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Interesting Facts
- Lugano is located within the Canton of Ticino. What exactly is a Canton? Essentially, it's a small territorial division of a country. In Switzerland's case, the Cantons comprise individual constituent states. Lugano, and the entire Canton of Ticino for that matter, is characterized by its Italian language, cuisine, and culture.
- The mild weather in Lugano is perhaps more indicative of Italy than Switzerland. In fact, Lugano is the southernmost resort town in the country and attracts thousands of tourists each year seeking outdoor recreation.
- Although primarily thought of as a laid-back, "touristy" sort of town, Lugano enjoys a thriving and ever-growing economy. It has become the largest, most important city in the Canton of Ticino and is among the top three or four financial centers in Switzerland.
- Of all the recreational opportunities that Lugano affords, most invariably center around water. This is not surprising considering that the city is conveniently located on or near three lakes: Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Como. Lake Lugano flanks the city and also straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy. The Italians call it Lake Ceresio.
- Perhaps because of its picture perfect setting, the Ticino area boasts one of the most important annual international film festivals. The nearby Lucarno Film Festival is one of the biggest international events in Switzerland, though not quite as celebrated as the film festivals in Cannes, Venice, and Berlin.
- Lugano is home to the esteemed Thyssen-Bornemisza Gallery, which houses one of the finest private art collections in all of Europe. Though many of the master works were transported to Spain in 1992, the collection still boasts a number of fine pieces by both American and European masters from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The eclectic exhibit contains a number of varied styles as well.
- Lugano is also home to two beautiful churches: Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence Cathedral) and Chisea di Santa Maria degli Angeli (Church of St. Mary of the Angels). The former resides in the old town and is known for its striking Renaissance façade. The latter, which was built at the end of the fifteenth century, contains three impressive frescoes by the Renaissance artist Bernardo Luini.
- One of the more unique attractions in Lugano is the interesting Schmid Museum, which was once the home of the famous Swiss architect Wilhelm Schmid. Today, the house serves as a testament to his life and work. On display are numerous papers, books, paintings, and sculptures, most of which dates after the mid-1930's when he left Nazi Germany.
- There are few delicacies in the world that can compare to authentic Swiss chocolate. Each year, thousands of "chocoholic" tourists are drawn to Lugano's Alpenrose Chocolate Museum. Located on Via Rompada, the museum recounts the entire history of chocolate production in Switzerland. Sorry, no free samples.
- Of all the attractions in Lugano, none is more curious or charming than the Swiss Miniature Village on Via Cantonale. This extraordinarily detailed exhibit showcases small replicas of the main buildings, streets, and bridges in each Swiss Canton. Set out over 2.5 acres, the village features a network of cars, trains, boats, and cable cars that all function.
