Gandria is a small, beautiful hamlet of Lugano in the Canton of Ticino with its evocative beauty for its position on the lake, recognized as a cultural patrimony of Switzerland of national importance characterized by its alleys, steep staircases, beautiful houses, narrow streets and inaccessible to cars.
This district is the only part of the municipality of Lugano with Caprino south of Lake Ceresio on the border with Italy and includes the town of the same name on the north shore of the lake where the customs of Gandria is located.
The Village is connected to Lugano and the Italian territory by the main road that runs along the northern shore of the lake and passes over the center of Gandria at the foot of Monte Bre'.
Once you reached Gandria I recommend starting your visit with the Church of San Vigilio, developed in the 13th century, although the first mention in an official document dates back to the 15th century, when in the year 1463 the church became a parish.
The building blends elements of Romanesque and Baroque architecture, the medieval part is characterized mostly in the southern section and in the bell tower, while the portal dates back to the 17th century.
The façade that can be admired today was built in the 19th century, specifically in 1873 by the architect Francesco Banchini while the statues are the work of the sculptor Girolamo Buzzi.
Continuation with the Customs Museum, a historical-ethnographic exhibition founded in 1949 that tells the story of the border with Italy and shows objects used by smugglers and staff of the Federal Customs Office.
The three-storey building can be reached by water from Lugano in about 25 minutes and consists of a permanent exhibition and other temporary ones dedicated to different themes.
A section is dedicated to the history of the more than 40,000 refugees, 4500 of whom were Jews, who reached the border to escape the racial laws during the Second World War.
Another section is dedicated to smuggling which mainly concerned cigarettes and tobacco but also luxury items.
In the garden in front of the entrance to the museum you will notice the presence of boundary stones that represent all the external borders of the Switzerland Confederation.
Another religious building of historical value is the Oratory of San Rocco erected in 1645 and enlarged in the 18th century.
The building with a classical façade built by the inhabitants of Gandria in honor of San Rocco for his miracles of protection from the plague inside boasts a floor in black and white shades of hexagons, an altar painted in light marble, sculptures of Cherubim angels placed on the top of the arch that frames the altar.
Other important works are the reproduction of a painting dedicated to San Rocco, a splendid terracotta Via Crucis and a terracotta statue depicting San Rocco.
Another attraction of Gandria is the famous Path of the Olive Trees carved into the rock in 1936 that connects Gandria to Lugano and other villages and hamlets.
A visit to Gandria is highly recommended to all those who wish to admire an absolutely special place on the wonderful Lake Lugano if you are planning a trip in this area of Switzerland.
Link : https://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Gandria/132400.html
Where to Stay | Recommeded Accommodation
Reka Ferienlage Gandria
Casa 1659 Casa Parrucchiere
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Thanks a lot to read and note.