Places » Switzerland
Ticino
Ticino is the most southerly canton in the Swiss federation and the border with Italy winds amongst the lakes, mountains and valleys of the region. The canton is cut off from the rest of Switzerland by the main alpine chain and as such, the feeling upon crossing one of the many mountain passes or heading through the Gotthard road or rail tunnels is that one has already arrived in Italy. The main motorway route towards Milan, past the cities of Bellinzona and Locarno, is heavily used by heavy goods vehicles and is one of Europe’s main north-south transport channels. Thanks to direct rail connections to Zurich, the region is treasured as a weekend destination all year round, with frequent signs in German and a plethora of German-speaking visitors. Mediterranean weather usually reaches to the southern edge of the mountains and so when the weather to the north is cold and grey, many northerners head south to enjoy the warmer weather a little earlier than the rest of the country.
