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Bellinzona is the capitol of canton Ticino. It’s set in a valley of lush mountains, and stands at the southern side of two important Alpine passes, San Bernardino and St Gotthard. Bellinzona is a city of castles. Its grand trio of castles – Castelgrande (dates from around the 6th century and is the cities largest castle), Montebello and Sasso Corbaro – were together declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
Everyone passes through Bellinzona because it’s on the train route connecting Locarno and Lugano and on the Zurich-Milan route. But Post buses also head north-east through the Misox (Mesolcina valley) to Chur (Grison). Cabbiolo (just a 45 minutes bus ride from Bellinzona) lies peacefully among the majestic mountains of the southern Alps. Due to its central location, it is an ideal starting point for forays to the rugged mountainous north, as well as to the milder, culturally diversified south.
How to get there: Bellinzona has regular train connections from Italy (coming from Milan) and all over Switzerland, i.e. from Zurich and Lucerne (2 1/2) hours, from Bern (4 hours) and from Geneva (6 hours).
Tourist information at Viale Stazione 18 (091 825 21 31).
Budget accommodation:
TCS-Camping Bosco di Molinazzo, Bellinzona (091 829 11 18)
Humanità Backpacker’s, Cabbiolo/Lostallo (091 830 14 81)
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