An Italian city in Switzerland

Lugano is just a short train ride away from Como. I was surprised to see how different it is from the rest of Switzerland. Everybody speaks Italian, the infrastructure is modern and the city is very clean. It has its Meditereanean charm, with palm trees, a beautiful lake and a lot of watch shops. Most of the people also speak English.

The Astonishing infrastructure of Lugano

Lugano is a city with a lot of modern infrastructure, mainly the train station and the modern funicular - a glass elevator straight to the city center. The way out of the train station is carved in the rock, and the view is breathtaking. The city is easy to navigate, however very pricey - a train ticket to Como costed me 12 CHF, a souvenir magnet 7.50 CHF and a coffee 5 CHF.

The Park of Villa Ciani

The park is located in the very center of Lugano, directly connected to the lake. It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy groups of chess players, or just to take a walk. The park has vibrant red benches, referring to the Swiss flag, and a lot of flowers. From the park you can see the Monte Bar, a mountain located in the Swiss Alps.

The Cathedral of San Lorenzo

Just out of the train station and along the stairs emerges a tiny, but very well maintained cathedral. The interior is simple, though beautiful. Exiting the cathedral, you can see the lake with Monte Sighignola in the background.