I visited Bellinzona in July 2013. I decided to sleep over to avoid to enjoy the castles lit up at night and to beat the crowds of tourists by hiking early in the morning. Montebello and Sasso Corbaro castles are open from 08.30am so I woke up early and started from Sasso Corbaro. It is the smallest and least interesting of the castles, however at 230 metres, great views of Bellinzona and Castelgrande can be enjoyed. A walk downhill through small vineyards brought me to the Montebello castle, my favourite castle and an all-rounder ... views, architecture and courtyards. At street level in the Bellinzona city centre lies a huge rocky hill where Castelgrande is perched. It is rather peculiar and you would expect it to be situated instead of Sasso Corbaro. There is a lift that leads to the courtyard but not very interesting to visit. Similar positive experience quite similar to San Marino's Monte Titano.