Ticino is in Switzerland but it’s culture is Italian

Here, in the only one of Switzerland’s twenty-six cantons located entirely south of the Alps, sun-drenched, palm tree-lined promenades meet glacier-fed lakes, a Mediterranean climate and attitude prevails, but you can still savour la dolce vita served with a dollop of Swiss efficiency.

Mention Switzerland and chocolate, cheese, cows and army knives might come to mind, not pasta, gelato, Vespas, or piazzas. Yet in the southernmost Swiss canton of Ticino, Italian language, culture, architecture and cuisine predominate.

These are just a few of the qualities that make Ticino – midway between Zurich and Milan – such an enticing destination, even for people from the German and French-speaking parts of Switzerland, who find their country’s Italian enclave exotic.

To be sure, Ticino’s alpine vistas can be as beautiful as any place in the central or northern parts of the country, as can its postcard-perfect lakes, verdant valleys and peaceful pastures where the tinkle of cowbells accompanies the ringing of Romanesque church bells. But what really sets Ticino apart from the rest of Switzerland is the laid-back vibe, Italian charm and unpretentious yet delicious cuisine you’ll find here on the sunny side of the Swiss Alps.