Day 6: Free Day in Lugano
Mount San Salvatore
Today is a free day in Lugano, and we decided to start the day with a trip up to the top of Mount San Salvatore. We walked to the funicular station which seemed much like a cog train except that it was pulled up with cables instead of cogs. About half way up, we switched trains and made our way to the top. At the top, we found that the clouds from our morning walk to the funicular were burning off, and blue skies were emerging. The top of Mount San Salvatore, a 3,000 foot mountain/hill in Lugano, features a small church, a church museum, scenic overlooks and a restaurant. We started with the church loop and then we headed up past the museum toward the observation point. |
Wow. The views were stunning, and we could see for miles. It was really neat to see how the lakes dominated the area, something we assumed from our boat ride perspective, but could only truly appreciate from the mountaintop view. There were views all around the church area, but the real prize was taking the staircase up inside the back of the church to the rooftop (a doorway we almost didn't see). Double wow!! There we got a 360 degree panoramic view of Lugano and its surrounding areas. It was truly impressive and beautiful, and we spent a fair amount of time up there taking it all in.
On our way down, we took a look around in the church. It seemed like a local church that was still very much in use by the locals. We then walked down the church trail to the museum and looked around in there a bit. It was very small and featured mostly religious artifacts. There was also a display dedicated to the study of lightning. It was a bit of a strange combination, and I’m assuming there is a local connection, but we were not sure what it was. This hilltop structure is certainly high enough to attract lightning strikes.
We headed down the path back toward the restaurant. Again, we were met with great views, and we ran into Randy, Charlotte and their boys. They are great people, and we enjoyed exchanging tips on what to see for the day.
On our way down, we took a look around in the church. It seemed like a local church that was still very much in use by the locals. We then walked down the church trail to the museum and looked around in there a bit. It was very small and featured mostly religious artifacts. There was also a display dedicated to the study of lightning. It was a bit of a strange combination, and I’m assuming there is a local connection, but we were not sure what it was. This hilltop structure is certainly high enough to attract lightning strikes.
We headed down the path back toward the restaurant. Again, we were met with great views, and we ran into Randy, Charlotte and their boys. They are great people, and we enjoyed exchanging tips on what to see for the day.
The City of Lugano
Back in town, we took our own walking tour and enjoyed the shiny, silver sculptures around town. They were part of the Helidon Xhixha exhibit called "Lugano: Reflections of Light." Heading back along the lake, we ran into the city park, Parco Civico. It was really nice and tastefully adorned with a lot of flowers and several of the silver sculptures. There were even two silver floating iceberg sculptures! On the other end of the park, we ran into the beach which was pretty busy and again and nicely decorated with flowers. On our walk back toward town, we stopped in at the local casino, which was pretty small, but apparently, Mussolini had been jealous of Switzerland’s casinos and made a deal to allow him to build one on the other side of the lake. We played for a little while, contributed our 20 Franks, and left. It was an interesting experience using their card-paying system, and we found that many of the machines were identical to those in America. We stopped at the gelato shop and Coop on the way home for some treats. I got the Bavarian pretzel that I'd been craving—a bit expensive, but very good. We also listened to a little bit of a band that was now playing outside near the Coop. They had an interesting mix of harps, cajon drums, bass and electric and acoustic guitar. I’d describe their music as mellow mood music. They appeared to be playing in an attempt to sell CDs. They even had some chairs set up for people to sit and watch--good marketing strategy! |
It’s not hard to tell we’ve made the switch from German to Italian Switzerland. There is a clear Italian influence, including the language. Greetings and departures are now spoken in Italian rather than German.
It’s up to 90 degrees again today, but there is a nice breeze, and the hotel is air conditioned! While it has certainly been hot, I'll take 8 straight days of heat and sunshine anytime if that means no rain. These scenic views have been priceless! We popped in at the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which was right next to our hotel, and then finished up the night in low key fashion. Wow. Time is flying by fast. We're already on Day 6 of the tour. |
Wow Moments!360 Degree Views from Mount San Salvatore
The views from atop Mount San Salvatore were definitely wow material. It didn't matter which direction we looked. Each time we turned, we were rewarded with more beauty. This is one of the "optional" activities we could choose for our free time, but after going up there, it is no longer optional. It's a must-see. |
Helidon Shixha Exhibit
We loved the "Lugano: Reflections of Light" exhibit that decorated much of the area we visited near our hotel. I found myself mesmerized by them and the reflections they created. It was also a lot of fun photographing them!
We loved the "Lugano: Reflections of Light" exhibit that decorated much of the area we visited near our hotel. I found myself mesmerized by them and the reflections they created. It was also a lot of fun photographing them!