Bellinzona, Switzerland

Few people bother with Bellinzona – their loss, since this graceful and beautiful old town is the perfect place to draw breath before hitting the lakeside glitz further south, and is a mellow introduction to the easy pace of the Ticino.

Bellinzona has gained a reputation as the poor relation of Locarno and Lugano. This is undeserved, since it might lack a lake, but it also lacks the hectic pace, the crowds and the touristic sheen of its bigger neighbours. This gentle town is blessed with medieval architecture and picturesque churches, and also serves as the main access point for excursions into the wild Alto Ticino region. Its grand trio of castles – Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro – together comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site.