Lakeside Promenade (Lake Lugano)

The lakeside promenade of Lugano runs along the northern shore of Lake Lugano, linking the suburb of Paradiso, the city centre and the Parco Ciani, and it is the city's main place for a walk. The lake is long and winding, set between steep, wooded mountains, and the shore here is sheltered and mild, which explains the palm trees and other Mediterranean plants that line the way. It is a modern city's waterfront in the Italian tradition, where people walk in the evening, meet friends and watch boats.

Walking from the Paradiso end, you pass hotels and villas, then the quay near the old town, where Piazza Manzoni and Piazza della Riforma are a short distance inland. The path is laid out with wide pavements, flowerbeds and benches facing the water, and it is lined in places with wrought-iron railings. Several of the buildings along the shore date from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when Lugano developed as a destination for visitors from northern Europe, and some of the grand hotels recall that period. Cafés with outdoor terraces serve coffee, ice cream and aperitifs, and there are playgrounds and small gardens along the way.

At the eastern end the walk reaches Parco Ciani, where the promenade becomes a shaded path under old trees, and it then continues toward the Cassarate river and the suburbs beyond. If you want a longer walk, a path continues toward Castagnola and, from there, the Olive Trail leads along the lake to the village of Gandria. From the water's edge you see Monte San Salvatore on the south and Monte Brè on the east, and the views of the two mountains change with the light, particularly in the evening.

The lake itself is part of the experience. Excursion boats leave from the landing stages along the promenade, and they provide an easy way to reach lakeside villages such as Gandria and Morcote that have no road link to the city or are quicker to visit by water. The lido and public bathing places on the shore allow summer swimming. The cultural centre LAC and the church of Santa Maria degli Angioli are close to the promenade, so walking, art and architecture can be combined easily.

The promenade is free to use and open at all hours, and it is flat and suitable for prams and wheelchairs. It is busiest on warm weekends and at sunset, and quieter in the early morning. It suits couples, families, joggers and anyone who wants a gentle way to take in the lake and the mountains. A relaxed walk from end to end takes about an hour, and a boat trip can be added for a more complete view of the shoreline. In winter, the promenade is quieter but still pleasant on clear days, with views of snow on the higher peaks.