Orselina lies above Locarno on a mountainside overlooking Lake Maggiore. Two distinct highlights define the area: the pilgrimage site of Madonna del Sasso and the mountain landscape of Cardada and Cimetta. From Orselina, above the sanctuary, the cable car travels to Cardada at 1,340 metres above sea level. It climbs 1,000 metres in five minutes—a short ride with a significant change in altitude.
Madonna del Sasso: sanctuary and access
Madonna del Sasso is a pilgrimage site in Orselina and is considered the best-known pilgrimage site in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. The Sacro Monte comprises the Church of the Annunciation, the Via Crucis and the sanctuary. The sanctuary stands on a rocky spur above Locarno; from the forecourt, the view extends into a deeply incised valley.
You can reach the sanctuary via a climb of about 20 minutes through the gorge of the Torrente Ramogno, or by funicular from a point west of Locarno railway station. Check the timetables and operating details for both lifts before travelling. A platform lift near the Ristorante della Funicolare in Orselina helps some wheelchair users with a Eurokey access the church. Check in advance with the sanctuary about the assistance you may need.
The stations of the Orselina–Cardada cable car have also been designed to be easily accessible for older people, people with disabilities, wheelchair users and families with pushchairs. Check the exact conditions before travelling. This information refers to the cable car stations.
Art and collections in Orselina
You can also explore the history of the sanctuary and monastery through their collections. The Museo della Madonna del Sasso spans eight rooms over two floors. Drawings, prints and historical photographs tell the story of the complex. The museum also includes the Museo Casa del Padre, which houses artefacts reflecting the religious life associated with the sanctuary and monastery.
The Museo della Madonna del Sasso preserves the richest collection of painted votive tablets in the canton of Ticino; most date from the 19th and 20th centuries. The Madonna del Sasso monastery library in Orselina holds around 14,000 volumes from four historical book collections. These include around 500 editions from the 16th century and 33 incunabula. The volumes can be consulted on site.
Individual works of art also offer a glimpse into the history of church art. In the south aisle of the Church of Madonna del Sasso is Bramantino’s panel painting Flight into Egypt from 1520. In the first side chapel on the left in the Chiesa di S. Maria Assunta hangs Antonio Ciseri’s oil painting on canvas Transport of Christ to the Tomb, created between 1864 and 1870. The Madonna del Sasso complex was founded in 1480 by the Franciscan friar Bartolomeo da Ivrea.
Cardada and Cimetta: views and activities
On Cardada, a granite-paved path winds through the treetops to a cantilevered viewing platform. From there, the 180-degree panorama takes in Lake Maggiore, the Centovalli and parts of the Maggia Valley. At the highest point of Cimetta, the geological observatory offers a 360-degree view across the whole region and the surrounding mountains. Information panels there explain the Insubric Line and the rock types of the two tectonic plates. The two viewpoints offer different perspectives: a wide view over the lake and valleys from Cardada, and a panoramic view from Cimetta.
For outdoor activities, Cardada has two official Helsana Nordic walking trails and three marked snowshoe trails, which are graded by difficulty. Mountain trails lead from Cardada and Cimetta to Cima della Trosa and Madone. Mountain bikers can take trail 397: it starts at Alpe Cardada, descends through the Val Resa to Brione sopra Minusio and continues back to Orselina.
On the Cardada-Cimetta treasure hunt, clues on a map guide you along a nature trail; you can get the map at the cable car ticket office. The inclusive playground in Cardada was completed in April 2025 and is designed as a safe, accessible place where children with and without disabilities can play together. Alongside its views and trails, Cardada also offers activities with a range of different focuses.
Discover more destinations: Corippo, San Nazzaro, Tegna, Piazzogna, Tenero-Contra, Gordola, Mergoscia, Losone.
For the main travel overview: Locarno.
