Suggested walking route
2 stops in walking order
- Distance
- 0.85 km
- Walking
- 10 min
- Visits
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- Easy stroll
- 1Locarno–Madonna del Sasso funicular
Industrial Heritage
The Locarno–Madonna del Sasso funicular, or Funicolare Locarno–Madonna del Sasso (FLMS) is a funicular railway near the city of Locarno in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The line links a lower station in the city center with the pilgrimage site of the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso and the municipality of Orselina. It forms part of the route to the summit of nearby Cimetta mountain. A concession to build the line was first granted in 1897 and renewed in 1900. Construction began in 1904, and the line was completed in 1906. The original wooden bodies of the cars were replaced with the current metal bodies in 1958. Besides the terminal stations at Locarno and Orselina, the line serves three intermediate stations at Grand Hôtel, Belvedere, and the Sanctuary, although the Grand Hôtel station is not currently served, as the hotel is closed. At Orselina there is a connection with the cable car to Cardada, which in turn connects with a chairlift to the summit of Cimetta.
~20 min at this stop
- 2Locarno
Historic Site
Locarno is a southern Swiss town and municipality in the district Locarno (of which it is the capital), located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore at its northeastern tip in the canton of Ticino at the southern foot of the Swiss Alps. It has a population of about 16,000 (proper), and about 56,000 for the agglomeration of the same name including Ascona besides other municipalities. The town of Locarno is located on the northeastern part of the river Maggia's delta; across the river lies the town of Ascona on the southwestern part of the delta. Locarno is the 74th largest city in Switzerland by population and the third largest in the Ticino canton, after Lugano and Bellinzona. The official language of Locarno is Italian. The town is known for hosting the Locarno International Film Festival which takes place every year in August and involves open-air screenings at the main square, the Piazza Grande. It is also known for the Locarno Treaties, a series of European territorial agreements negotiated here in October 1925.
~20 min at this stop