Top Reasons to Go to Ticino

Luscious Lugano: Nowhere in Ticino do Italian chic and Swiss quality mingle so perfectly. But there is more going on here than people-watching and ice-cream tasting; churches, museums, and the restored Old Town also demand attention.

Land o' Lakes: Gaze at the verdant mountains, cozy villages, and palm-fronted shores from the vantage point of the elegant old ferryboats that ply the waters of Lago Maggiore and Lago di Lugano.

Castle-topped Bellinzona: Old cobblestone streets, shady arcades, and three fortresses that once held the line between Italy and Switzerland turn the clock back to a time when this region belonged to Milan.

Get a view: Monte Brè (near Lugano) can be climbed on foot or by funicular, which is faster and far less tiring. Either way, the view from the top takes many a breath away.