Must See Must Do
Locarno - a city on the northern tip of Lake Maggiore hosts the annual International Film Festival every August at the Piazza Grande. The open air film screening at the Piazza accommodates the crème de la crème of the international film fraternity. The most coveted awards of the festival are the "Golden Leopard" or the "Pardo d'oro" awards which are usually bagged by the best film screened at the festival. Other awards include the Silver Leopard (second place), and the Bronze Leopard (for best actor and actress). An approximate 500 films are screened over a span of 11 days.
The Olive Path - This path was built in 2002 by 'Friends of the Olive Tree' 'Amici dell'Olivo' and threads its way through several little plantations of young olive trees between Gandria and the centre of Castagnola. The path is indicated on green signs and winds along the lakeside displaying rare and breathtaking beauty. Most of the trees and shrubs come from the Mediterranean area: Olive trees, Green Cypresses, Bay trees, Myrtle, Pomegranate, Mayaca palms, Marine Pines, and flowered laurels. At ground level a marvelous spread of wild herbs - Oregano, Thyme, Sage, as well as Daisies, Carnations, Evergreens, Daffodils and Wild Tulips create a multicolored patchwork counterpane that the visitor will never forget.
This display is repeated each year in spring in the months of May and June.
Mendrisio - Fox Town - Only 15 kilometers from Lugano, Fox Town is a shopaholics delight! 'Big brands for small prices' is their motto thus setting up a mega mall of designer wares at factory outlet rates. Since the Factory Outlet Center shopping is already a proven theory in the United States these retailers offer the most famous international brands at cost price directly to the customer, with a discount from 30% to 70%. Generally open through the week it houses name brands like Dior, Lacoste, Hugo Boss etc.
Swiss Premium Alprose - A member of 'Chocosuisse', Alprose is amongst the largest chocolate producing companies in Switzerland. Using the best ingredients for their high quality milk chocolate, they produce three different varieties of chocolate. Visitors are taken for a grand tour of the factory, inhaling in the rich creamy aroma of the delicious chocolate. One can learn more about chocolate making from the various comments and photographs set up in the museum.
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