LUGANO AND SURROUNDINGS

In less than two centuries, Lugano has grown from a simple fishing village to the largest Italian-speaking city outside of Italy. However it is still an urban center “on a human scale” where life flows in opposite directions between the quiet beauty of the landscape and the frenzy of the financial world. In addition to its Renaissance churches, it hosts a modern cultural center, home to the Museo d’Arte della Svizzera Italiana (Art Museum of Italian Switzerland) and a theater/concert hall with acoustics on par with the most renowned halls in larger European cities. And, don’t forget its famous Via Nassa — a shopper’s paradise with beautiful and luxurious boutiques.