The city of Lugano lies on the edge of Lake Lugano in between Lake Como and Lake Maggiore by the river Cassarete and the Bre and San Salvatore mountains. The city is in Ticino one of the Italian speaking cantons of Switzerland. The area's natural attractions combine with a pleasant climate and a number of attractions in the city, including the luxurious hotels Lugano offers, to make it one of the most popular tourist spots in Switzerland.
The lake is a popular attraction in Lugano and there are plenty of ways to enjoy it. The shore of the lake is dotted with water taxis and boat hire as well hotels with moorings. The lake is also pleasantly warm in summer and there are a large number of bathing establishments on the shoreline for swimming. The mountains surrounding Lugano are also popular with tourists that have either sport or sightseeing in mind. The mountains have a large network of biking trails available, one of the largest in Switzerland in fact and there are also plenty of opportunities for hiking. Alternatively there is a funicular up Monte Bre, to the east and there is also one that will take you up Monte San Salvatore, both offering breathtaking views.
There are plenty of choices of hotels to stay in, from those in the town center to those by the lake side. The hotels Lugano offers have a wide variety of services; many have indoor or outdoor pools, fitness centers, saunas and even sessions with a personal trainer. Most hotels have free internet access and business center facilities. Some also offer more specialist facilities such as allergy-free or sound proofed rooms.
Getting to Lugano is very straightforward and easy; many tourists opt to fly into Lugano Agno Airport. The airport has connecting flights to most of the main international airports. There is also a shuttle bus service running from the airport to the center of town, which is in operation at peak times and you will also find that there are some hotels which offer airport transfers. The city also has good road and rail networks so traveling by car or train is another good option, it is also a good way of seeing a bit more of the country's impressive scenery.
Getting around the town and its surrounding area is easy either by car, with car rental easy to arrange, or by train or cycle. There is also the prospect of boat trips and you can either use a boat trip as a way of getting around or as a way of enjoying the scenery of the Lake Lugano area.
There are plenty of attractions in the city itself, for example there is the Cathedral of St Lawrence and also the Church of St Mary of the Angels, this sixteenth century church contains Luini's fresco of Christ's Passion and along with the Church of St Rocco make up part of the sites that are recorded as being heritage sites of national interest. There are also a number of museums to visit such as the Cantonal Art Museum or Municipal Art Museum and others such as the William Schmid and Herman Hesse Museums.
If you want to explore a little further afield then just outside Lugano is the Alprose Chocolate Factory with a museum, a guided tour of the factory, free samples and a shop there; so there is plenty to keep visitors entertained. There is also an Italian commune, Campione d'Italia which has a number of attractions such as the churches of St Zenone and St Peter, the Civic Gallery and Santa Maria Del Ghirli. The Campione also hosts several cinematic and literary festivals. There are also plenty of attractive small villages in the area to visit such as San Mamete, Marcote and Bre.
The town of Lugano also offers an interesting range of shops whether you want to look for high street stores or individual boutiques. You can visit the market which is close to the city center and browse small local food producers as well as antiques and handicrafts. There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants for visitors to enjoy and take a break from sightseeing or shopping.
Lugano offers a wide range of attractions, some spectacular scenery and with a stay in one of the many hotels Lugano has to offer it is a popular and interesting holiday destination.
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