Kärstelenbach

Waking up to a cold rain validates our plan to head to Bellinzona in the Ticino canton, about 2 hours train ride south of Lucerne.

As always, so impressed with the efficiency of the Swiss transport system, we're comfortably settled in and swiftly en route.

Our route winds us up to the snow line and over the low Alps , and after passing through the Gotthard Tunnel and the sun is shining as we pull into the Italianate town of Bellinzona.

We decide on a castle route through the medieval fortress consisting of 3 castles joined by a massive defensive wall. This wall is sometimes called the 4th castle.

A fantastic afternoon to wander through Sasso Corbaro, Montebello, and Castel Grande. They are everything you think when you hear medieval: stone, drawbridge, crennelated walls, towers.

Our grandfather we think must have really liked it here, there are pictures of him as a young man here, and we know he brought our mother here too. I can see why he was drawn to it's beauty, and I am too.

We took a picture of us 4 siblings sitting on one of the walls, much as he did over 90 years ago. And I wonder, did he ever think he would have 4 grandchildren who would revisit this place?Read more