{"id":36255,"date":"2026-06-23T15:29:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/?p=36255"},"modified":"2026-06-23T15:29:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:29:30","slug":"ticino-in-southern-switzerland-where-the-mountains-speak-italian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/switzerland\/ticino\/ticino-in-southern-switzerland-where-the-mountains-speak-italian\/","title":{"rendered":"Ticino, in southern Switzerland, where the mountains speak Italian"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ticino, Switzerland, with an Italian vibe<\/h1>\n\n

You step off the train in Locarno, and the first thing you see is a palm tree. No cow with a bell, no smell of fondue, no wooden chalet\u2014just a palm tree. Welcome to Ticino, Switzerland\u2019s southernmost canton, where they speak Italian, drink espresso in the piazza, and the mountains are reflected in lakes that seem more at home on Lake Como than in Bern. <\/p>\n\n

I traveled to Ticino by train and used only public transportation while I was there. No car, no hassle. That might sound like a sacrifice, but in Ticino, it\u2019s actually one of the most enjoyable ways to get around. More on that later. <\/p>\n\n

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\"By<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Ascona<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"By<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

It\u2019s the sunniest corner of the country and, at the same time, one of the wildest. Within a single canton, you go from snow-capped peaks over 3,400 meters high to citrus trees by the water. Three-quarters of Ticino is nature, and large parts of it remain undiscovered by mass tourism. And that\u2019s why it\u2019s a place we love. <\/p>\n\n

Italian-speaking Switzerland: sun, palm trees, and glaciers<\/h2>\n\n

Ticino is called Tessin<\/em> in German and French, but that name hardly matters once you\u2019re there: over eighty percent of the residents speak Italian, and you can hear, see, and taste that everywhere. The canton lies on the sunny side of the Alps, south of the Gotthard Pass, and borders Italy to the south. <\/p>\n\n

This results in a strikingly mild, almost Mediterranean climate. Palm trees, fig trees, and citrus trees grow along the shores of Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano. As you head inland, the landscape changes rapidly: narrow river valleys, dense forests, and above them the Ticino Alps, with the Rheinwaldhorn (3,402 m) as their highest peak, on the border with Graub\u00fcnden. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Ascona<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Intragna<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Valle<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n
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Palm trees below, glaciers above; and in between, 4,000 kilometers of hiking trails.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

The Valleys: The Wild Heart of Ticino<\/h2>\n\n

The most famous mountain valleys fan out from Locarno. They\u2019re characterized by crystal-clear river water, centuries-old stone villages, and nature that\u2019s still largely left to its own devices. Three favorites: <\/p>\n\n

Verzasca Valley: turquoise waters and the famous bridge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

The Verzasca is perhaps Switzerland\u2019s best-known river, even though most people don\u2019t know its name. Near Lavertezzo, the emerald-green water has carved out jagged rocks, spanned by the Ponte dei Salti<\/strong>: a 17th-century double-arch bridge. It\u2019s one of the most photographed spots in the country. Further along, near the Verzasca Dam, the opening scene of the James Bond film *GoldenEye*<\/em> was filmed. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Cycling<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Valle Maggia: the largest valley, full of side valleys<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

The Maggia winds its way through the mountains for over sixty kilometers before flowing into Lake Maggiore. The valley is green, wide, and branches off into countless side valleys. We explored it by bike, with a guide. You can read more about that in our separate article on the Valle Maggia<\/strong>. Near Lodano, you can hike through ancient beech forests that have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021. <\/p>\n\n

Val Bavona: stone villages without electricity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

A side valley of the Maggia\u2014and perhaps the most unique one. The hamlets of Val Bavona are deliberately without electricity. You\u2019ll walk past stone cottages nestled against giant boulders on your way to the Foroglio waterfall<\/strong>, which plunges more than a hundred meters, right behind a small village with a 15th-century chapel. <\/p>\n\n

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TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Valle Verzasca and Lavertezzo get crowded on summer weekends. Want to experience the same atmosphere without the crowds? Then choose the Val Bavona or the quieter Valle di Muggio, or visit during the shoulder seasons (May or October). Quieter, cooler, and just as beautiful. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

Ticino,Hiking and Biking: 4,000 kilometers of trails<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Since most of Ticino lies at a relatively low elevation, the trails are often already free of snow when the rest of the Alps are still covered in a blanket of white. This means you can hike here earlier in the year without necessarily having to rely on gondolas. Here are just a few of the highlights: <\/p>\n\n