Resorts Magazine

Day 3 Morning. We leave Morcote and move to Lugano, a few kilometers away by car. Our first stop is the Museum of Art of Italian Switzerland (MASI Lugano), a museum of modern and contemporary art that hosts exhibitions by international and Swiss artists and offers a rich and stimulating cultural experience in the heart of the city. Afternoon. We have lunch at the Sass Café restaurant in Lugano, an elegant culinary destination that offers innovative dishes with high quality ingredients. We are opposite the Town Hall, just a few steps from the lake. We continue our cultural journey by visiting Villa Heleneum, home of the Bally Foundation. This elegant neoclassical style house, surrounded by lush gardens of tropical plants and flowers, is now home to cultural events and exhibitions on the lake. Immediately after the visit we move to the Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola, five stars superior with the charm of an elegant and classic beauty. Evening. Before dinner, we relax at the Cocktail Bar and try Villa’s Cocktail Champagne. Soon after we decide to take a walk along the lakefront to reach the Ciani Lugano Restaurant. The location is refined and offers a lovely view of the Ciani Park. Chef Dario Ranza delights us with fresh Mediterranean cuisine. Not to be missed the risotto with saffron, cantarelli and Merlottino, or the fresh-scalded scallops with onion, saffron, noodles and peanuts, all accompanied by excellent Swiss and Italian labels. Day 4 Morning. Just after breakfast, we leave by boat from Cassarate with destination Gandria, picturesque village on the shores of Lake Lugano. With its narrow alleys and rock houses, it offers an ideal atmosphere for a romantic getaway. Afternoon. We have lunch on the terrace at the restaurant Locanda Gandriese, a welcoming restaurant, known for its traditional Ticino cuisine, enhanced by the creative touch of chef Davide Crobe, of Sardinian origin. We suggest the grilled octopus, basil hummus, Mediterranean powder and the crustaceans fregula, buffalo mozzarella and liquorice powder. After lunch we return by boat to Cassarate. Evening. A few steps from the Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola, we move to the Restaurant Artè al Lago. Located in a charming position, with panoramic view of the lake, the Restaurant Artè offers a culinary experience of the highest quality. The elegant and refined atmosphere of the furnishings and the artworks on display, blends perfectly with gourmet cuisine. Each dish is an artistic creation, presented with care and attention to detail. Excellent labels accompany our tasting menu, also tried in the vegan version. To note the Mediterranean tuna scalded with radicchio, pistachio and black garlic, accompanied by a reserve chardonnay Gransegreto, or the crunchy tofu celery bun with Mediterranean foam and a glass of Malcatone. The restaurant is a real museum and houses a gallery of modern art. The excellent cuisine, the location and the always impeccable service, allow us to live an unforgettable sensory journey. 81 R ESORTS M AGAZINE