Towns to Visit on Lake Lugano
What to Do in Lugano, Gandria, Morcote, Campione and Porlezza
Oct 14, 2008
The towns around the Italian-Swiss lake of Lugano couldn’t ask for a better setting. All around the lake, thickly wooded mountainsides rise steeply, so villages cling to the shore in clusters of candy-colored stucco buildings. At either end of the lake its largest towns sit on flatter ground, with mountains as backdrops and scenic waterside promenades.
Lugano
For panoramic views of the Alps and Dolomites, ride the funicular to the top of Monte San Salvatore (about $20 round-trip). Cars depart every half hour for the 12-minute ride; the base station is close to the Paradiso stop for the lake steamers. Along with the view, at the top is a free museum with displays on the region’s geology, caves and the religious confraternity that operated the pilgrimage church at the top. Ride up for the sunset – the last car down in the summer is at 11 pm.
The pink palazzo of Villa Ciani punctuates the end of the city’s lakeside promenade, and is surrounded by the City Park, filled with venturies-old trees. The villa holds the city’s historical museum, while the art museum, Museo d’Arte, is in a stately 18th-century mansion overlooking the lake in the center of town. It mounts special exhibits dedicated to art and artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The terraced Parco degli Olivi’ marks the beginning of the wide path, the Sentiero dell’Olivo’ along the lake shore to the village of Gandria. Along the way, interspersed by beautiful lake views, are information panels explaining the history and growing of olive trees.
Gandria
The Olive Path leads to lanes that descend to the boat landing in this little town whose houses seem to be glued to the steep bank. Opposite, where the lake narrows, is the landing for Cantine Gandria. A grotto restaurant and the Swiss Customs Museum (more commonly called the Smugglers’ Museum), tempt visitor to leave the boat here. Exhibits cover smuggling, drug searching, illegal trade in endangered species and other issues a customs inspector deals with. The museum generally opens in the afternoon, from mid-April to mid October. Boat is the only access.
Porlezza
Lying at the end of a long delta (designated as a nature reserve) at the far eastern end of the lake is red-roofed Porlezza. Visitors go there on Saturdays for the weekly market, a colorful affair with local foods for sale. Nearby are mountain trails to hike, and the delta is a migratory stop for birds.
Campione d’ Italia
A little piece of Italy is surrounded by Switzerland on all sides, and attracts visitors mainly for its casino, designed by local-born architect Mario Botta. The church of S. Maria dei Ghirli is connected to the lake by a stairway flanked in cypress trees and ending in a monumental arched entrance. Under the portico are frescoes and inside are more l4th-century, frescoes. You can follow the border around this tiny enclave to see the border markers, two of which are carved into huge boulders.
Morcote
A picturesque village strung along the lake, Morcote is known for the antique shops that open into the shade of its porticoes overlooking the water. Above town, the church of Church of Santa Maria del Sasso has beautiful 16th-century frescoes under its arches, and views from its terrace. Less than half a mile from the town, the Scherrer Monument-Park has Greek and Egyptian temples, a teahouse from Thailand and other buildings from different times and places, set amid beautiful gardens.
