A Territory to Explore

Located at the southernmost tip of Switzerland, the Mendrisiotto region extends to the border with Italy. The important commercial and tourist transit area offers away from the highway a vast hilly landscape that invites hiking and biking. Traditional grotti enjoy well-deserved refreshments.

Thanks to the development of transportation infrastructure and its proximity to major centers in northern Italy, Mendrisiotto has become an important transit area. Away from the highway, however, one comes across a lush natural paradise: a green hilly landscape, partly cultivated with vineyards, extensive natural parks and impressive gorges. In the midst of the rural region, picturesque villages contrast with the neighboring purely urban town of Chiasso.

The vast hilly area lends itself particularly well to long outings by bike or on foot. From Monte San Giorgio (1,097 m), listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site., the gaze can sweep freely enjoying the spectacle offered by Lake Lugano and the Alps. On the nature trail, geological and paleontological peculiarities are described (in the geological past, a subtropical sea with a rich fauna stretched here), as well as the flora and fauna that characterize the mountain. However, the best view can be enjoyed from the Monte Generoso (1,704 m), the highest mountain around Lake Lugano, the summit of which can be reached after a 40-minute trip by cog railway. The mountain offers a variety of leisure options, including a nature trail and an astrovia.

In the Breggia Gorge Geopark in the Muggio Valley it is possible to observe, over an area of about 65 hectares and a length of more than 1.5 km, a great variety of natural habitats: rapids, waterfalls, the most diverse types of rock and numerous species of protected animals and plants.

In the lively centers of Chiasso and Mendrisio there are numerous events and tourist attractions: churches, palaces and museums, but also music festivals or folk festivals, such as the grape and chestnut festival. Mendrisio is home to. FoxTown, the temple of elegance and luxury, with 160 stores and 250 prestigious brands offering discounted prices from 30 to 70 percent throughout the year..