When you wind eastward through the Alps from Switzerland into Italy, the first lake you will encounter is sprawling Lake Maggiore and rustic Cannobio, a village on the west bank. You’ll recognize it by its sun-faded colorful buildings and pebbled streets. Since there are only about 5,000 residents, it’s noticeably quieter than the larger, more […]
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Bellinzona’s Three Castles
Doesn’t a town with three castles sound completely bad-ass? Really, what was so dangerous about the area or so valuable and worth protecting that one or even two castles were not sufficient? Just like modern times, everything comes down to location. Bellinzona lies in the crossroads of several important Alpine passes, which made it a […]
Gandria
Gandria is nestled into the crook between steep Mt. Brè and Lake Lugano. The glacier that formed this part of the lake dug so deep that the lake waters were at one time below sea level. We wandered the crooked, narrow paths and wondered what it would be like to live here, in such a […]
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, or Saint Lawrence Cathedral
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo sits partway up Lugano’s steep hillside and offers sweeping views of Lake Lugano. Unfortunately, it is currently undergoing major renovations and only a small portion is accessible. The original church was founded in the early Middle Ages. It became a parish church in the 9th century and a cathedral in the […]
Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli, or Saint Mary of the Angels
This Romanesque-style church looks plain from the outside, but step inside and you’ll be wowed by the frescos painted by the Italian Renaissance artist Bernardino Luini. The main draw is the elaborate crucifixion scene. Luini’s Last Supper is depicted on the side wall. It is divided into three panels because it had originally been on […]
Hotel Gabbani, Lugano, Switzerland
My husband and I like staying at boutique hotels to get some local flavor, and family-owned Hotel Gabbani serves it up in a literal way. The Gabbanis have been a Lugano fixture since 1937, selling gourmet, mostly local, food products. The hotel is above the cheese shop/wine shop/bakery/café, Bottega del Formaggio, which is across from […]
Lugano
Lugano’s naturally beautiful setting – vast Lake Lugano surrounded by soaring mountains, manicured gardens, a winding lakeside promenade – is startlingly perfect. Lugano is a luxe, small city. With 50,000 residents, it is the largest city in Switzerland’s Ticino canton and Switzerland’s third-largest banking city, after Geneva and Zürich. Lugano’s real draw is its accessibility […]
Villa del Balbianello
As Villa del Balbianello appeared in both a James Bond and a Star Wars movie (Casino Royale and Attack of the Clones, respectively), I was expecting something amazing. I was not disappointed. Villa del Balbianello sits on a promontory above Lake Como. It, along with its extravagant gardens, are built vertically and seem to tumble […]
Basilica di San Fedele
Basilica di San Fedele was constructed in the 6th century, though its façade was rebuilt in the 20th century. The rose windows and frescoes are from the 16th century. The church is designed in the Lombard Romanesque style. It has a unique circular layout with three apses and three naves. The basilica is dedicated to […]
Duomo di Como
Como’s impressive marble Duomo was designed by Lorenzo degli Spazzi. Construction began in 1396 and lasted 300 years. It’s considered the last Gothic cathedral in Italy. Though its style is mostly Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance and baroque elements are also present. It was built on the ruins of the Romanesque basilica dedicated to Santa Maria Maggiore. […]
