Discover Solduno: Churches, Art and Hotels

Solduno is a district of the political municipality of Locarno in the Canton of Ticino, located in the Maggia Delta. A road junction points towards the Maggia Valley, Centovalli and Brissago. If you are looking for a hotel in Solduno, the area’s history and cultural themes provide a practical basis for deciding whether the destination suits your interests. They range from church art and architecture to archaeological traces, weaving and a culinary festival.

Church Art and Architectural History

The Church of San Giovanni Battista in Solduno was consecrated in 1385. The present-day building was built beside the former church and consecrated in 1795. Its features include a dome decoration depicting the Glory of the Baptist and the four Evangelists. It was created by Luigi Fratini, a painter from Milan, and dates from 1848. A side altar preserves a painting from 1731 attributed to Baldassare Orelli. It depicts the Virgin and Child between Saints Defendente and Anthony of Padua. The architectural history and artworks mark different periods: the consecration of the present-day building falls between the earlier painting and the later dome decoration.

Archaeological Traces in Solduno

The archaeological finds also give the area’s history a broad time frame. A significant Iron Age necropolis was discovered in Solduno from the mid-1930s onwards. Another site is known as “Locarno, Solduno: struttura dell'età del Bronzo”. It shows phases of use from the Bronze Age or possibly an earlier prehistoric period, the transition to the Iron Age, Roman times and the post-medieval period. The earliest dating remains uncertain: Bronze Age phases are identified, while an even earlier prehistoric period is possible. Taken together, the findings show that Solduno’s archaeological history is not limited to a single era.

Santa Maria in Selva in the Surrounding Area

In the wider area around Solduno, the Church of Santa Maria in Selva stands on Via Vallemaggia, on the road from Locarno to Solduno. Because of its paintings, it is considered one of the most important surviving architectural monuments of the 15th century in the Lombard region. Only the rectangular choir remains of the original 14th-century building. The church is a distinctive architectural and artistic landmark in the Solduno area.

Art, Weaving and Local Specialities

Since 2015, the Fondazione Marguerite Arp has had a modern art repository and exhibition space at its headquarters, Ronco dei Fiori, in Locarno-Solduno. A new exhibition layout is presented there every year. Group visits are available on request; seasonal access may change. Check visiting arrangements in advance, especially if you are planning a group visit.

Weaving is also part of the local scene: since 1999, the Incontro 1 workshop has been based at Casa Bastoria in Solduno, where it makes Pezzotti rugs. This production connects the area’s name with a particular textile craft. A different, culinary facet is the Sagra dei tortelli in Piazza di Solduno. On St Joseph’s Day, volunteers prepare traditional sweet tortelli by hand, with or without filling. If you would like to include this festival in your travel plans, check the event dates for your travel period.

Plan Dates for Your Stay

Art visits and the festival follow different arrangements: group visits to the Fondazione are available on request, while the Sagra is associated with St Joseph’s Day. Check the specific visiting or event dates before planning your trip around them. The new exhibition layout each year also offers a changing connection to the art; seasonal access may change.

Discover more destinations: Cavigliano, Tegna, Borgnone, Contone, Gresso, Gambarogno TI, Lavertezzo, Rasa

Back to the main travel overview: Locarno.