Moon and Stars, enjoy great popularity every year. In winter skaters cavort on Locarno on Ice. Every Thursday the local weekly market takes place here.

Locarno’s dreamy old town

The beautiful picturesque old town with its palazzi and charming courtyards invites you to dream, here you will find inviting boutiques, bars and restaurants.

The Castle of Visconti, with the "Rivellino", whose construction is considered to be the defensive bastion of Leonardo da Vinci, is within walking distance of the Residenza Motta holiday apartments, allowing you to immerse yourself in the medieval world.

Here you will also find the museums Casorella and Casa Rusca. A very different but also seductive world offers the Casino with the Municipal Theatre, which is also located on the Piazza Grande.

Very close to the Residenza Motta, Palacinema opened in October 2017 with various movie theatres (also for the film festival) and a cozy lounge bar.

The Cardada mountain with the cable car of architect Mario Botta combines the mountains with modern architecture.

Ascona - the neighbour of Locarno

Ascona enchants as a former fishing village still the senses. And this also culinary. Recently, renowned gastronomic restaurants have emerged. These are joined by lounge bars. The streets are lined with art galleries and haute couture boutiques. Also worth a visit is the Monte Verità above Ascona, which has developed as a former centre of life for intellectuals and artists who, at the beginning of the 20th century, experimented with new forms of natural life.

Locarno’s wild, untouched nature

The almost untouched and wild nature in the valleys of the Locarnese takes the guests back to ancient times when nature stood above man. A true hiking paradise is the Locarnese. Starting with the lush green, idyllic Centovalli, to the mysterious Onsernone valley and the long, beautiful Maggia valley and finally into the picturesque, narrow Verzasca valley with the river Verzasca with the magical green colour. On the way, the original Grotti invite you to visit.

The Locarno Region

In the vicinity are beautiful cities worth seeing such as Lugano, Bellinzona and near the border in Italy attract Verbania / Intra, Luino (weekly market), Como and Varese.