Switzerland's Little Italy

 

Its environment is to a large part in its original state, despite of the huge traffic volume and the masses of tourists Ticino has to digest.

Many poeple will object my statement about "original state", of course. The Ticino reports the highest concentration of ozon in Switzerland. At least so in hot summer days. Every ticinese likes his machine so much he goes shopping with it at the highest achievable phon-level - even if the shop is right around the next corner. Though, he doesn't shop, he merely stops and deposits his spouse there - and off he browses again. Apropos sunshine: The point with the highest amount of rain of all Switzerland is Monte Generoso. But that's not really negative: It rains less but the rainfalls are much more intense than in the rest of Switzerland.

True, every cliché that has been passed around about Ticino - even a negative one - is eventually legitimate. But walk 500 meters away from the centers like Lugano, Locarno or Ascona and you find yourself in quiet woods (though usually steep) or at wild waters (though usually cold). And you can walk for hours with no other human in sight than yourself. And in the evenings you can dine in good company in cosy grotti with warm and friendly neighbours at the tables nearby.

First, come with me to the Maggia, the refreshing, wild river with water that ran from the glaciers.

Then join me in my vacation apartment in Minusio (close to Locarno) that I would love to let to you... Maybe, you should bookmark this page until you plan your next holiday-trip or vacation.

I plan to continuously expand this site with pages with some selected topics that are typical for Southern Switzerland.