The large and vivacious city of Lugano is set in the Italian-speaking region of Ticino in southern Switzerland, sheltered by a lovely bay on the northern side of Lake Lugano. It offers visitors a remarkable selection of chic boutiques, trendy bars and bustling pavement cafes lining the city’s steep, cobblestone streets. This maze of narrow alleyways winds its way through the historic town centre, with its Mediterranean-style squares and arcades, to the lakeshore and along the gorgeous flower-fringed promenade. As the largest of Switzerland’s three premier world-class waterfront resorts, Lugano tops Ascona and Locarno for architecture, sophistication, and exquisite surrounding terrain. With its Mediterranean flair, its traffic-free historic centre, and its Italianate Lombardy style buildings (which house numerous exclusive museums), Lugano combines all the perks of a world-class city, with the quaint charm of a small historic town.