Lugano is one of the most popular travel destinations in Switzerland. Both Lake Lugano and the surrounding mountains provide a wide variety of outdoor activities for tourists. Lugano is, also, home to a number of historic buildings and museums ideal for travel tours in city.Lugano is a lakeside city in Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of southern Switzerland.
Part of a temperate micro-climate, Lugano offers palm trees, picturesque boulevards, stunning views of the lake and the Alps, and plenty of opportunity for outdoor and indoor activities for travelers. Lugano also makes a good base for visiting other cities and sites in the area. The city is a pleasant place to relax in the summertime and
The city lies on Lake Lugano, and its warm summers and the fact that in recent years it has attracted an ever growing number of celebrities, entertainers and successful athletes have given it the nickname of the "Monte Carlo of Switzerland
PLACE TO VISIT
Lake Lugano - A very popular destination in Lugano is Lake Lugano. The lake is 48.7 square kilometers in size, 63% of which is in Switzerland and 37% in Italy.Bathing in the lake is allowed at any of the 50 or so bathing establishments located along the Swiss shores. There are numerous shipyards, water taxis and boat rental sites along the lake, as well as hotels and restaurants that offer mooring.
Cathedral of Lugano - The church is known on this site from 818. In 1078 it was made a collegiata, becoming a cathedral in 1888. The original Romanesque building was oriented the opposite way to the present church, as is shown by remains of the apse discovered under the current parvise. In the 15th century the church was expanded and the entrance moved to the present position, while the open roof was covered by a groin vaulted ceiling.
Museo delle Culture - The Museo delle Culture conserves most of the ethnic art works that the Swiss Italian artist and collector Serge Brignoni collected between 1930 and 1985 when he donated them to the City of Lugano.Canton Ticino, owner of the Collection and the Fund, lends to the Museo delle Culture, on a permanent contract, the whole collection and the documentary fund collected by Alfredo and Emma Nodari. The collection consists of a thousand art works and objects, two big river boats, almost 6'000 pictures, 71 documentary films and more than 60 hours tape recording, collected by Alfredo and Emma Nodari during their journeys to Africa
Monte Brè - east of Lugano has had a funicular that runs up the mountain since 1912. Monte Brè, which is Switzerland's sunniest spot, is also home to the village of Brè which is a fairly intact old village.
Monte San Salvatore - located on the outskirts of Lugano and provides an excellent view over the entire city.
Hermann Hesse museum - The museum is in Montagnola and you can get there in fifteen minutes from the Lugano railway station by a bus number 36 (direction Agra). Check the time tables, the bus frequence isn't very high. Get off at bus stop Bellevue. The museum also offers an audio guide for a walk in the steps of Hesse, which is a extremely good choice on a beautiful day. Besides the exhibition there is also a film on Hesse shown, duration approximately 50 minutes. In the summer season (March-October) opened daily from 10.00 to 18.30, in the winter season only on weekends from 10.00 to 17.30. Tickets: CHF 7.50/CHF 6.00, discounts for families and groups. Friendly and helpful staff. English, German and Italian spoken.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Lugano has a small international airport with flights arriving from many European cities especially Italy, England, France and Germany. Milan's airports are 1 1/2 hours away by bus or train and are served by easyJet and Ryanair. Swiss International Airline, Flybaboo and Darwin Airline offer discount web special prices to Lugano from many parts of Europe.
By train - Trains leave for Zurich (3hr) and Milan (40min-1hour) as well as Geneva (via Zurich or Locarno-Domodossola: 5h30' with 1 or 2 train-change, 6h30' via Milan with 1 train-change). Note that getting to Geneva or points west it is faster to go via Zurich or Locarno as the trains are more frequent and faster.
By bus - There are two shuttle services (Star Bus, Malpensa Express) between Lugano and Milan - Malpensa Airport and a daily bus service during summer to Tirano (Italy) with train connection (Bernina Express) to St. Moritz (Switzerland).
By boat - Note that a small part of the lake is actually in Italy so bring your passport if you plan on exploring by ferry.
