LUGANO/GANDRIA
SWISS GATEWAY TO THE MEDITERRANEAN
Some time had passed since our adventurous trip to Paris. Meanwhile, Andreas and I had gotten ourselves married, with a little one on its way.
We had just gotten back from a trip to Canada, when we received another travel brochure in the mail. The same company which had offered the Paris trip was now offering a day trip to Lugano, with a quick stop to Gandria. Both places are situated in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking Ticino region. I was drawn to the pictures of Lugano and Gandria. The images showed a beautiful lake, surrounded by green mountains, and palm trees growing along the waterfront. This was in Switzerland? I was pleasantly surprised.
I know what you are thinking. Most people learn from their mistakes. Others not so much. My husband and I possibly belong to the second category of people. We had to give it another try. The trip was booked and we soon found ourselves on the very early morning bus, heading towards the beautiful city of Lugano. I frequently visited the onboard toilet, suffering horrendously from morning sickness.
After five hours, we finally arrived at the picturesque lakeside city, famous for its beautiful quasi-Mediterranean scenery. As we stepped off the stuffy bus, we were greeted by heavily scented air which touched our skin. Our eyes were drawn to the glistening lake in front of us. We shuffled along with the group, heading towards the waterfront. A boat was waiting, ready to take us across the lake to Gandria, at the foot of Mont Bre.
Water sprayed us as we leaned out of the boat, taking us closer to the ancient little village, which had not changed in the last 100 years. After a thirty-minute boat-ride, we came around a bend, to see the first houses in front of us; the ancient buildings clinging to the mountain side. We come closer and look up in amazement, marveling at the architecture. How was it possible to build all these houses 500 hundred years ago, without the help of machinery?
As we get off the boat, we seem to be stepping back in time. Our feet touch the ancient stones, leading us into the narrow passageways, swallowing up the tourists. In the distance, we hear the church bells from San Virgilio, who have been ringing across Lago Maggiore since 1525. The century old passageways lead us deeper and deeper into the heart of the tiny village, which is home to around 200 people. No cars are allowed here, for the roads are too steep and too narrow. We climb the steps, and every now and then one can catch a glimpse of the lake. Such peaceful tranquility embraces this special place.
As we pass by the romantic little cafés and restaurants, we regret not having the time to sit down and enjoy the view of the lake. We look at our watches and realize that it’s time to head back to the dock. The boat will soon arrive and take us back to Lugano. We make it just in time and hop on to the boat, our eyes not able to withdraw from the fascinating village. We sigh and turn our eyes towards Lugano. Thirty minutes later we are back in Lugano. The city for the rich and famous. We walk briskly towards the center of action, hoping to find a small restaurant to satisfy our grumbling stomachs.
After our culinary needs are met, we venture out onto the enticing promenade along the Lago Maggiore. It’s everything we hoped it would be. We stroll along the beautiful and peaceful walkway, our eyes never leaving the sparkling waters of the lake. Here and there grow palm trees along the promenade, providing cooling shade from the sun. We catch a glimpse of the via Nassa, the shopping haven for the top ten thousand. We walk by the Gucci and Lacoste store, and I crane my neck, hoping to catch anything extraordinary in front of these stores, but all seems quiet and uneventful on this day. No paparazzi trailing a famous shopper.
As we check our watches – again – we sadly realize it was time to head back to the parking lot where our bus awaits us. It was a short and sweet visit to Lugano and Gandria, and we hope that we can return back some day – with a little bit more time on our hands.
Lugano is a city in southern Switzerland’s Italian-speaking Ticino region. Its Swiss-Mediterranean mix of cultures is closely related to that of Italy’s northern Lombardy region. This mix is reflected in its architecture and cuisine. The city stands on the northern shore of glacial Lake Lugano, surrounded by mountains. Its main square, Piazza della Riforma, is ringed with pastel-colored, neoclassical palazzi. ― Google
