Where Mediterranean lightness, culture, and nature merge into a lifestyle
Ascona, Locarno, and Ticino are much more than just the home of the Ascona Polo Cup. Amidst palm trees, the car-free piazza, and Lake Maggiore, Mediterranean lightness, culture, and nature merge into an unmistakable lifestyle, from the emerald-green valleys to the world history of the Locarno Treaties. A region that you don't just visit, but feel.
Polo is synonymous with movement, elegance, and the special bond between human, nature, and the moment. This very feeling lives in Ticino – between Ascona, Locarno, and the silent valleys of Lake Maggiore. Anyone who has been here once soon understands: the setting is as much a part of the experience as the game itself.
Ascona: the lightness of the south
In Ascona, palm trees, colorful facades, and the lightness of the south are reflected in the water. On the traffic-free Piazza Giuseppe Motta, sophisticated life meets the relaxed atmosphere of the lake – a place that does not need to explain style, but simply radiates it. Cafes, galleries, and boutiques line the promenade, while the view of the lake constantly invites you to pause. Ascona is both a stage and a retreat.
Locarno: the warmest city in Switzerland
A few minutes away, Locarno, the warmest city in Switzerland, opens up a unique stage for culture, light, and the joy of living with its Piazza Grande and the view of the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary. The mild climate, southern architecture, and vibrant city life make Locarno the lively counterpoint to the elegant tranquility of Ascona: two places that complement each other perfectly.
More than just walks: the valleys of Ticino
But Ticino is much more than its promenades. In the Verzasca Valley, the water shimmers emerald green under the Ponte dei Salti, while in the Maggia Valley, stone cottages and waterfalls tell of untouched nature. On the Brissago Islands, a subtropical variety thrives in the middle of the lake, almost like a promise that everything here is experienced with greater intensity. Those who leave the promenades discover a wild, quiet, and surprising Ticino.
A region with a world history
Since Roman times, Lake Maggiore has shaped trade and encounters. After Milanese rule, the Confederate conquest, and the birth of the Canton of Ticino, the region became a global stage: thanks to the spirit of the Locarno Treaties of 1925, Monte Verità as a refuge for artists and thinkers, as well as the Locarno Film Festival and JazzAscona. Hardly any other region of this size has written so much history, and it continues to do so today.
Just like in polo: something special is born from precision and freedom
Just like in polo, the distinctive element here is also born from precision and freedom: from rhythm and calm, from tradition and modern charm. Ascona, Locarno, and Ticino are not just places you visit: they are a feeling that stays with you. This is precisely why the region represents the ideal setting for an event like the Ascona Polo Cup, where sporting dynamism meets Mediterranean elegance.
Staying in Ascona: the Ascona Villa
At the Ascona Villa, you will encounter the Mediterranean soul of Switzerland. The rooms and suites are places where arriving and feeling at home is natural: here is the moment to forget everyday life. A place that translates the lightness of the region into lived hospitality.
Ascona Villa · Via Lido 20, CH-6612 Ascona · Tel. +41 91 785 41 41 · www.ascovilla.ch
Perspectives: Ascona has its say
Our host, the Municipality of Ascona, takes the floor in a dedicated contribution: Michela Ris, Deputy Mayor of Ascona, offers personal insights into her region. A conversation that will follow shortly.
Frequently asked questions about Ascona, Locarno and Ticino
Why is Ascona more than just a location for the hub?
Ascona combines Mediterranean lightness, culture, and nature into a unique lifestyle. The palm trees, the pedestrian-friendly Piazza Giuseppe Motta, and Lake Maggiore make the region an experience that goes far beyond the sporting event.
What makes Locarno special?
Locarno is considered the warmest city in Switzerland. With the Piazza Grande, the view towards the Madonna del Sasso, and a mild climate, the city is synonymous with culture, light, and southern joie de vivre.
What are the excursion destinations around Lake Maggiore?
Highlights include the Ponte dei Salti in the emerald-green Verzasca Valley, the rustici and waterfalls of the Maggia Valley, as well as the subtropical Brissago Islands in the middle of the lake.
What is the cultural and historical significance of the region?
Lake Maggiore has influenced trade and encounters since Roman times. The region has become world-famous, among other things, for the Locarno Treaties of 1925, the artists' mountain Monte Verità, the Locarno Film Festival, and JazzAscona.
Where can you stay overnight in Ascona?
For example, at the Ascona Villa at Via Lido 20 in CH-6612 Ascona, which combines Mediterranean hospitality with the lightness of the region.
Between palm trees, the piazza, and Lake Maggiore: why Ascona, Locarno, and Ticino are much more than just a venue for events
Recommendation (Advertising)
At the Ascona Villa, you will encounter the Mediterranean soul of Switzerland. The rooms and suites are places where arriving and feeling at home is the most natural thing in the world: here is the time to forget everyday life.
Ascona Villa, Via Lido 20, CH-6612 Ascona · Tel. +41 91 785 41 41 · www.ascovilla.ch
Our host, the Municipality of Ascona, speaks in a dedicated article: Michela Ris, Deputy Mayor of Ascona.