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Camellias, mimosas, magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas... Nowhere in Switzerland is spring more in bloom than in Locarno. And nowhere is it earlier than in Locarno, because the first blossoms start as early as the end of February (this year, due to the mild winter, as early as the end of December), when elsewhere nature is still immersed in the rigours of winter.
Camelie Locarno at the Castello Visconteo, in the heart of Locarno's old town - Confirmed the event from 25 to 29 March. The too mild winter had cast doubt on the holding of the event
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Camellias, mimosas, magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas... Nowhere in Switzerland is spring more in bloom than in Locarno. And nowhere is it earlier, because the first flowers start to bloom at the end of February (this year, due to the mild winter, at the end of December), when elsewhere nature is still immersed in the rigours of winter.
The first flowers to bloom in Locarno are the first to appear in the spring.
Among the flowers that first anticipate the fine season on the shores of Lake Maggiore, the camellia is truly the queen.
Cultivated for more than 150 years, it can be found in every garden and in hundreds of varieties.
Locarno is home, not surprisingly, to one of the richest camellia parks in the world and also one of the most important European exhibitions dedicated to this flower.
The exhibition returns punctually from 25 to 29 March despite the vagaries of the weather. The too mild winter had led to some varieties not flowering as early as the beginning of January. However, the event has been confirmed. In fact, the organisers believe they can count on a sufficient number of flowers and varieties to guarantee a quality event. However, the committee has decided to postpone the construction of the large marquee in the Camellia Park and to move the exhibition to the more intimate and contained setting of Casorella and the courtyard of the Visconti Castle in Locarno, two venues that are located in the heart of the old town and that had already hosted the event in the past.
Organised by the Swiss Camellia Society in collaboration with the Lake Maggiore and Valleys Tourist Organisation and the City of Locarno, "Camellie Locarno" is a great success year after year.
The event attracts enthusiasts from all over Europe (many also from Italy) and is distinguished from similar events by the wide variety of plants and flowers that can be admired, the extreme care taken in the arrangements, and the profusion of floral decorations.
The centrepiece of the event is the tastefully staged scientific exhibition, which this year will feature some 200 - 250 varieties of cut camellias, divided into different species (japonica, reticulata, etc.), hybrids and cultivars from various parks and private gardens in the region.
In addition to the exhibition, visitors will find various stands (of particular note is that of Dr Camelia, available for botanical advice) and a plant sales area.
The evocative halls of Casorella will also host the exhibition "Heart of Camellias", with the splendid large canvases by Isabel Pacini, a painter of Belgian origin but Lucca by adoption.
Side events include the traditional Camellia Concert, which as always will take place in the Sopracenerina hall on the Piazza Grande in Locarno. The appointment is for Friday 27 March at 20.30, with Ensemble Accordone (i.e. Marco Beasley, vocals and Guido Morini, harpsichord) who will present "Storie di Napoli", an intriguing programme dedicated to song in Naples, from 1500 to the present day.
The Camellia Park
With free admission, the beautiful Camellia Park in Locarno will also be regularly open to visitors - and accessible by a free shuttle service. Inaugurated on the occasion of the World Camellia Congress held in Locarno in 2005, enlarged in stages and awarded the prestigious "Garden of Excellence" label by the International Camellia Society in 2010, the Park is home to just under a thousand different varieties of camellias over an area of more than 10,000 square metres. Two ponds with water features and a romantic pavilion are among the highlights of this wonderful and enchanting corner of Locarno, located on the lakeshore near the Lanca degli Stornazzi.
The Camellia Park joined the Gardens of Switzerland in 2014.
A WHOLE REGION IN FLOWER
Locarno Camellie is also worth the trip for the attractions the entire region has to offer.
Since camellias spread from their original Asian homeland all over the world initially thanks to the use of the leaves of the Camellia sinensis to make tea, a must-see stop during a visit to Locarno is the Tea Park at Monte Verità in Ascona, the only green tea plantation in Switzerland, with an adjoining production workshop.
Other important attractions can also be found within a few kilometres, including the marvellous Gambarogno Botanical Park - dedicated in particular to the numerous and splendid specimens of camellias and magnolias - whose valuable landscape, botanic and cultural offerings are of worldwide importance.
It is impossible not to mention the Brissago Islands Botanical Park, a centre of scientific and tourist interest, especially for its cultivated subtropical vegetation. The Brissago Island garden is reminiscent of the petals that Asians place on water for aesthetic purposes, and floats on the waters of Lake Maggiore carrying myriads of exotic plants.
TICKETS, RAILAWAYS AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL OFFERS
Admission costs 8 francs, pensioners 6 francs. 20% discount for groups of at least 10 people. Free entry for children and young people up to the age of 16.
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On the occasion of Locarno Camelie, Railaway offers particularly advantageous conditions with a 20% reduction on the price of admission to the event and on the cost of the train ticket.
Locarno Camelie + Brissago Islands offer: for just 30 francs (price to be confirmed), entry to the event, boat trip on Lake Maggiore and visit to the Brissago Islands!
Other discounts are offered on tickets for the Locarno-Madonna del Sasso-Orselina funicular (30%), the Orselina - Cardada cable car and the Cardada Cimetta chairlift (30%). The "Lido Locarno" offers a discount of 3 francs for adults and 2 francs for children.
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OTHER PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Where and when
Locarno Camellie takes place in the Castello Visconte and in Casorella, in the heart of the old town - from Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29 March 2015. The exhibition will be open at the following times: Wednesday - Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Visconte Castle and the Camellia Park can be reached by a free FART bus service - bus stop in front of the Federal Railways station, in front of the FART ticket office.
Near the Castle there is the 'Castello' car park, or in Via alla Morettina (5 minutes' walk away) there is ample parking available.
At the Parco delle Camelie in Via Respini,
there are ample parking facilities.
Tourist information
For further information on the event and the region, contact the Lake Maggiore and Valleys Tourist Organisation at info@ascona-locarno.com, telephone 0041 848 091 091 or visit their website www.ascona-locarno.com and their social networks (Facebook: Ascona-Locarno Turismo / Twitter: @asconalocarno).