Lavertezzo Village
· · · · ·

The most beautiful villages in Ticino, Switzerland

From the summits of its mountains to the shores of its lakes, the Canton of Ticino is dotted with a vast number of towns and villages, each with its fascinating past and unique personality. However, there are six that glow with even more splendor and that make tourists who visit them immediately fall in love, giving in them a desire to come back for more. Lavertezzo A natural beauty entirely formed of stone, Lavertezzo is popular in Ticino – and also in Switzerland – for being a picturesque riverside village with a beautiful parish church. Lavertezzo Village But what makes this region famous is its double arch bridge passing through crystal blue waters of the Verzasca river: made in the 17th century to promote commerce. Now, it has become a gathering spot for adventurers who dive from it into what can only be defined as ice-cold water. What makes it great?
  • Valle Verzasca
  • Cimetta
  • Ponte Dei Salti
  • Ponte Tibetano Carasc
Morcote The village of Morcote is identified as the most charming village in Switzerland. The village is settled around 10 kilometres from Lugano and also lies on the Lake Lugano shore. You can also book Lugano tours for a wonderful visit to Lake Lugano and Brusino Arsizio e Varese (Italy) on the opposite side of the lake. Morcote Village If you begin from the promenade, you can go after the stairs moving up to tour the Church of Santa Maria del Sasso. Around 400 steps are going to the Church. Inside, it has wonderful frescoes. The landscape from above is also worth watching. What makes it great?
  • Parco Scherr
  • Monte San Giorgio
  • Lake Lugano
  • Parco San Grato
Sonogno Sonogno is a hamlet in the Verzasca Valley within the area of Locarno. It has well-preserved granite houses and alleyways. The village also has a sheep’s wool workshop (Casa Della Lana), red geraniums, and a museum. It is found at the edge of the valley. Sonogno Village The great mountains surrounding it make it the perfect beginning spot for memorable hikes. At the same time, the streets throughout town provide many opportunities to shop or sit down for regional products such as cheese, wine, honey, and cold cuts. What makes it great?
  • Verzasca
  • Museo Di Val Verzasca
  • Monte Zucchero
  • La Froda
Bosco Gurin Bosco Gurin is settled in the Vallemaggia region of Ticino canton. Specifically, it is in Val di Bosco, 35 km northwest of Locarno. Its inhabitants are mainly German-speaking (Gurinder Deutsch) despite being officially within the Swiss Italian Heritage. Bosco Gurin Village At 1,505 m above sea level, it is also the highest mountain hamlet in Ticino. Bosco Gurin is a one-of-a-kind cultural scenery in the heart of the alps. It is definitely worth visiting. The village is unique because it is one of the few places in Switzerland where the town remains unchanged from how it was many years ago. What makes it great?
  • Walserhaus Gurin
  • Pizza Bombogne
  • Lago Pero
  • Lago Melo
Corippo Corippo is a small and picture-perfect hamlet in the district of Locarno, Ticino. Precisely, it is on the westernmost slope of the Verzasca Valley. Corippo Village Today, it is the least populous village in Switzerland and home to only nine inhabitants and various stone houses built of granite and slate roofs. The village is currently under national historical security by the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. What makes it great?
  • Valle Verzasca
  • Ponte Dei Salti
  • Lago Di Vogorno
  • Madone
Foroglio Foroglio in Bavona Valley houses one of the most magnificent falls in Ticino. Bavona Valley (Val Bavona) is recognised as the wildest area in the canton. The 19-km-long Bavona River flows within this side valley of Maggia Valley. Foroglio Village The village is beautiful, similar to other towns in the valley. But the ancient stone houses amidst the scenery of trees, waterfalls, and the river make it amazingly special. Foroglio Waterfall, the 110m fall, is also worth attending. What makes it great?
  • Nufenen Pass
  • Ossola
  • Valle Maggia
  • Cascata Del Toce
Verdasio Verdasio is a tiny mountain hamlet in Centovalli. Similar to Corippo, it does not have many permanent inhabitants. Actually, there are only 20 listed inhabitants here. Verdasio Village The Cristoforo Church and Santi Giacomo Maggiore built back in 1578 is worth-watching. Moreover, another worthwhile site for travelling is the Madonna Della Segna Chapel. There are also fascinating historic houses such as Casa Cavalli, Casa Tosetti, and Casa de Martini. What makes it great?
  • Piazza Grande
  • Lake lugano
  • Three Castles of Bellinzona
Giornico Giornico is a small, peaceful village at the edge of the Leventina Valley with nearly 850 inhabitants. Found near Bellinzona, this Village has an amazingly strong cultural heritage. At the Village, the Church of St. Nicolao is a Romantique masterpiece. This church devoted to Saint Nicholas is today considered a national monument. You can also pay a visit to other incredible churches like San Michele, San Pellegrino, and Santa Maria del Castello. Giornico Village If you are interested in touring a Grotto, Grotto dei due Ponti rests on an island and can be reached via two bridges. They serve pure local and Swiss Italian cuisine from the area. What makes it great?
  • Museo Di Leventina
  • San Nicola
  • Museo La Congiunta
  • Madom Gross
Gandria An old fishermen’s hamlet, Gandria is one of Ticino’s most-loved places for a day tour. It is easily accessible by ferry or by getting a pleasant and comfortable path from Lugano. Gandria Village Its houses, constructed on the water edge, were all designed in various colours to be easily noticeable from a distance by fishers while arriving home in the dark. The old ancestral fishing vessels still lie on the shore, offering visitors the impression of travelling back in time. What makes it great?
  • Swiss Customs Museums
  • Museo Wilhelm Schmid
  • Sasso Della Predescia
Conclusion With this handy list of the beautiful villages in Ticino, Switzerland, you can be sure of a fun-loaded and active vacation in the villages. Each place stated above will add value to your tour and keep you entertained. So, without additional ado, plan your holiday and start your journey in the mountainous country. Wanhua Qiao is Managing Director of Venez Discover Switzerland. Venez Discover Switzerland by Tourismus Group crafts some of the finest private tours and multi-day journeys throughout Switzerland and has established itself as a leading tour operator in Switzerland. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Did you enjoy this article?

