Discover the hidden stories of
GANDRIA (LUGANO)
'' Tours in English
from a native speaker''
Explore ancient Celts, Swiss pikeman, architects for Spanish kings, 'gold' from local crops, the site of an award-winning movie, rowboats for cows, a (barely) portable madonna, boccalino kisses and more. Take a guided tour of the lakeside village of Gandria, one of the pearls of the municipality of Lugano.
Rows of houses on the steep hillside of Gandria stretching down to the Lake of Lugano. Part of the charm of the village center is the absence of cars.
"I am a passionate storyteller who combines a keen interest in history* with more than 20 years of living in Gandria. Let me take you on a walk through centuries of culture. Pictured above: our annual olive harvest in Gandria."
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*Member of the Archeological Association of Ticino
Colorful Details
Bringing a rich past to life
This is the only walking tour of Gandria/Lugano where you will watch movie clips, hear songs in the local Italian dialect and see photos and paintings of your surroundings. This one, painted by Fritz Meijer, shows the artist's house (with the red doorway), where I now live. These multimedia resources add vivid details to the narrative and the memories you will take away from your visit.
Immersive
Experiences
Scenic
Views
Unforgettable Memories
What Explorers Say...
There are several ways to get to Gandria, the last Swiss village before the Italian border:
Walk from Lugano (ca. 45 min) – the first half of the walk is along the busy road to Italy, but once you turn right onto the street leading past the Villa Heleneum, there is very little traffic. Press on and you will reach the sentiero dell’olivo, a walking path where you will be rewarded with world-class views of the lake and mountains before reaching the village of Gandria.
Take bus number 490 from Stop N at the main bus station in the center of Lugano until you reach the last stop (ca. 20 min) Gandria Paese. Bus times are available on the Swiss rail app
Take a boat from Lugano (most direct route ca. 40 min). Times are available on the website, but it can be difficult to decipher the schedule.
Drive by car from Lugano (5 min), park along the main road (entrance to parking lot just past the restaurant Le Bucce).
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