LAKE MAGGIORE

Wonderful square over the lake, parish Church SS. Pietro e Paolo, Casa Serodine, council museum of modern arts. Above the suburb erects Verita’s mount, modest but magnetic hill which attracted the attention of important cultural people, especially Nordics, attracted by the pioneers of the vanguard movements  (theosophists, utopians, naturists) which were established at the beginning of 1900 by initiative of Ida Hofmann and Henri Oedenkove, who were able to spire the seed thrown by dreamers and anarchists which frequented the Locarno’s area in the century which just ended.

At the start of 20th  century it was founded here by Ida Hofmann and Henri Oedenkoven the sanatorium of “Mount Verita’”. From here the colony of Mount Verita’ which consisted in a community based on an alternative life style, searching for the return to nature, with vegetarian diet, long exposition to the sunrays, nudism and support to the theosophical philosophy. By the locals the people going to the “Mount Verita’” were called “balabiott” ( in dialect, “dancing naked”) in part for disdain, in part for itchy curiosity. Ascona is today and popular touristy city, frequented from march till the end of October well known other than for the events of Mount Verita’ (documented firstly by a famous art expert Harald Szeemann), for its mild climate and striking landscapes along lake Maggiore.  Ascona it’s host since 1985 of well known and respected international festival dedicated to New Orleans and Classic Jazz. Takes place yearly, between the end of June and the start of July.