Our apartment is close to the ancient church of San Quirico and to Lago Maggiore

 

That isn't far from the lake: 5 minutes walking distance with a panoramic view over the blue lake. The blue, deep lake is surrounded by mountains up to almost 2200 meters high.

The view from the balcony over the Lago Maggiore and to the mountains of Ticino promises long strolls through romantic, old villages, adventurous trips to mountains and valleys and swimming journeys in the warm lake and cold mountain rivers.

The apartment: 1 room, 10 minutes walking distance from Locarno train station. The apartment is part of the "Condominio Panorama". The address is Via San Quirico Nr. 8 (Suite 307), Locarno-Minusio. 3rd floor (Lift). There are 49 sq.meters living area (balcony included). Kitchen with dishwasher. Bathroom. Balcony with view on the lake and mountains, Cable-TV. Indoor-swimming pool with a sunny terrasse. Bar with a private locker. Fitness room. Private Parking.

 

The Situation

Quite quiet, at least. The apartment within the "Condominio Panorama", is situated at the crossing Via R. Simen/Via San Quirico, a quiet area, though not deserted. A while ago, Via Simen was the main road carrying all roaring outgoing traffic to Bellinzona (that's why we have installed a noise-damming window). Since the Mappo-tunnel opened in 1998, it swallowed not only all through-traffic, but also much of the local traffic. Additionally, Via Simen became a dead-ended road. There is almost no traffic left anymore.

If you come by car, you can park it right on your private lot number 307 (that's where the Volvo on the picture is).
Via San Quirico is a very small one-way street and there is almost no traffic on it. It leads to the Ristorante Campagna and to the old church of San Quirico and further down to the shore of the lake. On the first photograph of the series you can see the top of the church's tower.

 

The Cosy Apartment

Let you carry by lift to the third floor and enter the door of apartment nr. 307. You'll find yourself in a small corridor, with the bathroom on your right and the kitchen on your left-hand side. The door to the balcony is between the table you can see on the photo and the sofa.

 

Joint Rooms

I don't mean the joints you may believe in, I mean those premises that are used by everybody in the Condominio Panorama. There is a surprisingly large indoor swimming pool (ca. 14x6m)! Usually, we swim in the lake, in the Maggia river or in the Verzasca river, but on a rainy day, the pool is great fun!

On the large terrasse you can enjoy sun bathing or a glass of wine.

In the large lobby, with a bar, you can treat your guests, in case there are too many of them to fit into the apartment. Speaking about "bar" and "treating" and "party" could be a bit misleading: I should mention, for clarity, there is no service available, neither in the bar nor on the terrasse. It's all do-it-yourself.
There is also a small fitness room in case you should need that.

The Smallprint

Of course, there are limitations. The apartment is let for 2 adult plus a child of maximum age 10. There are two normal beds (one stacked on top of the other, during daytime, separated during night-time) and a sofa that can be converted to a bed for a child. Laundry for beds and bathroom is available at no extra cost.
The kitchen has kitchenrange, cooking-stove, refrigerator and dishwasher.
TV and radio are installed. There is no telephone. However, there is a public apparatus in the lobby near the swimming pool.
We would love to forbid smoking, but we didn't dare up to now. Smokers, please behave as if you were at home: Do it on the balcony - as a courtesy to your non-smoking successors.
No animals, please, within Condominio Panorama.
Daily rates for the apartment: 15.June - 15.September: Fr. 90.00/Day, November - February Fr. 70.00/Day, other dates Fr. 80.00/Day. Included are: Loundry, "Kurtaxe", electricity, water, heating. Not included in the daily rate is the compulsory "Endreinigung" of the apartment by the concierge (Fr. 60.00).

 

How to Rent

You can make an normal reservation:

1. Call by phone, send a letter or an e-mail pointing out the wanted date and duration of the stay and don't forget to include your telephone number.
2. We will come back to you by mail or e-mail with a small contract to be signed by you. The apartment will then automatically be reserved for you for a few days.
3. No, sorry, we are too small to honour credit cards.
4. The apartment is definitively reserved for you as soon as we received your payment.

You can also use our on-line registration-form for ordering a pleasureful vacation period.

 

 

How to Get There

Have a look at the map of part of Locarno/Muralto. Note the railroadstation-symbol near the the blue writing "Locarno". That's were you might arrive, if travelling by railroad, which is most comfortable in Switzerland. The Locarno train station is on the territory of Community of Muralto. Locarno, Muralto and Minusio are three independent communities, glued together.

Take the Bus Nr 23 at the Locarno train station (direction Minusio, Bellinzona) and step off at Borenco, then walk 100m in the same direction. You'll notice the sign "Condominio Panorama" and a few steps further you will reach the entrance Via San Quirico 8.

Arriving by car from northeast (Lugano/Bellinzona): Leave the Mini-Autobahn (green on the map) at exit Tenero and then drive in direction Locarno and you will soon find yourself on the Via San Gottardo in Minusio (if you find yourself in the Mappa-tunnel, you missed the exit and got too far. Don't panic. At the very end of the tunnel, take the exit Locarno, now approaching from southwest, as if you came in from Italy). After about 1km from the exit, take one of the small streets on the left and descend to the Via R.Simen, where you turn right again, direction Muralto/Locarno. You will soon cross Via San Quirico. Watch out for the sign "Condominio Panorama" on your left hand side, enter through the gate and proceed to parking lot 307.

Arriving by car from southwest (Ascona/Italia, or if have gotten into Mappo-tunnel from north): Take direction City until you reach the real biiig roundabout. From there follow Lugano/Bellinzona. You will pass by the train station on your right hand side. After the very old church of San Vittore, watch out! Don't follow the signs Lugano/Bellinzona anymore. Instead, when the main road turns 90 degrees left, stay right and proceed almost straight ahead entering Via G.G.Nessi. Via Nessi will change its name into Via R.Simen at the Minusio city limits. You will soon cross Via Borenco and then see the sign "Condominio Panorama" on your right hand side. Enter through the gate and relax on parking lot 307.

A note: Via R. Simen is dead-ended, except for the bus. When you must drive in direction Tenero (direction northeast), take Via San Gottardo which runs parallel to Via R.Simen, just a bit up the hill.