My husband and I just came across this hotel while driving through the old town of Locarno. I noticed the private entranceway first and could glimpse parking spaces, a rarity in any touristy town in the Ticino. This hotel is part of the old castle. It's a trifle shabby, but delightfully so, with lots of charm. Our large room had a canopied bed and a nice view of the old town, and the bathroom was a good size and had a window. The advantages of staying here are ample parking, a lift, and a reasonable price. We loved the drawing room, which is done in a grand old manor style, with a big fireplace. It practically invites you to sit and read an Agatha Christie with a glass of port. The garden is wild and unkempt and lovely, with a pool and scented roses. Breakfast was okay, and the bread was especially good. The best thing about staying here was that we had a good night's sleep--no noise from other rooms or street noise, since it's set well back. We found a great restaurant, Boccalino, on Via della Motta, which was just outside the hotel, a minute away. We were in the Ticino nearly a week and this was our favorite hotel.