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In the footsteps of Swiss olives
The only olives suitable for processing in the Confederation ripen around Lugano. Yields are admittedly low at around 150 liters per year, but a long tradition of olive cultivation continues. The fruits have been grown to produce lamp oil since the Middle Ages. Sentiero dell’oliv, Road of Olives, near Gandria, gives an insight into the history of olive cultivation in Ticino. Three kilometers of 18 panels provide interesting information about green fruits. Olive harvest is done at the end of October; Sometimes you can help too.
Joy of life and art in Lugano
1 hour 53 minutes – That’s how fast it has been since the opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel from Zurich to Lugano. Now you can head just south for an afternoon espresso. But that would be a shame. Because Lugano and its surroundings offer so much that you need to stay for a few days. First of all, there is a foretaste of the south: nowhere in Switzerland is the Mediterranean dolcevita more breathtaking than on the shores of Lake Lugano. The largest city of the canton of Ticino is also the cultural center of the region. First of all, MASI art museum expands far beyond the region with its three locations. Or could it be an insight into literary history? German-Swiss writer Herman Hesse (1877–1962) lived in the nearby town of Montagnola for 43 years. The museum in his house gives an idea about the author’s life and thoughts.
E-bike to the Maggia Valley
When the rest of summer shines with its beautiful colors and pleasant scents, it is the ideal time for a cycling tour, for example in the Maggia Valley, which is fully accessible via Veloweg 31. The first kilometers pass through the accumulation of Locarno and Ascona. This isn’t heaven at all. But at Ponte Brolla, where the Maggia River cuts deeply into the limestone, rural, authentic Ticino begins. We pass by picturesque places that are like Eldorado for Instagram photos. From Ponte Brolla it’s about 30 kilometers to Bignasco (plus about 7 kilometers from Locarno). The path is largely flat and passes along field roads, the old cantonment road and the old railway line and is therefore also suitable for older children. The route can be completed in two hours; realistically five hours is more likely. Because there is a lot to see along the way: historical village centres, various waterfalls in whose pools you can swim, churches and houses of saints on (almost) every corner.
Gandria – A journey through time to the south of Switzerland
The small village of Gandria on the shores of Lake Lugano exudes pure nostalgia. Even if it’s not world famous, this beautiful place has to be one of the top ten tourist attractions in Switzerland. Time seems to have stopped in the town of 200 people and the proximity to Italy is clearly noticeable. Until the 1930s, there wasn’t even a road to the Ticino village at the foot of Monte Brè. The boat ride is still the most beautiful today, thanks to the incredible backdrop of colorful houses.
Mogno – The most impressive church in the canton
April 25, 1986 was a disastrous day for the small village of Mogno in the Maggia Valley. An avalanche roared over the houses and also dragged the old church into the valley. That’s why architect Mario Botta (79), one of Ticino’s most famous sons, bequeathed a new church to the small village. Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista is now one of Ticino’s most famous architectural monuments and fascinates visitors from all over the world. The elliptical building, made of white Peccia marble and black Riveo granite, was built in the early 1990s and can accommodate only 15 visitors. The architecture fascinates even ordinary people with its black and white, windowless building, checkerboard patterns and unusual designs.
In Morcote’s miracle garden
The small town of Morcote, at the tip of the Ceresio Peninsula on Lake Lugano, is a postcard paradise straight out of an artist’s imagination. But the colorful promenade, cozy cafes and cute hotels on the lake are all real and worth a trip in their own right. Parco Scherrer is a truly magical world where you feel like you have been transported to the magnificent East. On the terraced hillside of Monte Arbortora there is a Greek temple, an Egyptian mausoleum, an Arab palace and an Asian tea house – in miniature, of course. Among them are statues of countless ancient gods, exotic animals and beautiful women. In accordance with the respective regions, the park is full of many foreign plants that grow here thanks to its mild climate.
Brissago – in the Baroness’ private quarters
The Ticino Botanical Garden in the Brissago Islands is a unique blend of natural paradise and garden design. The park was created by Russian Baroness Antoinette de Saint-Léger (1856–1946), who lived here from 1885 to 1928. For financial reasons (she died as a welfare recipient) she had to sell two small islands. The park, which now belongs to the Canton of Ticino, has been open to the public since 1950. Due to the temperate climate, plants from all subtropical regions of the world grow here. Among the 1,700 plant species in the 2.5 hectare area are cypress, cinnamon tree and eucalyptus trees. An educational resource explains interesting facts about fauna.
Malcantone – Where wild chestnuts bloom
Autumn is chestnut time. And nowhere in Switzerland do chestnuts shape the landscape and people’s lives more than in the Malcantone region in Lugano’s hinterland. “Cheshtene” has played a central role in the wild and romantic mountain landscape for centuries. Farming families here have always specialized in growing chestnuts.
Immerse yourself in the world of chestnuts on the Chestnut Trail, a five-hour circular walk from Malcantone’s highest village, Arosio. For about 15 kilometers you pass through huge forests, past ancient chestnut groves, old Ticino churches and even (depending on the season) a few wonderful Ticino cows.
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
