Lugano
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By Air
Lugano has a small international airport with flights arriving from many European cities especially Italy, England, France and Germany. Milan's airports are 1 1/2 hours away by bus or train and are served by easyJet and Ryanair. Swiss International Airline, Flybaboo and Darwin Airline offer discount web special prices to Lugano from many parts of Europe.
By Train
Trains leave for Zurich (3hr), Basel (3:34) and Milan (40min-1hour) as well as Geneva (via Zurich or Locarno-Domodossola: 5h30' with 1 or 2 train-change, 6h30' via Milan with 1 train-change). Note that getting to Geneva or points west it is faster to go via Zurich or Locarno as the trains are more frequent and faster.
By Boats
There are ferries which travel between the towns on Lake Lugano at regular intervals. Daily rates are available. While much of Lake Lugano is in Switzerland, a large portion of it is in Italy so take your passport when on a boat.
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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).
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.
Villa Favorita
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.
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.
Information not available
January - February -> -2(°C) - Winter
July - August -> 27(°C) - Summer
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Photo Gallery
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