From hiking alpine ridges and village-hopping by boat, to exploring castles and admiring art and architecture, Lago di Lugano is a perfect base in the Ticino.
The town of Lugano makes a good base for exploring the region where northern Italy blends into Switzerland’s Italian-speaking Ticino region. Trains, boats, funiculars and walking paths lead to surprising adventures in the dramatic landscapes where the lakes meet the Alps.
- Ride to a mountain-top: Monte St. Salvatore and Monte Bre stand at either side of Lugano, and funicular tramways ascend to the summit of each. Views of the Alps are spectacular, especially from Monte St. Salvatore, and near the top of Monte Bre is a village of artists.
- Walk the Chestnut Trail: Forests of stately chestnut trees cover the hillsides of the Malcantone Valleys west of Lugano, and a marked walking trail leads through these, from village to village. Try the delicious chestnut pasta at the restaurant Il Castagno, in Mugena, a good stop for lunch along the way.
- Step Back in time in the Valle di Muggio: Head South to Mendrisio, and drive into the deep Valle di Muggio to visit the Museo Etnografico della Valle di Muggio, a collection of historic buildings spread among several towns. One is Mulino di Bruzella, a water-powered mill that grinds polenta.
- Take a boat around the lake: Get a series of different perspectives from the upper deck of the lake steamer, visiting towns around the lake, such as idyllic little Morcote and Gandria.
- Explore Bellinzona’s castles: the castles at this town north of Lugano have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour them, and the beautiful historic town center, especially appealing during its Saturday morning market selling local foods and crafts.
- Ride the Centovalli train: take the train to nearby Locarno to catch the vintage Centovalli train along the Melezza River and its tributaries, each of which has carved a valley of its own. The rail line crosses 83 bridges and passes through 31 tunnels en route to Domodossola, at the foot of the Simplon Pass.
- Hike ridge rail from Monte Lema to Monte Tamaro: Cable cars lead to the top of each mountain, connecting to bus lines at the bases, so hikers can traverse the spectacular pre-alpine ridge on a five-hour hike.
- Explore gardens: begin in Lugano, at the City Garden behind Villa Ciani, where venerable trees are the backdrop for changing flower bed displays, then stroll among the olive trees, cypresses, myrtles, pines and palms, in the terraced Parco degli Olivi’, highlighted in the spring with daffodils and wild tulips. May and Juke are also te best time to see Scherrer Monument-Park, on the steep hillside above Morcote, when the rhododendron and laurel are in bloom.
- Immerse yourself in art: Begin with the stunning frescoes by Bernardino Luini, the 15th-century church of Santa Maria degli Angioli on Lugano’s waterfront promenade, then skip to 20th and 21st-century art displayed at the Museo d’Arte in Villa Malpensata, just down the street. Across the lake in Camoione d’Italia are even older frescoes at the church of S. Maria dei Ghirli.
- Admire 15 centuries of architecture: In Capolago in the village of Riva San Vitale, south of Lugano, is a 5th-century octagonal baptistery; the nearby 16th-century church of Santa Croce is among the finest Renaissance churches in the region. By contrast, the area has several landmark contemporary works by locally-born, Mario Botta, including the Casino in Campione d’Italia.
The copyright of the article Lake Lugano's Ten Best Experiences in Italy Travel is owned by Barbara Rogers. Permission to republish Lake Lugano's Ten Best Experiences in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Oct 19, 2008 7:45 PM
Betsy Husband :
Feb 8, 2009 11:48 PM
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