Ticino

Ticino

Lugano

Lugano is the largest city in Ticino, the Italian-speaking Switzerland, on the shore of the lake of the same name and between two hills, San Salvatore and Brè. The center features the Piazza della Riforma, arcaded streets like Via Nassa, the cathedral of San Lorenzo above the station, and the church of Santa Maria degli Angioli with Bernardino Luini’s large Passion fresco. On the lakefront are the LAC cultural center, housing the Swiss Italian art museum, and Parco Ciani. Funiculars climb both hills, and boats take visitors to the villages of Gandria and Morcote. Italian is spoken, and the climate is milder than in northern Switzerland.