Three trains for this journey, the second of which took us from Zurich down to Bellinzona, which is just a small hop away from Lucarno. On this second leg we went through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which boasts some interesting statistics. It runs for some 35 miles (53km) north-south, cutting below some very high peaks of the Swiss Alps. It is the world's deepest and longest railway tunnel and although it only rises from a low of 312 metres to a high of around 560 metres above sea level, at its maximum, it lies 2450 metres below ground level. On our journeys today we were only in the tunnel for 19 minutes each way, which means our average speed was around 110 miles per hour (180 km/h). This is well below the maximum operating speed of 180 mph (250 km/h).
The pretty town of Locarno lies on the bank of Lake Maggiore. The Italian influence is very noticeable in this region, in the architecture, language preference and cuisine/ restaurant options. We took a ride in the funicula a short way up the mountain where we visited a 15th century church called 'Santuarro della Madonna del Sasso'. From the outside it is reasonably good looking, but inside it is spectacular! The detailed decorations throughout are breathtaking. Several photographs later we took the return ride on the funicula back down into the town. A short stroll beside the lake and an ice cream from an Italian street vendor made it feel more Mediterranean than Swiss.
The return journey to base was fairly uneventful, arriving at around 17.15 - earlier than the last few days. Supper was a Burger King meal at the station, followed by planning our itinerary for the next two days. Soon to bed after another enjoyable day.
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