/ This is the southern part of Switzerland in the region known as the Ticino where we are visiting the town of Locarno, a pretty little resort town along the shores of Lake Maggiore. It's a fascinating region of Europe with the best of both worlds: the romance of Italy and the efficiency of Switzerland, making the perfect combination. This town has an Italian feeling even though we are still in Switzerland. Most of the locals don't speak any Swiss German or French -- just Italian and perhaps a little English, especially those who are working in the shops and restaurants. Shop clerks and waiters are multilingual and so you don't have any problem getting taken care of, even in the little villages nearby. You can easily find pizza and pasta, because the main cuisine here is Italian.
The old town is lined with narrow streets, and in the center cars are prohibited – it is strictly for pedestrians which makes the town lovely for walking. Nice and quiet and peaceful here and there are a few little hotels sprinkled around in the old town, and of course some excellent restaurants and a variety of shops and historic sites, including a castle and several old churches in the Italian Baroque style, with charming old-fashioned architecture throughout. Piazza Grande is the main square with a picturesque arcade along one side with lots of restaurants, gelatto shops, cafés and little stores to browse in, with a nearby morning food market. They also have a casino where you could try your luck.
Locarno's Old Town extends for about six blocks by four blocks so it's not really huge but it's big enough to enjoy a nice stroll and browse in the shops, art galleries and antique stores. Shopkeepers are friendly and welcome you to come in to look around. You’ll find quite a few modern stores intermingled with the old, scattered among the hidden lanes and quiet spaces in the back of the town. There's a nice shady, cozy feeling in the narrow alleys where you can walk from one end to the other. and there are some smaller piazzas tucked away on the side streets as well. You could easily spend a few hours just meandering and strolling, getting a little bit lost -- but you'll quickly find your way again in such a little place this.