10/28/25
Under the southern sun of Lugano
A lakeside escape where Swiss calm meets Italian warmth and endless light.
The moment you arrive in Lugano, the air feels different — softer, warmer, lighter. The lake reflects the hills like glass, and palm trees line the promenade as if you’d stepped across a border without noticing. This is Switzerland’s Mediterranean soul, where life moves at the rhythm of conversation and sunshine.
Start your day at Piazza della Riforma, the city’s elegant square filled with cafés and color. Order a cappuccino, sit back, and watch the city wake up. From there, stroll toward Parco Ciani — one of the most beautiful lakeside parks in the country. It’s full of flowers, sculptures, and benches perfectly placed to make you forget about time.
For a view you’ll never forget, take the funicular to Monte Brè or San Salvatore. The panorama stretches from the deep blue of Lake Lugano to the peaks of northern Italy. On the way back, stop in Gandria — a small fishing village built into the rocks, with stone stairways and doors opening directly onto the water. The Olive Trail that connects Gandria to Lugano is one of the most peaceful walks you can take in Ticino.
Art lovers should visit LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, the city’s modern arts center. Inside, concerts and exhibitions mix seamlessly with the view outside — light, water, and space. When hunger calls, skip the city restaurants and follow locals into the “grotti,” rustic stone taverns hidden in the hills. There, you’ll find homemade polenta, grilled meats, and Ticino wine served with laughter.
Evenings in Lugano are pure atmosphere. The sky turns orange, people gather for aperitivo, and the city feels wrapped in light and music. Walk by the lake, stop for a gelato, and listen — to the water, to the languages blending together, to the calm that lingers in every movement.
Lugano isn’t about sightseeing; it’s about sensing. It’s the warmth of a handshake, the slow rhythm of the waves, and the taste of espresso under the shade. It’s Switzerland, yes — but with a heartbeat that speaks Italian.