Maison Tavel is Geneva’s oldest house. It was built by the Tavel family in the 12th century and was renovated after a fire in the 14th century. Today the house is a museum that details Geneva’s history. In addition to historical items such as doors and signs and other daily life memorabilia, there is a […]
Tag Archives | Switzerland
Lake Geneva
It’s easy to see why Byron, Shelley and Dickens escaped to Lake Geneva whenever possible. Everything is here: mountains, castles, farmland, vineyards, sophisticated cities, quaint villages…oh, and the cheese, chocolate and wine doesn’t hurt. Also, maybe it’s the time of year we’re visiting, but the air is crisp and fresh and invigorating. Lake Geneva is […]
Castello Visconteo, Locarno
You can’t miss this as you wander through tiny Locarno. This fortified castle was originally built in the 10th century. The castle changed hands many times and was occupied by the Milanese Visconti clan in the 14th century. It was taken by French forces in the 15th century and the castle and town fell to […]
Santuario della Madonna del Sasso
Locarno’s main sight, Santuario della Madonna del Sasso, sits partway up a steep hill and therefore requires a bit of effort to reach. Monk Bartolomeo d’Ivrea built this sanctuary in 1480 after the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to him in a vision. Though there is a funicular that runs to the sanctuary, you still have […]
Locarno
Swiss resort town Locarno crowns the northern tip of Lake Maggiore and nestles up against the balmy southern foothills of the Alps. Though it is in Switzerland, Locarno is in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. Its proximity to Italy makes it feel very un-Swiss-like. Locarno is full of Italianate piazzas and arcades and colorful Renaissance […]
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 […]
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 […]
