Weddings in the Southern Alps of Switzerland

Lugano, located in the Canton of Ticino, in the south of Switzerland, is sometimes referred to as the "Monte Carlo of Switzerland." So, it's no surprise that it's becoming a destination attracting quite a devoted following. It's also a spectacular place for a beautiful Southern Alps, Switzerland wedding. We leave it to Robert Gebhardt of ticinowedding.com to paint a picture of what you might expect from a Lugano wedding.

Weddings in Lugano and Ticino, Switzerland

By Robert Gebhardt

Palm trees in Switzerland? Be prepared for the unexpected. Nestled in the Southernmost region of the Alps where the language, food and culture are all Italian, Lugano is off the beaten path of European tourist destinations. Authentic and stunning, Lugano is a blend of Northern and Southern Europe, both geographically and culturally, mixing delights of Italian and Germanic customs, Alpine views with Mediterranean weather and, yes, palm trees with snow.

Despite this, it has an authenticity that is hard to find anymore in the hills of Chianti or on the streets of Venice. Its relative anonymity has allowed the locals to progress with their lives relatively untouched by foreign tourists. This can be seen everywhere: from walking into a 12th century church with original frescoes and no tour guides or alarm systems, to escaping the roads for day-long walks in nature. And despite being relatively unknown, every person who has passed through Lugano will remember it and will no doubt attest to how it is one of the most beautiful regions in the world.

Canton of Ticino

Lugano is located within the Canton of Ticino. Crossroads between the Alps and the Mediterranean, also known as the Sunny side of Switzerland, Ticino boasts some of the most beautiful mountains, lakes and views in the world. Being part of the lakes region comprising Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, the valleys and south-facing Alps of the Canton offer diverse and enchanting scenery for nature lovers. We at Lugano Wedding are the only resource dedicated specifically to helping you organize your wedding in this picturesque Canton, helping make your magical day even more so. As such we would like to feature a small sample of the wonderful venues our region has to offer:

Bellinzona Castles

Bellinzona's castles are considered amongst the finest examples of medieval fortification architecture in Switzerland. Three castles, each further up the mountain than the last, overlook the Piano di Magadino between Bellinzona and Locarno. As they appear today, the fortifications - whose origins actually go much further back to a prehistoric settlement on Castelgrande hill - are mainly the result of intensive and complex building activity instigated by the Dukes of Milan in the 15th century. Weddings can be held at these castles, with spectacular views and a wonderful restaurant located inside.

Villa Castagnola

An extremely elegant venue in a stunning and convenient location, Villa Castagnola has found itself the preferred venue for many events, including art exhibitions (and most recently the world Merlot wine championship). Villa Castagnola boasts amenities such as a tennis court, a private lido on the lake, fitness center, bio-sauna, steam room, solarium and a fashionable hair salon.

Hotel Eden Roc

The Hotel Eden Roc was recently chosen by business magazine "Bilanz" as the best holiday hotel in Switzerland for the fifth time. The existing 5 stars- HOTEL EDEN ROC was combined in the winter of 1998/1999 with its neighboring hotel, formerly the Europe au Lac.

Ticino interior designer Carlo Rampazzi has created a masterpiece in combining the two hotels. A picturesque inner courtyard, specially designed furnishings, original wall paintings and attractively laid marble floors call to mind the majestic beauty of an Italian palazzo.

Gandria

Gandria is a small, picturesque village on the shore of Lake Lugano in Switzerland. The historically protected traffic-free center (nucleo) attracts visitors from all over the world. Boat service between Gandria and other towns on the lake is regular, and it is also possible to walk from Gandria to Lugano and other surrounding villages via a publicly maintained footpath hewn into the rock in 1936. This path (now branded the olive path by the Tourism Bureau) between Gandria and Castagnola leads along plantations of olive trees and offers splendid views of the Lake of Lugano.

You can find photos and more details about each of these locations, among many others, at http://www.luganowedding.com/ , as well as at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ticinowedding/sets/















Synonyms:   Weddind, weeding, weding, weddin, wdding, edding, weddding, and weddign are typos for "wedding."