3 Best Sights in Ticino, Switzerland

In the early 19th century, several buildings were torn down to enlarge the square, providing room for the present-day café tables. Commonly referred to simply as "La Piazza," it's the social and cultural heart of the city and the site of outdoor markets and open-air concerts.

From underneath the crowded arcades of this piazza, shoppers spill onto the square to lounge in cafés and watch each other drink, chat, and pose.

On the waterfront, the pedestrian-only Piazza Motta is crowded with sidewalk cafés, and the water along the promenade swarms with boats.