Getting to the Ticino Canton of Switzerland by train from Zurich will be 1/3 faster when the new Gotthard Base tunnel opens in December 2016. This 35 1/2 mile tunnel is expected to open the southern region of Switzerland to more visitors and business from the north. Eating on board Swiss high speed rail is already a tasty experience From sandwiches, salads and pasta to creamy desserts and reasonable wines, the train offers good taste and terrific views.
The Swiss travel pass is an all-in-one first class ticket which gets you all around Switzerland by bus, train as well as boat. It also gives you access to museums throughout Switzerland. Its a great way to see this amazing country.
Arriving in Bellizona, the capital of the Ticino canton, is like stepping into the heart of the region. It is here where today the past is present and blends with the future. It is also a great place to get a taste of the Italian influence in the form of gelato.or ice cream.
And La Dolce vita carries on as one explores the three UNESCO World Heritage castles in Bellizona..Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro are fortifications that attest to the geographic importance of Bellizona.
Typical Ticino dishes include local warmed cheese with salads, creamy risotto, and polenta with mushrooms and rosemary, The waters cascade from waterfalls and rivers in this, the steepest and rockiest valley in the whole Alpine region. It is the result of the glaciers that were here eons ago. Crystal clear water, so pure and clean it can be drunk straight from the streams or from the fountains in the villages. And it tastes like cool liquid nirvana.
Some recent arrivals in this ancient village shows how exploring and playing in the Val Bavona is not just limited to travelers.
Ascona is on the northern shore of Laggo di Maggiore. Aside from the sunny Mediterranean atmosphere, in the summer there is the 10 day JazzAscona festival. It takes place at different venues along the waterfront as well as at restaurants and cafes in the old town. Many performances are free of charge and bring to the region talents from the New Orleans jazz scene as well as the music of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Aurora Nealand.and the Royal Roses.
Beyond all that jazz, there are elegant shopping boutiques, lively restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, as well as boating excursions on Lake Maggiore. And lots of waterfront bars and cafes serving up some wonderful ambiance.
On the lake of Lugano is the historic Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola built first as a private villa in 1885. Situated lakefront with a large beautiful garden and soaring palm trees – one could imagine that this is the French or Italian Riviera – in a bygone era. Rooms and suites with balconies overlooking the lake are mesmerizing. Peaceful and elegant, the accommodations are comfortably furnished with all the latest technology but still user-friendly. The public rooms are spectacular like the large drawing room in the Italian 17th century style and with a commanding fireplace.
On the terrace breakfast, lunch and dinner are served from the hotel’s two restaurants. A little piano music in the evening makes the dishes at the hotel’s casual restaurant, La Rucola, like risotto with Parmesan – and homemade strawberry, vanilla and chocolate gelato… fantastico.
The cheeses of Ticino capture the inseparable relationship between the land, the rich pastures, the Alpine herbs and flowers that all lend a unique quality to the milk. Many are artesanal, handcrafted cheeses which reflect the generations of knowledge and techniques. At the Gottardo Dairy guests can even make their own cheeses to take home.
For the carnivore, the selection of charcuterie is staggering. From Parma hams to air-cured dried beef or bresola. The salamis, and fresh produce combined with the local breads make sandwiches that would even impress the Earl of Sandwich. And here street food is a bargain.
At the Manoir Department store in Lugano there is also a restaurant offering excellent food at very affordable prices. In the grocery department, the store has one of the largest selections of Swiss chocolate anywhere. From local brands like Alprose, to well known international brands like Nestle, Toblerone, Lindt, Villars, Frey, Muntz, Teuscher, Springli, Suchard, and Cailler
No visit to Ticino is complete without a ride on one of the many boats that cruise the lakes. On the Lake of Lugano is the romantic car-free, village Gandria at the foot of Mt. Bre. From there it is a wonderful walk along the olive grove trail where nature weaves a tapestry of beauty. And after a great walk nothing could be more refreshing than a plunge into the pristine lake waters of Ticino.
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