piazza grande

Great Shopping, nice Bars and restaurants. August is the Film Festival, any one loves movies. So much Histories around the Piazza.

This is a wonderful spot, especially in the winter for the ice skating and shows and the film festival in the summer. Great architecture, cafes and restaurants surround the piazza, truly special.

Piazza Grande is the main square in Locarno. In Summer Moon&stars concerts take place, names like Elton John, Green Day, Santana, etc. are "locals" there. A couple of weeks later there's the Movie Festival, which has one of the biggest screens in the World and plays movies from all around the World. The main round about near Piazza Grande offer, during this festivals, ethnic food as well as an ethnic market.In Winter Locarno on Ice offer the possibility to ice skate, or enjoy a hot wine while listening to live concerts from local bands.

The Piazza is lovely however it does not compare with others in Italy. The market was a bit disappointing but restaurants and cafs in and near the piazza are fun to visit.

Anyone who isn't afraid of a bit of walking would never believe the Piazza Grande is situated in a town of blocks! The old town of Locarno is chockfull of ruins, ostereias, churches ,and even a fencing club locale. The Piazza Grande is the gem.

In what is otherwise a town full of modern high-rise blocks, the Piazza Grande offers a break from all that in Locarno. It's pleasant to stroll around it and soak up the atmosphere. The café culture is thriving, giving the air of some of the major Northern Italian cities.

Especially during the Moon & Stars Festival! There are lots of restaurants around the Piazza and the lake isn't far away either!

When we arrived the square was being prepared for a concert by Andrea Bocelli. A giant stage was being erected and we were able to watch the progress from completion through to rehearsals, listen to the concert from afar and view the rapid demolition and start of construction of a stage for the next event. At the bottom of the square an arena for a round of the Swiss volley ball championships was being built (80 tons of sand spread over the road!! and all cleared away in 36 hours).The concert was expensive (99 SFr to stand at the back), the volleyball free to enter and lots of freebies.The area around the Piazza Grande has a selection of shops including a branch of Coop, a supermarket well worth exploring for presents and lunchtime snacks.One day a week the square is given over to a market selling a wide range of goods from antiques to local cheeses and meat.

Piazza grande is a beautiful space in the centre of Locarno, which is often used for concerts and others events. In Summer it can be very crowded.

A wonderful space when you visit it on the days it is not holding any functions, building concert platforms and where you can allow the kids to roam without fears of cars. The cobbles can 'exercise' your feet so have a decent set of shoes to absorb the odd shapes and often uneven surfaces. It has such a wonderful backdrop on one side, the start of the old town but on the other side it has 'yielded' to less attractive and modern buildings.Where there is a need is to exercise a little more imagination so tourists can sit down a little longer, instead on a few fairly uncomfortable stone benches, so they can simply enjoy all that makes up the Piazza Grande with its backdrop of mountains, old town and the daily comings and goings that are a constant

the shops and restaurants are too touristic. I was looking for more typical ticino life, sweet cafe's etc.

Piazza Grande is a wide paved place situated at the heart of the city of Locarno, in the historic center. Houses, all of color pastel, line the place. They confer it an old-fashioned charm which is reminiscent of the attractive Tuscan squares.It is the center of the animation of the city. It always attracts many tourists with its café terraces, its restaurants, its picturesque shops and its arches. The inhabitants of Locarno like relaxing there, even if the place is often black of cars. It is also a place favored to make a walk while admiring the architecture of buildings.Piazza Grande is also very dear to the cinema enthusiasts. Moreover, every year in August, it is on this place that is held the International Festival of the Movie of Locarno. Also concert are planned in July which is called "Moon & Stars" with the presence of international singers.Finally on every Thursday, Piazza Grande fills with stalls proposing products of all kinds. Those offering hand-made products and typical: tissues, woolen articles, wooden and ceramic objects. On the market are also products of the tessinoise gastronomy: cheeses, eggs, fruits and vegetables of Ticino.

There is so much space here - you can sit and relax - get a coffee - let the kids play - all without worrying about the cars. Awesome.

Extraordinary during the summer music events "moon & stars", great during the international film festival and popular during "Locarno on ice"! Locarno on ice is free, other things, like concerts, you have to buy your ticket

nice open space surrounded by colourful buildings of character. short distance from a nice promenade by the lake. the central car park is very handy and a reasonable price.