Parks, Gardens and Squares in Ticino

Piazza della Riforma in Lugano is the vibrant center of the city, surrounded by historic buildings, cafés and restaurants. Cultural events take place here and the square is the ideal starting point for exploring sights such as Lake Lugano and Parco Ciani.

Located on the shores of Lake Lugano, this 63,000 square metre park constitutes the city’s green lung. Here you can recover from the hustle and bustle of the city as you walk along paths lined by magnificent centuries-old trees.

The village of Sagno is located in Ticino’s southernmost valley, the Muggio Valley. It boasts a unique, sun-drenched hillside location on the slopes of Monte Bisbino, which straddles Switzerland and Italy. This is where the important ingredients are grown for the local gin Bisbino – Ticino’s first ever gin.

The San Michele Park sits high above Lugano and offers spectacular views of the city, the lake and the mountains. The typically southern vegetation is sure to thrill many of its visitors too.

The park surrounding the Villa dei Cedri, which today is home to the Municipal Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, is a living example of an English-style park of the 19th century. A further attraction is the vineyard behind the villa, whose grapes are used to produce the popular Merlot.

Located between Monte San Salvatore and Monte Arbostora at an altitude of just under 700 metres, the botanical gardens are a mecca for park visitors and plant lovers – particularly in April and May, when the azaleas and rhododendrons form a fragrant carpet.

This magnificent botanical garden is set on the Gambarogno side of Lago Maggiore, on the hillside terrace between Piazzogna and Vairano. Here, the Parco Botanico del Gambarogno foundation lavishes endless love and skill on the over 17,000 square metres of gorgeously colourful plants.

Morcote was once opon a time the largest harbor at Lake Lugano and an important reloading point for goods for the Milanese dukes during the Middle Ages. Today the charming Ticinese village with the richly decorated facades and the Scherrer Park is a popular destination for excursions.

Villa Negroni is one of Ticino’s most important villas. One of the reasons is the valuable expansive garden surrounding the villa. There is a clear division into two contrasting elements: an Italian flower garden and an English-style park.

The stunning Camellia Park in Locarno has more than 850 different camellia varieties, with a flowering period of nine months. A little slice of paradise not only for those who love camellias, but for all those looking for a bit of peace and quiet in the heart of the city.

Tassino Park, a glorious haven of peace, is graced with lush vegetation thanks to its sun-drenched position. If you like roses and English-style gardens then this is the place for you. What is now Tassino Park was at one time the hunting lodge of the wealthy Enderlin family, who in the 19th century were the owners of a beautiful villa on the hill of Tassino.

Piazza Grande in Locarno is one of the largest town squares in Switzerland and the social heart of the city. It covers around 17,000 square meters and is known for its striking cobblestones and historic arcaded houses. The famous Locarno Film Festival and numerous other events take place here.