Page 216 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

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LAKE LUGANO

! E6 ⌂ 158 km (98 miles) S of Zürich n Lugano train station,
Riva Giocondo Albertolli; 091 913 32 32
Nestling between steep Alpine slopes, this sheltered, glacial lake is
EXPERIENCE Central Switzerland and Ticino A gateway to the Alps, Lake Lugano (Lago di Ceresio in Italian) Fossils dating from the
one of Ticino’s most beautiful natural features. Although most of it
lies in Swiss territory, the southwestern shore, northeastern branch
and a small central enclave belong to Italy.

endured a medieval tug-of-war between different Italian, and
Did You Know?
later, Swiss factions. It was only in 1752, when the Italian-Swiss
border was fixed, that control of the lake was settled, and it
re mains largely unchanged to this day.
mid-Triassic (around
A road bridge crosses the lake at Melide, leading up to the
220 million years ago)
St Gotthard Tunnel, but the best way of exploring it is by boat,
have been found
from the town of Lugano or several other points along the lake-
shore. The lake’s shape is unusual, twisting into branches dotted
with villages and semitropical parks which cling to its rugged
shoreline, and is best understood from above. Fortu nately, a
funicular from Lugano up Monte Brè and a cog wheel railway
from Capolago up Monte Generoso allow just that, carrying around the lake.
passengers into the mountains that flank the lake.
1 The restaurant atop Monte
Generoso, designed by Mario
Botta, commands stunning
views of the southern shores
of the lake.
2 Swissminiatur, the main
attraction of Melide, displays
1:25 scale models of the
country’s landmarks.
3 The panorama of Lake
Lugano and the mountains
in the distance spills away
from Monte Brè, which lies
north of the lake.
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