The medieval old town of Ronco sopra Ascona stretches across a rocky promontory overlooking the lake basin. From Ronco, the view extends across Lake Maggiore, the Brissago Islands and the surrounding mountain ranges. Those looking to combine cultural history with walks will find several different points of interest.
Old Town, Church and Artists’ History
The Church of San Martino dates back to the 15th century and was first consecrated in 1491. Its choir walls feature frescoes dated 1492, created by the workshop of Antonio da Tradate. The main altarpiece by Antonio Ciseri depicts Saint Martin. The building’s history and artworks give the old town a distinct focus on cultural heritage.
Casa Ciseri is the birthplace of the painter Antonio Ciseri. Its interior retains decorations created mostly by Francesco and Giuseppe Ciseri. The two halls on the ground floor are open to the public during events and guided tours; dates may vary. If you would like to see these rooms, plan your visit around a suitable event or guided tour.
Fontana Martina is also associated with local art history. The old settlement was rebuilt in 1924 by Fritz Jordi and his son Pietro Jordi, together with a colony of artists, writers and reformers. The permanent exhibition “The Artistic Soul of Fontana Martina” at Al Salotto di Ronco explores the artists’ community there from 1924 to 1938 and Peter Jordi’s artisan ceramic work. The Circolo Verbano artists’ circle, active from 1940 to 1960, also operated in Ronco.
The Capèla de Grupalt, dating from the 17th century, offers another historical detail. It stands in the hamlet of Gruppaldo, on the road to Arcegno, and has a barrel vault with lunettes. The chapel commemorates the work carried out by some residents of Ronco for five centuries at the customs posts of Florence and Pistoia.
Walks with Different Routes
For a longer walk, the “Panoramic Walk in the Footsteps of the Genius Loci” covers 3.3 kilometres in one hour, from Ronco sopra Ascona via Via Gottardo Madonna and Sentiero Romano to Monte Verità . It is described as an easy, flat walk. A shorter but uphill alternative is the “Walk Among Stairways and Mediterranean Beauty”: it covers 0.58 kilometres in 40 minutes from Porto Ronco to Ronco, through a Mediterranean oasis of palm, lemon and olive trees.
Also listed as a 40-minute walk, the 1.2-kilometre “Botanical Tour Around the World” leads from near the historic old town to Fontana Martina through lush vegetation with a Mediterranean and subtropical character. The two 40-minute walks thus differ considerably in length, route and destination. At Colle San Marco, Parco Natura e Salute also has a botanical educational trail and a 1,000-metre circular route through the forest designed to promote health.
The hike to Corona di Pinz is marked with red-white-red trail signs; along the way, there are views of the lake, the Maggia delta and the surrounding mountain ranges. Visibility depends on the weather, and you should check trail markers and conditions on site. Another circular hike starts in the medieval old town and leads through the forest and the hamlets of Porano and Non. Conditions may vary seasonally.
Getting There and Local Flavours
Bus 314 connects Locarno railway station with Ronco sopra Ascona. Check the timetable before travelling. Parking in the centre is limited; the current parking situation may change. This information can help you plan your journey without turning the different walks into a fixed day itinerary.
In the hamlet of Gruppaldo, the Stocker family runs an apiary with a shop on Via Livurcio. Chestnut honey is produced there from the blossoms of chestnut trees in the forests of Ronco and Arcegno. Check the shop’s opening hours locally before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Brissago, Onsernone, Rasa, Indemini, Minusio, Gresso, Tegna, Cugnasco-Gerra
For the overarching travel guide: Locarno.
