Visiting Lake Lugano
Lake Lugano is a cross-border lake located between the Canton of Ticino in Switzerland and the Lombardy region in Italy. The lake has an unusually narrow shape, with several offshoots that appear to carve deep into the surrounding mountains. On the Swiss side, several funiculars take you to the summits, such as the Serpiano plateau on Monte San Giorgio or the peak of Monte San Salvatore. For Monte Generoso, which reaches 1,700 meters in altitude, a small cogwheel train departs from the Capolago Lago station, located south of the lake near Mendrisio, allowing you to reach the heights with ease.
Villages around Lake Lugano
Lake Lugano is ringed by picturesque villages on both its Swiss and Italian shores. Between Castagnola and Gandria, take a walk along the Sentier de l'olivier (Olive Tree Trail), which features informational panels about regional olive oil production. Gandria is a scenic fishing village that you can also reach by ferry from Lugano.
Another essential stop on Lake Lugano is Morcote, which is worth the trip for its medieval and Renaissance heritage, such as the Santa Maria del Sasso church. Do not miss the Parc Scherrer, which is filled with tropical plant species like eucalyptus, bamboo, and Mexican pines.
Geological sites to see
At Monte San Giorgio, you will find an incredible fossil site designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. About 20,000 fossils of marine and terrestrial species have been discovered there, dating back to the Triassic period, roughly 230 to 245 million years ago.
Additionally, make sure to visit the Grottes de Rescia (Rescia Caves), a series of seven cavities that formed naturally through a thick layer of travertine.
If you are visiting the big lakes, after the most famous ones, I recommend stopping by Lake Lugano, which has nothing to envy its neighbors for. It is set in a location surrounded by nature. You can go on beautiful walks there and, above all, visit the surrounding villages, which are very picturesque and super cute, especially Gandria and Morcote.