Loitering in Lugano
by nygaston
Geography for 20 points. Where am I? The climate is Mediterranean, the people open, carefree and passionate. The trains are never late, the gardens immaculate, and everything is in its place. Italy? Switzerland? I’ll pay either.
The atlas says Lugano is in Switzerland but, as the name suggests, this picture-postcard paradise clings to its Italian roots. 8% of Switzerland call Italian their native language and live mostly in the south-central district of Ticino, separated from Italy by palm-tree studded lakes and the Alp’s lush foothills. Ticino belonged to pre-Italian states until the Swiss took it over in 1512, and it’s been part of Switzerland ever since. The idea of Italian dining, balmy climate and breathtaking scenery combined with Swiss precision and order is irresistible, yet somehow puzzling. A bit like enjoying fantastic pasta without getting sauce down your front.
Lugano is irresistible – a slice of Italy in Switzerland. We stopped for a look and stayed four days. Here are four reasons why.
Forza Bianconer! Hockeytown Lugano
by Mr.Smash
...a MUST for everyone interested in professional hockey is a visit to a game of six times swiss champion HC LUGANO (campioni/champions in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1999, 2003). The white-and-blacks ("bianconeri" in italian) play in the "Resega" stadium, reachable easily by bus from downtown Lugano (bus terminal "Lugano centro"). Tremendous hockey guaranteed and the "tifosi" in the stadium's north zone ("curva nord") deliver one of Switzerlands best support in hockey. I'm living 1000 km away from Lugano and travel to their games five to seven times a year. Always a pleasure! Best games against Ambri,Zuerich/Zurigo, Davos.
If you have time, you should...
by Svitata
If you have time, you should drop by Bellinzona, which is about an hour's drive from Lugano, to visit the old castle there. It's very well preserved and parts of the it have been converted into a musuem. It shouldn't take you more than 2 hours to tour the castle; and thereafter, you could drive to Locarno (about 40mins drive I think) where you could spend the rest of the afternoon shopping or sipping a nice cup of coffee. If you go there around August, you could catch the annual Locarno Film Festival, which is considered quite a big event there with an open air film screening in the square and other performances.
Fresh Orange Juice, Great Coffee & Pastry
by thinking about INVESTORS CAFE
I L O V E this place.
It is a "mini-coffee house" with newspapers and magazines for you to read in many languages.
It is open from 6:00am to 8:00pm Monday-Friday. I love the fresh orange juice and the coffee.
Diving
by ealgisi
Wanna try diving for the first time ?
Or simply just want to take an upgrade course, dive with a buddy or a local dive master ?
Well you have found the right place.
At PlanetSea you will find professional qualified instructors that will be more than happy to show you the Lugano lake from another point of view.
PlanetSea is a fully operational and well equiped divng resort recognized by Padi, with a wide range of classes.
Just ask...
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Civic Park
View from Sasso Corbaro
On train to Lugano
Lake Lugano
