Visiting Ascona, Switzerland: Top Sights on Foot

Ascona is a lakeside town on Lake Maggiore in the Italian‑speaking canton of Ticino, Switzerland, where Alpine scenery meets a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere. Its historic borgo, art museums, lakeside promenades and churches make it a rewarding destination for travelers who enjoy culture, sunshine and a leisurely pace. Neywo provides a free audio guide for Ascona with 9 narrated places, including a free walking tour Ascona option.

What to See in Ascona

Casa Anatta

Casa Anatta serves as the main exhibition space of the Monte Verità museum complex. Once known as Casa Pontremoli, the building was carefully restored and reopened in May 2017. It now tells the story of Monte Verità, the early‑20th‑century hillside colony that attracted artists, anarchists and visionaries looking for an alternative way of life.

Monte Verità museum complex

The Monte Verità museum complex is a museum site in Ascona that brings together several historic buildings into a single cultural heritage trail. Walking through the complex lets you see how the site has preserved the legacy of its experimental community.

Fondazione Ignaz e Mischa Epper

The Fondazione Ignaz e Mischa Epper is a small museum dedicated to the works of Ignaz and Mischa Epper. Established in 1980 at Mischa’s request, it first occupied their lakeside home for forty years before moving to the second floor of the Fondazione Rolf Gérard building in 2020. The move launched a digitisation project that now lets visitors view the couple’s combined archives and re‑staged collection.

Museo Castello San Materno

Museo Castello San Materno occupies a restored castle that opened its doors in April 2014. It houses the Kurt and Barbara Alten Cultural Foundation’s collection, with a strong focus on German art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Highlights include works from the Worpswede colony, German Impressionism and Expressionism, and pieces by artists such as Paula Modersohn‑Becker, Otto Modersohn, Max Liebermann, Lovis Corinth, Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and members of the Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter groups. Watercolors by Christian Rohlfs, Emil Nolde and August Macke add further variety.

Museo comunale d’arte moderna

Ascona’s municipal museum of modern art holds the town’s own collection and the legacy of Marianne Werefkin, the expressionist painter who spent her final years here. The galleries offer a window into the artistic life that flourished along Lake Maggiore, letting you trace the development of modern art in Ticino.

Chiesa Santi Pietro e Paolo

The parish church of Saints Peter and Paul (Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo) stands in the heart of Ascona. Its Romanesque origins date back to the 13th century, providing a quiet contrast to the colorful buildings that line the nearby streets.

Santa Maria della Misericordia

Santa Maria della Misericordia is a late Gothic church whose construction began in 1399 and finished in 1442. The tower, added in 1488, rises above the roofline and has become a skyline landmark. Inside, the church shelters one of Switzerland’s most extensive late Gothic fresco cycles, with vividly colored scenes that reward a slow, contemplative visit.

Madonna della Fontana Church

Tucked on the northern slope of Monte Verità, the Madonna della Fontana Church (known locally as Santa Maria della Fontana) offers a peaceful retreat away from the lakeside bustle. Its modest size and quiet setting make it a good spot for a moment of reflection.

Teatro San Materno

The Teatro San Materno, built between 1927 and 1928, was conceived by expressionist dancer Charlotte Bara as a space devoted solely to movement. Architect Carl Weidemeyer realized her vision with Switzerland’s first chamber theatre built entirely to modern architectural principles. The building’s rationalist design — clean lines, functional clarity — puts the performance front and center.

Explore Ascona with Neywo

Neywo’s free audio guide for Ascona includes one walking tour and one bike route. The walking tour, “Ascona: Mountain of Truth to the Lakeside Frescoes,” covers 3.99 km, takes about 97 minutes and stops at eight places: Casa Anatta, Madonna della Fontana Church, San Materno, Museo Castello San Materno, Santa Maria della Misericordia, Fondazione Ignaz e Mischa Epper, Chiesa Santi Pietro e Paolo and Museo comunale d’arte moderna. The bike route, “From the Castle Museum to the Gothic Church,” is 0.7 km long, lasts roughly three minutes and has two stops: Museo Castello San Materno and Santa Maria della Misericordia. As you reach each location, the app narrates its story, allowing you to explore at your own pace with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages. Download Neywo to enjoy these guided walks and rides and discover Ascona’s sights whenever you wish.