Lugano Attractions
Lugano, the "pearl of Lake Lugano", lies in a bay half-way down the lake, flanked by Monte San Salvatore and Monte Brè. It is the largest and most important town in Ticino, and the beauty of the town and its setting makes it one of Switzerland's most popular holiday resorts during the warmer months of the year.
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Villa Favorita ( Thyssen-Bonemisza Collection)
In Castagnola, to the east of Lugano, is the Villa Favorita, which boasts one of the finest private picture galleries in Europe, the Schloss Rohoncz Collection, belonging to Baron Heinrich von Thyssen-Bonemisza. Among the paintings are masterpieces by Italian, Flemish, Dutch, Spanish, German and French artists from the Middle Ages to the 20th C.
Art Museum
Art of the 19th and 20th C is featured in the Museo cantonale d'arte.
Museo Cantonale d'Arte
Piazza Manzoni 7
CP 3084
CH-6900 Lugano
Switzerland
Piazza Manzoni 7
CP 3084
CH-6900 Lugano
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 14:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Cantonal Natural History Museum
Museo cantonale di storia naturale features all the natural aspects of the landscape (minerals, fossils, fauna, flora, fungi).
Lugano Museo cantonale di storia naturale
Viale Cattaneo 4
CH-6900 Lugano
Switzerland
Viale Cattaneo 4
CH-6900 Lugano
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | Closed |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | ||
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | ||
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Festival
This annual three-day festival takes place during the first weekend in October. Introduced in 1932, the festival has since included annual flower parades as well as traditional food stalls and plenty of street entertainment.
Lugano (Castagnola - Museum of Non-European Cultures)
The Serge and Graziella Brignoni Collection is one of the foremost collections of objects and sculptures of South Seas cultures. It consists of works from Melanesia, Polynesia, Indonesia and Africa. The museum has a reference library open to the public.
Museo delle Culture Extraeuropee
Villa Heleneum
Via Cortivo 24
CH-6976 Castagnola
Switzerland
Villa Heleneum
Via Cortivo 24
CH-6976 Castagnola
Switzerland
Hours
March 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Lugano (Castaloga - Historical Archives)
Works of the Italian philosopher Carlo Cattaneo (1801-1869), and poets Janis Rainis (1865-1929) and Aspazija (1869-1943) are contained in the archives.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | ||
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | ||
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Pentecost Sunday (Whit Sunday) - Christian (May 27)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Ascension Thursday - Christian (May 17)
Easter Monday - Christian (Apr 09)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Pentecost Sunday (Whit Sunday) - Christian (May 27)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Ascension Thursday - Christian (May 17)
Easter Monday - Christian (Apr 09)
Palazzo Albertolli
Adjoining Lugano's art museum is the handsome Palazzo Albertolli which was built in the 19th C.
St Lawrence Church
Outstanding among the churches in Lugano's Old Town is the Cathedral of St Lawrence (San Lorenzo). Originally Romanesque, it was enlarged in the 13th-14th C. and underwent extensive alteration in the 17th and 18th C. It has an imposing Renaissance facade, rich fresco decoration and a Baroque interior.
St Roch Church
In Lugano's Piazza Maghetti is the 16th C. church of St Roch (San Rocco) with its 20th C. facade and the new Centro Maghetti.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection
European and American art from the 18th and 19th C are featured in this collection.
Lugano-Castagnola Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection
Villa Favorita
Botnrmisza
CH-6976 Castagnola
Switzerland
Villa Favorita
Botnrmisza
CH-6976 Castagnola
Switzerland
Hours
April 15 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Town Hall Square
The pulsating activity of Lugano revolves around three squares surrounding the Town Hall (Municipio, Palazzo Civico, Town Hall, 1844-1845 by G. Moraglia from Milan). To the north is the Piazza della Riforma, with the former Pretorio (Law Court; 15th-18th C.), now occupied by the Cantonal Bank, and a number of cafes.
By the lake is the Piazza Riziero Rezzonico and the Piazza Manzioni (gardens), and in front of the 18th C. Palazzo Riva is the Debarcadero (dock). The long lakeside promenade from Cassarate to Paradiso has sub-tropical gardens with modern sculptures by G. Genucchi, O. Zadkine and P. Selmoni.
By the lake is the Piazza Riziero Rezzonico and the Piazza Manzioni (gardens), and in front of the 18th C. Palazzo Riva is the Debarcadero (dock). The long lakeside promenade from Cassarate to Paradiso has sub-tropical gardens with modern sculptures by G. Genucchi, O. Zadkine and P. Selmoni.
Lugano Surroundings
Monte Brè
Monte Brè (933 m/3,061ft) can be reached from Cassarate, to the east of the little stream of the same name. A cableway 1,621 m/5,319ft long, with gradients of 47-60% arrives in 15-25minutes at the upper station (restaurant), from where there are fine views extending to the Valais Alps. This favorite viewpoint can also be reached by car on a narrow and winding road (11km/7mi) from Lugano, via Castagnola, Ruvigliana and Aldesago).
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Monte San Salvatore
Monte San Salvatore (912 m/2,992ft) can be reached from Paradiso, on the lake. A cableway 1,658 m/5,440ft long, with gradients of 38-60%, ascends in 10minutes to the upper station at 884 m/2,900ft (restaurant and viewing terrace). From the summit there are magnificent panoramic views of the town and the lake, the Bernese and Valais Alps (Monte Rosa) and the north Italian plain. Footpaths to Carona, Melide, Morcote and Figino; return by rail, postal bus or boat.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
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Gandria - Driving tour from Lugano
Adventerous visitors can take a driving tour from Lugano to the Gandriastrasse which makes for a scenic route offering breathtaking views.
Bre - Wilhelm Schmid Museum
A collection of paintings by Wilhelm Schmid (1892-1971), a painter of the Magic Realism style.
Hours
April 15 to October 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Tesserete - Driving tour from Lugano, Switzerland
From Lugano an excursion (20km/12mi) can be made into the densely populated valley of the Cassarate, running through romantic villages including Vezia, Cureglia and Tesserete (532 m/1,745ft), chief place in the hilly Capriasca district; then into the Val Colla, returning from Bogno (963 m/3,160ft via Sonvico, Dino and Cadro.
Attractions in Other Popular Destinations
