Bellinzona
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• The skyline of this capital of Ticino is defined by powerful fortifications. Bellinzona has three of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Even ages ago, it was appreciated that Bellinzona is strategically positioned on the Ticino River. For southbound travelers, the town acts as a gateway to Italy and, for those headed north, it is the key to accessing the Alps. In the first century AD, the Romans built the earliest-known castle here on a natural prominence in the valley bottom. Defensive walls were extended in the Middle Ages across the whole valley and into the hills.
  

  

  The primary fortress, Castelgrande, stands on the site of the first Roman castle --- its position strengthened by two hillside fortifications nearby.
  
  Our initial view of this impressive structure was from below on a modern piazza. (A large car park, we believe, lies beneath the pavement with lifts at all four corners.) For today’s visitors, an elevator hidden in the hill makes for an easy ascent to the castle:
  

  

  
  In this Internet photo taken from the ramparts of Castelgrande, the two upper castles and the walls running into the hills are easy to spot:

  

  
  In the opposite direction can be seen the remains of the walls that once stretched across the river to the hills beyond. They still thrust into the city:
  

  

  
  Some sections of the wall don’t “beat around the bush”. Instead, they head precipitously downhill:
  

  

  .... kind of takes your breath away no matter which way you’re going.
  
  The vineyards may be a recent addition but they fit right in, embellishing and softening the castle’s appearance:
  

  

  
  After touring Castelgrande, we drifted into town, too late for the Saturday morning market. Lots of folks were doing what Europeans love to do --- enjoy an outdoor cafe while watching the world go by:
  

  

  
  Wandering through the historical part of town, we spotted the Palazzo Communale --- or, as we would call it in America, the Town Hall:
  

  

  
  We discovered little about its history but did admire its very attractive inner courtyard:
  

  

  
  The rest of the old town had more sites than we had energy to see --- so, we just soaked it in ...
  

  

  

  ... until, weary and footsore, we called it a “Bellinzona day” and headed back to the station.