Monte Verità
Monte Verità rises on the hills above Ascona and Lake Maggiore, and has always been a magnetic pole of convergence of ideas, trends, experiments and historical figures. The alternative and vegetarian colony of the early twentieth century marked the birth of the myth of Monte Verità, with the presence of artists, anarchists, philosophers and thinkers, as well as illustrious guests including Hermann Hesse. After a brief period in the early twenties, in which some expressionist artists created a small art centre, the Ascona hill was bought by the banker and German art collector Baron Eduard von der Heydt.
Monte Verità became a modern hotel centre which welcomed great personalities from the artistic, political and cultural worlds. After the Baron's legacy to the Canton of Ticino in the 1950s, it was transformed into a seminar centre at the end of the 1980s, thanks to collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. Today, Monte Verità is a state-of-the-art congress and cultural center run by the Foundation of the same name. Immersed in the quiet and green of a park of more than 7 hectares, with an incomparable view of Lake Maggiore, offers visitors a unique experience.
Monte Verità Park
The park at Monte Verità is open to the public. It is a place of magical beauty, where visitors can regain a sense of calm and tune in to the energy of nature. The park can be experienced in any number of ways: walking around the museum and culture circuit, visiting the tea house, strolling along the paths while admiring the many varieties of exotic plants, or following the magnetic pathway known as "Chiara's Rainbow"; luxuriating in the awe-inspiring views of the Ticino valleys and Lake Maggiore from no less than four panoramic viewpoints, playing tennis, or simply relaxing on the terrace of the Monte Verità restaurant.
Museum Complex
Monte Verità is a place of extraordinary cultural significance. Few other places during the 20th century hosted such many alternative personalities. Artists, writers, philosophers, dancers, all attracted both by the mild climate and the beautiful view of Lake Maggiore, and by the desire to find like-minded individuals with whom to share a path of artistic and spiritual research. The history and personalities who inhabited this place come alive in the museum complex consisting of four buildings.
Tea House
Take the tea path through the tea garden, relax in the tea pavilion by the Zen Garden with a view of the glittering lake, step into the tea house, enjoy a cup of tea in conversation with us about tea culture. Artful tea utensils and exquisite teas for sale can be found in our shop. Japanese tea ceremonies are held in the Chashitsu, the Japanese tea room in the Casa del Tè. In our cultural programme, the "salone culturale", among other things, find a permanent place.
Ascona
Ascona is a true paradise with its direct lakeside location, palm trees, the Mediterranean ambience and the mild climate. Characterised by history, art and culture, it is now a popular holiday resort and the characteristic lake promenade make the small town on Lake Maggiore a unique bijou. Typical colourfully painted houses turn the former fishing village into a very particular place that invites you to relax, stroll or enjoy a magnificent sunset over the lake. Shopping enthusiasts and foodies also get their money's worth in Ascona. Many boutiques and art galleries are hidden in the winding alleys of the village centre, called "Borgo". A weekly market has also been held in the piazza for many years, where local products and handicrafts can be bought. Many restaurants and bars adorn Ascona's colourful lakeside promenade.
Brissago Island
The Brissago Islands are two islands in Lake Maggiore, in the Gulf of Ascona. They are home to the only botanical park on an island in Switzerland, with subtropical species from all over the world. Thanks to their location and the special climatic conditions that Lake Maggiore offers, they enjoy a subtropical climate that is unique in Switzerland. This makes it the ideal place to cultivate species that cannot be found anywhere else in our country. Within a few kilometers, there are five areas to visit that show species from the five continents in their natural habitat.
The Brissago Islands can be reached by boat from Ascona in just 15 minutes.
Biking around the lake
A beautiful cycle path leads to Locarno and even further to Bellinzona. Discover Ascona and let yourself be enchanted by the charm of this unique village on Lake Maggiore.