Lugano Favorites

Favorite thing: MY SWITZERLAND
http://myswitzerland.com

RAILAWAY
http://www.railaway.ch

TICINO TURISMO
http://www.ticino-tourism.ch

Fondest memory: Lugano is nature at it's very best combined with respect for privacy and human values.

Favorite thing: If you are visiting Lugano, stop in and request the
"Guest Book" as it gives discounts to many places you would want to visit.

Palazzo Civico-Riva Albertolli

phone: +41 091 913 32 32
fax: +41 091 922 76 53

Fondest memory: It is so wonderful to be in the Lake District, as the beautiful views always make me happy. I also love the Italian way of life here in Switzerland.

Favorite thing: Women have two choices here depending on the effect they wish to create.

Either look like an American tourist in your t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes,

or

dress like the SWISS/ITALIAN women in high heels, make-up, jewelery. Often "the look" is with a cigarette in one hand and a white poddle or another tiny breed in the other.

Fondest memory: I loved the view of Lake Lugano from San Salvador Mountain and from Grandia.

Favorite thing: If you have in mind to come to Lugano you should come during springtime (best from April on) when the flowers are blossoming or during summer when there are several international musical festivals you can enjoy for free.

Favorite thing: Lugano has plenty of attractions to satisfy serious culture-vultures, but even the culturally-challenged will be surprised by some of its treasures. Here are our favourites:

1. Villa Favorita. You’ll be left spellbound by this mansion in Castagnola and its incomparable art collection.
2. Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli. This 15th century church in Piazza Luini houses some of Switzerland’s most amazing frescos.
3. Museum of Modern Art. An enormous collection of international and Ticinese artists is displayed in Villa Malpensata on Riva Antonio Caccia.

Favorite thing: Hillsides and valleys of colour sprinkled with cool forests, an occasional village of old stone houses and picturesque waterfront frescoed resort-towns. All this, backed by distant snow-capped peaks under a Mediterranean sun that won’t quit. That’s what you can expect if you’re out for a walk around Lugano.

Dozens of footpaths cross the countryside and it’s easy to design your own walks, visiting places of interest and finishing in beautiful lakeside towns where you can catch a boat back to Lugano.

Fondest memory: Here are two sensational walks we did, and you can get more ideas from the Tourist Office:

1. Take a funicular to the top of San Salvatore, then follow any of the trails down the mountain through the villages of Ciona, Carona and Torello to the beautiful resort of Morcote. Allow four hours. Boats back to Lugano take an hour.
2. Explore Lugano’s Civic Park and the Lido before heading down Via Riviera to Castagnola and the start of the waterfront walk to Gandria. Allow two hours. Boats back to Lugano take 30 minutes.

Favorite thing: 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.

Fondest memory: 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.

Favorite thing: TICINO UNTOUR: Departures run from early May to early October. Prices include round-trip on Swissair from New York or Boston, two weeks of apartment lodging, Idyll's optional guided excursions and support services, and a 15-day second-class Swiss Pass for transportation on Switzerland's rail/bus/boat network. The price for two weeks all-inclusive, based on two persons sharing an apartment, starts at US$1,583 per person. Per person rates decrease with each additional person in an apartment. Idyll Ltd. also operates Untours in other Swiss regions and other countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Spain. For more detailed information, contact Idyll Ltd. at 1-888-UNTOUR1 or visit www.untours.com.