We cross the Old Town to the stairs that lead up to Monte Verità. The climb isn’t for everyone, but from here you can take a stunning photo of the view that makes the perfect souvenir. Alternatively, you can take the bus from the Autosilo stop that reaches Monte Verità in just eight minutes. The hill overlooking Ascona is known for its cultural and historical importance. This green park plays host, among other things, to the most northerly tea plantation in Europe, a museum complex that explains the history of the mountain and a hotel. Between 1902 and 1920, Monte Verità was home to a naturist colony, traces of which can still be seen both in the park and at the Museo di Casa Anatta. Over time, it attracted revolutionaries, philosophers, writers and artists. It now plays host to the Monte Verità Literary Events, during which international literary personalities discuss a different theme every year. Let’s take our time to visit the park with a long walk, attend a tea ceremony and maybe even have lunch in the restaurant, which is blessed with beautiful views of the lake.
The Serodine brothers left their mark on art all over Ascona, as demonstrated by the altarpiece in the church of Saints Peter and Paul and the church of the Madonna della Fontana. Ascona is also home to the Fondazione Epper, which exhibits artworks by Ignaz and Mischa Epper, and the Fondazione Rolf Gérard, where its permanent display can be admired. The Museo Comunale d’Arte Moderna is also nearby: founded in 1922 on the initiative of a number of artists who, having come to Ascona between the two wars, decided to donate one of their works to the town for the opening of a museum. The collection now contains more than 500 works of art. Let’s treat ourselves to an ice cream between visits, not forgetting to browse the many art galleries in the Old Town. With a visit to the Castello di San Materno, it’s almost evening, but the day is not over: we’re looking for somewhere to be spoilt by some typical Ticino dishes given a new twist by talented young chefs. From traditional cooking to fish specialities and the most avant-garde cuisine, there is somewhere in Ascona to suit every palate. We end our evening with a walk along the lakeside, admiring the silhouette of the Brissago Islands in the distance.
A boat trip around the lake is always enjoyable, but it can take a long time and is better kept for a longer stay if you want to focus on the town’s artistic side. From April to October, however, you could take a detour to the Brissago Islands, which are only 15 minutes by boat from Ascona and home to the only botanic gardens in Switzerland on an island, with over 1,700 species of plants from all over the world.
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