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!

VIDEO:

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.

VIDEO:

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!

VIDEO:

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

Easy Walk through the Vineyards above the Magadino Plain near Locarno

Saturday November 22, 2025 -- A cold front has hit Switzerland with temperatures of up to -20 degrees in some parts, and surely quite cold in the mountains, plus not a lot of sunshine on the weekend. But once again in the south we could expect sunshine and temperatures of up to 9 degrees, so even though it is getting harder to find new hiking trails (without a lot of shade), we headed down there anyway. 

Because we are centrally located, we can be down in the sunshine in less than two hours and so it's no loss to us to head down for a few hours. Our planned hike was on the sunny side of the Magadino Plain on the vineyard trail (Via delle Vigne), along the mountain flank east of Locarno where we have actually been three times before, but were able to find another parallel path which we hadn't done before. There are always lots of interesting houses and structures to admire, great views of the flat Ticino River Basin, Lago Maggiore and the surrounding mountains, and the always interesting juxtaposition of palm trees and snow-capped mountains.

Even though there was a wind blowing, it was not really cold, (although I did put on my gloves a few times) and we had lots of sunshine. It was a pleasant stroll, 2½ hours (not counting breaks), and not at all strenuous.We started shortly before 11 a.m. in Gudo, and caught the 14:55 train in Riazzino. Back home in less than two hours. 

We started our hike at 10:50 (after a trip of just over two hours to get here) at the bus stop next to the church in Gudo, which is about halfway between Bellinzona and Locarno along the Magadino Plain. 

Even though we had started here once before on a similar hike in November 2022, we still had another quick look inside the church in Gudo, before heading up the hill. 

Look at all the cacti on this property!

On the other side of the Magadino Plain we get a good look at Monte Tamaro with the communication tower (on the left) where we were on the summit in October 2014. In the center is Monte Gambarogno, and we had been on that peak as well, in December 2016. The ridge on the right is one we have not walked yet. 

Exactly three years ago (on November 20, 2022), we did a similar hike also starting here in Gudo and ending in Riazzino, but somewhat higher up. This time we tried to find trails and roads which we hadn't walked on before. This here was a new trail along a leaf-strewn path which we tried out this time, to get to the road higher up. There was a nice couple here at this superb location, and we spoke with them for a while. 

Here in the forest we ran across what used to be a community wash-basin. 

After a 20-minute walk up the hill from the main road in Gudo, we came to the paved road which we were going to follow for a short stretch. This trail is called "Via delle Vigne", or "Vineyard Trail". 

It was an 8-km walk we did about 100 meters higher than the level of the Ticino River. We started at about 11 a.m., and got to Riazzino train station at about 2:45 p.m. It was an easy walk along paved roads as well as forest and vineyard trails. 

There were quite a few Kaki (Persimmon) trees with unpicked fruit!

There was a wind blowing, but generally a nice day for this walk above the Magadino plain, with views of the Ticino River below and Lago Maggiore to the west. This trail is called the "Vineyard Trail". As this hillside receives lots of sunshine, it is ideal for growing grapes. There are lots of palm trees as well. 

Beautiful view eastward along the Magadino Plain. 

Here some nice soft forest trails. 

From here we headed up into a little hamlet called Cacima, where there are vacation houses to rent. (This is the website: https://tenutacasacima.com/)

Details of this little cluster of houses. 

It was very lovely here. 

Heading out of the little cluster of buildings. 

There are even some lovely pools and waterfalls here, where the guests from Tenuta Casa Cima can cool off in summer!

Now the trail heads down through the Tenuta Casa Cima Vineyards. 

Nice view toward Lake Maggiore. 

As it's now 11:50 (about an hour after starting on our hike), we figured this was a great place to stop for a lunch break. The owner of the property showed up and we chatted with him for a while. He was surprised to learn that we had lots of snow in the northern part of the country!

View from our lunch bench (Zoomed view of Lago Maggiore and the community of Brissago on its west side).

A look back at Cacima as we continue on our hike. 

So many pretty stone houses like this one. 

A painting on the wall on the subject of vineyards!

Now we are walking along roads where we have not walked before 

Up ahead, a little village called Malacarne. 

Still following the "Via delle Vigne" Vineyard Trail, we are headed toward Cugnasco. 

This is a hotel called B&B Brack in the hamlet of Al Bosco.

This beautiful house is for sale, but I could not find it on the Internet. I'm sure it costs over 2 million Francs!

A look behind us at another small village we passed through, called Al Bosco. 

That is a BEAUTIFUL palm tree!

It's nice that there is still some colour in the gardens!

All those stairs, stone walls, and palm trees!

We even passed by an old mill. 

Here we stopped for another break on a bench, to enjoy this view for a while. Below us is the town of Cugnasco, where we previously ended two other hikes we did along this hillside. (February 2018 and December 2018) 

Close-up view of the mountains to the east, which actually form the border with Italy. 

Down below us is one of two beautiful churches in Cugnasco. This one is called the Church of the Sacred Heart, which we have not visited yet, although we did end one of our hikes on the main road quite near to here. 

At 1:30 p.m. it was time to keep going. Behind Urs is the bench we sat on!

Enjoyable walk in the sunshine. 

Past the stone houses and palm trees, more of Lago Maggiore becomes visible. 

Very pretty. 

These are the best-looking banana trees we have yet encountered. 

The walls are magnificent. 

In the last village before our descent to Riazzino (Agarone/Piandèss) we ran into this slide which we had seen once before when passing through here on that November 2022 hike. (In fact, checking my map shows this is the fourth time we have walked through this hamlet, even starting a hike here once in June of 2020). We still wonder what the purpose of this slide is!

This is the closest we could find to a church in the little hamlet of Piandèss. 

Close-up view of the peaks of Mts. Camoghè and Gazzirola to the east (on the other side is Italy), and another persimmon tree. 

Making our way down now from Piandèss toward valley bottom. (It's now 2 p.m.)

A long and winding trail through the forest, lots of steps mostly of stones, and leaf-covered trail, so we had to descend carefully. 

Now at the valley bottom with a view up to the level of the villages where we had walked. It took us about 20 minutes. 

These cool flowers are apparently a type of chrysanthemum! (Called Kakinomoto). 

We still had to walk about a kilometer along the railway tracks to reach the station at Riazzino. This is the railway line between Bellinzona and Locarno, and many trains pass here (three in each direction every hour).

We got to the station about 15 minutes early for the 14:55 train back to Bellinzona. We were home 1¾ hours later.  

Heading back to Bellinzona by train, we get a good view of the villages along the Vineyard Trail where we just walked (for the fourth time!)

What our walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps, starting in Gudo and ending in Riazzino. 

This map shows the four different hikes we did along the Vineyard Trails through the little communities just above the valley floor. (Twice in 2018). Each time we tried to walk on roads we hadn't walked before. (The yellow trail on the left is the June 2020 hike we did to quite high on the mountain.)

As the train heads toward Bellinzona, we can see the villages which we have walked through several times now.

Back at Bellinzona train station, the peak of Pizzo di Claro looms large. The lone building on the hillside there is the Claro Monastery, the oldest monastery in Canton Ticino (founded in 1490). 

And this is what we returned to on the north side of the Gotthard Base Tunnel! (Lake Lauerz near Goldau). 

Lovely sunset along Lake Zug. 

Location of the Magadino Plain within Switzerland.