A shadow glides across the stands.
For a brief moment, all is quiet. Then an eagle spreads its powerful wings and circles just a few meters above the heads of the spectators. A falcon soars through the air, an owl glides by almost silently.
Welcome to the Falconeria Locarno .
Here, birds of prey aren't just found behind bars. During the flight demonstrations, visitors can experience eagles, falcons, owls, and vultures in free flight – right in the heart of Locarno, yet momentarily removed from everyday life. Marabou storks, ibises, and storks are also among the birds that can be spotted in the park.
A journey into another time
Falconry is one of the oldest forms of human-animal interaction. Its roots reach back thousands of years to the Orient, before this unique art spread to Europe in the Middle Ages. At court, falconry became a highly respected art and, at the same time, a symbol of power and nobility.
In Locarno, this ancient tradition comes alive in a special way.
When the falconers send their birds into the arena, a brief journey through time begins. The animals take flight, circle, accelerate, and return at a command. Above the heads of the audience, something unfolds that one rarely experiences at such close range: the power, speed, and elegance of a bird of prey in its element.
The moment when the bird arrives
It's not just the sight.
It's the feeling.
You sit in the stands, knowing something is about to happen. Then a bird lifts from the falconer's glove. For a moment, it seems almost weightless. Suddenly, it picks up speed and disappears from view.
Seconds later he reappears.
You can hear the wingbeats.
You can feel the draft.
And suddenly this mighty bird is no longer an animal you know from a book, but a living being flying directly overhead.
It is precisely this proximity that makes the performance so impressive.
More than an air show
The Falconeria aims to do more than just entertain. During the demonstrations, the falconers also talk about the different bird species, their special abilities, and their habitats. The importance of birds of prey for the ecological balance is also discussed.
Because birds of prey are far more than just impressive hunters.
They are part of complex ecosystems and fulfill important roles within them. Those who experience them up close may also begin to see the landscape in which these animals live with different eyes.
Eagles, falcons, owls and vultures
The animals can also be observed and photographed in the park outside of the show.
There sits an owl with large, alert eyes.
A falcon is waiting there.
A vulture appears almost majestic when it sits calmly in its perch.
And then there are the other inhabitants of the park: marabou storks, ibises, and storks, whose unique shapes and movements contrast with the elegant birds of prey. The Falconeria describes its surroundings as naturally designed and geared towards respectful interaction with the animals.
An open-air arena
The event takes place in a large arena. The stands offer around 600 seats and are protected from sun and rain. The seats are not numbered – so those who want their favorite spot should arrive a little early.
That has its own appeal.
Because once the performance begins, one's gaze is no longer directed at the person sitting next to them anyway.
He walks upwards.
To heaven.
The poetry of free flight
Perhaps it is precisely this moment that makes the Falconeria so special.
We humans spend a large part of our lives on the ground. We drive along roads, climb stairs, walk through cities, and look at screens.
And then an eagle appears.
He is doing something that is impossible for us.
He takes off.
He makes a wide arc above the arena, gains altitude, and seems to be carried effortlessly by the wind.
For a moment, you don't look at the clock.
You look up.
An experience for families – and for everyone who can be amazed.
The Falconeria is also a popular destination for families. However, age doesn't really matter.
Children are amazed by the size of the birds.
Adults are amazed at how close the animals fly by.
And those interested in nature, history or photography will also find a special place here.
Falconry combines knowledge and entertainment with an immediate experience: you don't just see the animals – you experience their flight.
The new story of the golden feather
For 2026, the Falconeria will also present the enchanting program "La Piuma d'oro" – The Golden Feather . The story takes place in an enchanted forest where humans, fantastical creatures, and animals live together peacefully. A golden feather, stolen by a dark knight, throws this world out of balance.
This adds another dimension to falconry.
The flight of the birds becomes a story.
The arena becomes a stage.
And for a moment, a day trip becomes a little journey into another world.
A piece of wilderness in the heart of Locarno
The Falconeria is located at Via delle Scuole 12 in Locarno. The facility combines proximity to the city with the experience of a world that is actually at home in wide landscapes, rock faces and open skies.
And perhaps that is precisely where its special magic lies.
You don't have to climb a mountain to see an eagle fly.
You don't have to travel to the wilderness to see the shadow of a bird of prey pass overhead.
You simply sit in Locarno.
Then it becomes quiet.
A wingbeat.
A shadow.
A circle in the sky.
And for a moment, the sky belongs to the birds.
Falconeria Locarno – a place where you not only see birds of prey, but believe you can feel the free flight for a moment.
