Giubiasco lies at the southern edge of Bellinzona, the capital of the Swiss canton of Ticino, where the valley of the Ticino river opens towards the Magadino plain and Lake Maggiore. For centuries, this was the gateway to the Alpine passes, the Gotthard, San Bernardino and Lukmanier, and whoever controlled Bellinzona controlled the trade routes between Italy and northern Europe.
That is why Bellinzona has three castles, Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro, built by the Dukes of Milan in the fifteenth century and linked by walls that once blocked the entire valley. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the views from their towers over the valley and the mountains are spectacular. Castelgrande, on its rock in the middle of town, is the most impressive.
As a food stop, Giubiasco and Bellinzona have plenty of choice. Ticino's food is Italian in spirit, with Swiss precision: polenta, risotto, game, cured meats and cheeses from the mountain valleys, and the local Merlot, which thrives in the mild climate. The traditional grotti, rustic restaurants in the woods above the towns, often with stone tables under chestnut trees, are a delight in summer.
The riding from here is superb. The roads north lead to the great Alpine passes, while the road south over the Monte Ceneri leads to Lugano and the lakes. Switzerland requires a motorway vignette, motorcycles included, and speed limits are strictly enforced, with heavy fines. Fuel is available in town.