Experiences along the Grand Tour in Ticino

Rushing from one meeting to the next is not the Ticino way of going about life.

Every Saturday from the beginning of April to the end of October, there is an interesting guided walking tour of the city. It offers the chance to discover the new Lugano train station, and the recently restored cathedral and to see the city from above.

Lugano’s home mountain and pinnacle of enjoyment - that’s San Salvatore! The striking mountain south of the town boasts 360° views over the lake and environs, far south and to the high Alps in the west.The funicular railway up this landmark mountain starts in Lugano-Paradiso.

In the olden days, those that crossed the Gotthard Pass still had a long way to the plains far below. There was another barrier in Rodi in the Upper Leventina: the narrow Piottino Gorge carved out of the Monte Piottino by the Ticino River.

According the global surveys it is the best stunt in film history: Bond's jump from the 220 meter high Verzasca dam in the movie "GoldenEye". And the ultimate adrenaline rush at Lago di Vogorno is also called 007 jump or GoldenEye Bungee Jump.

One of the world’s steepest funicular railways departs from Leventina for the Ritomsee lake. Built by Swiss Federal Railways in 1917 to aid with the construction of the reservoir and power station, the little red train has been carrying 100 people per hour to the recreation area around the mountain lakes in the Val Piora since 1921.

Impressive, sunny canyon with wonderful green shining water in fantastic rock. Breathtaking, exposed abseils and tricky jumps provide challenging action.

A singularly beautiful panorama of the pre-Alpine landscape, the lakes and the snow-capped Alps. The Santa Maria degli Angeli chapel, designed by world-famous architect Mario Botta, is a marvel of contemporary architecture and features paintings by Enzo Cucchi.

The Lugano swimming resort "Lido", a place which everyone loves in Lugano, has managed to preserve its attractiveness and charm throughout years.

As reliable as Swiss clockwork – the midday sun brings the local “Inverna” wind. Brissago is the best spot for a water-based activity holiday thanks to its unique thermal quality and state-of-the-art infrastructure.