Bellinzona is the capital of Ticino in the south of Switzerland. The city is located in the valley east of the Ticino River at the foot of the Gotthard massif and close to the Italian border. With over 40,000 inhabitants, it is the second largest city in Ticino after Lugano. Bellinzona is home to three castles that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro. They are testimonies of medieval fortress architecture in the Alpine region. The castles can be reached from the old town of Bellinzona on the Artù tourist train.
