Return to Bellinzona?

I've only passed through Bellinzona on the train myself, but I'll be spending a couple of nights there later this year and have put together a list of sights in the city. I think there's a local sightseeing card that might be worthwhile for you since you're staying so long.

• MACT/CACT Museum and Center of Contemporary Art in Canton Ticino: Sounds as if it may just have temporary exhibitions, and probably of marginal interest to most people. Fri-Sun 1400-1800. CHF 6.

• Castel Grande: Mostly empty inside walls. Take elevator from foot of rock or climb steep streets. Daily 1000-1800. CHF 15; seniors CHF 8.

• Chiesa Collegiata dei SS. Pietro e Stefano: Renaissance/Baroque church with 15C-19C art. https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChiesacollegiatadeiSantiPietroeStefano has detailed description in Italian.

• Castello Montebello: Contains Archaeological and Civic Museum. Daily 1000-1800. CHF 10; seniors CHF 5. https://fortezzabellinzona.ch/en/

• Palazzo Civico Municipio Bellinzona: 1920s Town Hall of some architectural interest. https://www.bellinzona.ch/index.php?node=14&lng=1&rif=48c3df35ee (in Italian)

• Castello di Sasso Corbaro: Contains Sala Emma Poglia (relocated here), 17C walnut-paneled room. Also temporary exhibits. Daily 1000-1800. CHF 15; seniors CHF 8. https://fortezzabellinzona.ch/en/

• Chiesa di San Biagio a Ravecchia: Striking church with 14C fresco. Don't know when it's open. Mass is Sunday at 10:00 AM and Monday at 5:30 PM. http://chiesasanbiagio.ch/

• Museo Villa dei Cedri: Museum with 17C-20C art, housed in villa with small garden. Wed-Thu 1400-1800, Fri-Sun 1000-1800. Garden daily 0700-2000. CHF 12. https://www.museovilladeicedri.ch/.
  Check calendar for free tours: https://www.museovilladeicedri.ch/Agenda-9736c500

• Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie: Late 14C. Destroyed by fire 1996, restored and reopened 2005. Daily 0900-1800. https://www.ticino.ch/it/commons/details/Chiesa-di-Santa-Maria-delle-Grazie/80199.html

• SpazioReale, Monte Carasso: temporary photo exhibitions in Ancient Convent of the Augustinian Sisters. Now under city management. Check website for current exhibition. https://spazioreale.ch/

Outside Bellinzona are these options (among others, of course):

• Val Verzasca via PostBus from Locarno

• Scenic Centovalli rail line from Locarno to Domodossola, Italy. An SBB Saver Day Pass (if available at or near the introductory price) would be a money-saver if you were doing a round-trip. The one-way fare seems to be CHF 47. Alternatively, you could craft a loop trip of some sort.

• Cute small towns of Gandria and Morcote.

• If your trip is confined to Switzerland, you might appreciate a dose of Italian-ness down in Lugano.

Wow @acraven. Thank you so much. Will definitely use this to dig into my query.

FYI, we also have Lugano/Lake Lugano; the Centovalli Railway; and the Valle Verzasca on our researched to-do list for the week in the region. Great minds think alike! I'll have to take a look at Gandria and Morcote. We also have some of the botanical gardens on Lake Maggiore flagged, but that's because we'll be there for spring, and many of the flowers will be in bloom.

The Borromean Isles in Lake Maggiore are lovely. I've been there a couple of times, but I don't remember what path I took to reach Stresa and have no idea how long a trip that would be from the Bellinzona area.