Swiss by Travelmade

In less than two centuries, Lugano has grown from a simple fishing village to the largest Italian-speaking city outside of Italy. However it is still an urban center “on a human scale” where life flows in opposite directions between the quiet beauty of the landscape and the frenzy of the financial world. In addition to its Renaissance churches, it hosts a modern cultural center, home to the Museo d’Arte della Svizzera Italiana (Art Museum of Italian Switzerland) and a theater/concert hall with acoustics on par with the most renowned halls in larger European cities. And, don’t forget its famous Via Nassa — a shopper’s paradise with beautiful and luxurious boutiques.

In the past, Bellinzona was seen from the south as a “gateway to the Alps” and from the north as the “entrance into Italy”, and even today it is strategically positioned at the foot of the Alps on the crossroads between the Latin and Germanic worlds. With a network of cobbled streets and narrow mule tracks, Lombard-style courtyards and elegant patrician houses, its beautiful old town exudes an extraordinary medieval charm and a strong sense of intimacy. A vibrant energy dominates during its well-known Saturday morningmarket, where colorful stalls offer typical local products. Its three magnificent castles are a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the surrounding areas offer wonderful walks and excursions.

Strategically located on the northern end of Lake Maggiore, in Swiss territory, Locarno is a bright and cheerful town on a human scale. Narrow streets lined with bourgeoisie houses, diverse small shops and unique boutiques lead uphill to connect the lively Piazza Grande with the exquisite “Old Town”. Every summer its internationally renowned Film Festival and Moon & Stars open-air concerts attract famous actors, musicians and multitudes of spectators from around the world. Markets enliven its squares, while the lake front provides ample opportunities for peaceful walks and panoramic views.

The Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, namely Ticino, boasts two of the eleven UNESCO World Heritage sites in the country: the splendid Castles of Bellinzona, undisputed protagonists of the region’s history and the only remaining examples of medieval military architecture in the entire Alpine region; Monte San Giorgio, a paleontological site of inestimable value, thanks to fossils found in the hillsides, which are outstanding examples of marine life from the Triassic Period (about 245 to 230 million years ago). Two exceptional places where ceaseless research has allowed us to understand the history of humans, animals and the land.

In contrast to the rest of Ticino’s rugged mountain landscape, the territory in the southernmost part of the canton around Mendrisio is characterized by gentle hillsides where much of the local wine is produced. Its historic center includes not only important religious monuments but also villas that testify to its glorious past. Its famous processions through the streets during Holy Week showcase precious 18th century illuminated panels depicting scenes from the New Testament. Nearby is located Monte San Giorgio, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Despite its southern position which might suggest otherwise, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland is a fairly mountainous area, where precipitous cliffs and steep mountain sides contain pristine valleys, which are relatively unexplored. These remote valleys, of unique beauty, hide small hamlets, each with stone or wooden houses and its own little church, witnesses to a simple and hard life, yet one based on priceless human values. Here, history and traditions are the foundations of the present. Crystal-clear emerald rivers and dense forests of chestnut and beech trees offer pure and untouched nature.