Short Visit to Locarno's Camellia Gardens (Celebrating 100-year Jubilee)

Friday March 27, 2026 -- As we had a massif cold front come in on Wednesday afternoon (March 25th) with negative temperatures at night and even snow down to lake levels here on Lake Zug and Lake Lucerne, it seemed a good idea to go looking for warmth and sunshine in Canton Ticino once again, with weather forecasts of 15 degrees and higher. 

Back in December 2024 we walked from Ascona to Locarno around the Maggia Delta and discovered a lovely park called the Camellia Park which features hundreds of different varieties of Camellia bushes, some of which still had a few flowers. As the height of the flowering was taking place in March of this year (plus there was a special exhibition there from March 18-22 celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Camellia Park), I thought this would be a nice place to go, to sit on a bench in the gardens or at the lake, enjoy the sunshine for a couple of hours before simply heading into the cold north again.

BUT I forgot to check the wind report, and once I got to Bellinzona, I was surprised at the cold winds blowing (turns out about 30 km/hr). It was quite uncomfortable, even in the park, and besides that the flowers had either suffered frost damage or were at the end of their bloom, and it was not as impressive as I had hoped. So I didn't stay long. A walk through the park and short time on a bench for lunch, and then I walked the four kilometers back to the Locarno train station along the lakeshore and headed right back home again, after only two hours "in the sun" there. (Total travel time was five hours there and back). Had I checked about the wind, I would not have gone..... especially as we were planning for a hike in this region the next day.

Heading south by train toward Canton Ticino, it is difficult to believe that only two weeks ago we did a lovely spring hike here at the Sägel Moor on Lake Lauerz!

I got to Bellinzona at 11:45 and would have had to transfer to this train to Locarno, but it looked like everyone on my full train from Lucerne had the same idea! There was a bus leaving in 15 minutes, so I took that instead, and got to my destination 30 minutes later than planned. 

Passing by Lago Maggiore on the bus to Locarno, a 50-minute ride but with only 6 people in the bus!

I got to the Camellia Park at 1 p.m. (Parco delle Camelie). I had planned to sit on a bench here in the park or at the lakeshore for a couple of hours, enjoying the sunshine. But there was a strong wind blowing, so there was no point in staying too long. 

There were a few nicely-blossoming bushes, but most of the flowers looked damaged, either from frost or maybe I was already a bit too late. 

The flower park is right next to the lakeshore at Lago Maggiore, so I checked there first for a possible bench to sit and have my picnic lunch, but it was even windier here! Looks like those people are doing a photo shoot!

Those kids seem to be having a good time playing in the sand at the "beach", and the wind doesn't seem to bother them!

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The kids don't seem to mind the strong cold winds!

I found a bench across from this pond in the center of the park, but I didn't stay long as it was partly in the shade and cold. It was also in a "high-traffic" area with lots of people walking past. 

A pavilion next to the large pond gives information about the history of this park in Locarno. It was 100 years ago that the city held the first Camellia Festival, and the Camellia became Locarno's official flower.

The other side of the pond from where I sat to eat my lunch.

I went for another stroll around the park, and found some of the bushes still flowering nicely.

I was actually looking for a better bench more in the sun and away from the other visitors (a tour bus full had shown up) and found that one over there, next to the three ducks.

Another walk to the lakeside before finding my way out of the park. The wind is so strong that the branches on the willow trees are almost horizontal!

After spending just over an hour in the "Parco delle Camelie", I headed back toward the train station, trying to follow a route we had not done before. I walked through the next park called "Parco della Pace" (Park of Peace), and followed the lakeshore through the grounds of the public swimming area (which is open to pedestrians from November to March), through a small wooded park, and to the center of the main street in Locarno. It was a short, 4-km walk, and I caught the train at 15:15 for the two-hour trip home.

A small bay between the "Parco delle Camelie" and "Parco della Pace". 

Now I am walking along the lakeshore through another park called "Parco della Pace" (Park of Peace) 

The wind was whipping the water over the wall!

This next section of lakeshore actually belongs to the public pool and paid lake access (Lido) and is usually off-limits, but open to pedestrians between November and March, so I was happy that it was currently open and I could walk along the shoreline and sandy beach. 

I did enjoy watching the waves crashing! It doesn't usually look like this.

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The wind is strong and is whipping up waves on Lago Maggiore.

This view is from the lakefront at the Lido 

(You can only walk through here from November to March).

View across the lake to Monte Gambarogno and Monte Tamaro

I thought the reflection of the mountains looked impressive on the windows of the lido buildings.

Sandy beach here! But you have to pay an entrance fee in summer to enjoy this beach!

You can see how strong the wind is!

I then walked through a small forest called Bosco Isolino, which ended here at a park-like minigolf site.

There was a huge roundabout with a large fountain. This is called Fontana Pedrazzini.

The sun on the tops of these palm trees looks interesting. 

Looking back at the Fontana Pedrazzini with Monte Gambarogno in the background. The palms that look like pineapples are called Canary Island Date Palms. They definitely give the site a Mediterranean flair! 

It is unfortunate that this beautiful building has fallen into disrepair. That is an olive tree in front of the building.

What a beautiful tree! An Internet photo search indicates this might be called a "Cedar of Lebanon". 

I didn't really need to go to the Camellia Gardens, as there were other just as beautiful bushes in the middle of the city!

This is my favourite photo: All the flowers which have fallen off the Camellia bush.

A look into the main square (Piazza Grande) of the old part of Locarno city. It is where the Locarno Film Festival takes place every year. This is "is the most significant cinematographic event in Switzerland and among the most important in Europe."

I then headed toward the lake again through the park called "Giardini Rusca". Those stacks of blocks along the path are bronzed hand-prints from "famous" musicians who have visited Locarno. This path is called the "Walk of Fame". The music festival "Moon & Stars" also takes place at the Piazza Grande.

Here in this park was a grandiose Rhododendron Tree.

Back down at the lake now, this site is called Debarcadero, where the cruise ships on the lake dock. (Side note: I took friends on a cruise here on Lago Maggiore last fall, and we also docked here. These are the photos --> HERE)

The Canton flags at Debarcadero are flying hard today!

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A video shows much better how strong the winds are!

A quick walk along the lake promenade before heading to the train station. (This part of the city is called Muralto). This is a monument in honour of Giuseppe Cattori, who "served as Brigadier General during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71), where he led Swiss troops stationed at the French-German border". He was born 1836 in Lugano, somewhat south of here. 

A final look south across the lake before heading to the train station. 

Right next to the train station is this church called "Chiesa di San Vittore". For all the hundreds of times we have been in various church buildings in Canton Ticino, I am embarassed to say I have never been in this one!

At 15:08 the train to Bellinzona pulls in. (Leaving at 15:15 for the two-hour trip back home). 

What my 4-km walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps. I travelled three hours to get to the Camellia Gardens, and spent only two hours here in Locarno before heading back home (a two-hour trip). Not really worth it, even if the weather in the north is depressing. 

When we walked around the Maggia Delta in December 2024, (pale pink line), we had made a foray into the Camellia Gardens, but then headed straight along the main road to the train station. This time I tried to find paths we had not walked before!

These are all the hikes we have done to date around the region of Locarno, Ascona and the Maggia Delta. 

The lovely hills on the north side of the Magadino Plain as the train makes its way from Locarno to Bellinzona. This area gets lots of sunshine and is great for growing grapes. There are several vineyards along the hillsides. We have walked there often in winter. 

And now, passing Lake Lauerz once again on the way to the Arth-Goldau train station. It looks just as bleak and uninviting as it did earler in the day on my way south. 

Location of Locarno within Switzerland