Receive similar content direct to your inbox.

9 Comments

  1. I couldn’t agree more that this is a beautiful part of the world. Did a driving holiday around these parts and must get back.l one day. It’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of Geneva and Zurich.

    1. Hello Ben,

      It certainly is very different from Geneva and Zurich. Next time I would suggest taking the train where you be able to sit back and enjoy this magnificent region!

  2. The Swiss won’t thank me for saying this but one of the things I like about this region is that as you head south towards Italy it’s getting a bit Italian. Life’s a little more relaxed, it really doesn’t matter if you are 10 seconds late. Also the foods getting more Italian too. You’ll find some good bottles of Italian red wine that have crept over the border.

    1. Hello Freya,

      I’m sure you’ll be able to get away with it, that’s what makes Switzerland such a wonderful place.. It is multicultural with many specialties from the countries nearby!

  3. We’ve had a few holidays in Switzerland but never been this far south. We usually travel by train as you get such fantastic views of the countryside. Don’t suppose there are many railways in this part of the country?

  4. Such a beautiful country and one we have wanted to visit for such a long time. Visiting villages like these are the exact reason we want to go. We’re hoping to make it part of a summer long European trip next summer. Kids will be a little older and we think they’ll be able to appreciate it more and remember it.

  5. This really is such an undiscovered gem. We visited about 6 years ago. Hoping to go back this summer or autumn. We’d hoped to get back much earlier but it wasn’t to be.

  6. I’m not sure that we should be letting everyone in on one of Italy’s best kept tourism secrets. I know it’s something of a travel cliche but Ticino really is one of those undiscovered hidden gems. It’s utterly unspoilt and so quiet and beautiful.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *