Monte San Salvatore is undoubedtly a very scenic attraction in the Swiss Canton of Ticino, a mountain in the Lepontine Alps considered a splendid balcony overlooking the beautiful Lake Lugano.

It is a splendid experience you can not miss reaching the top of that unique mount, a charismatic emblem of this territory, mandatory during a visit or a stay in that charming corner of Southern Switzerland.

 In a short walk from Riva Paradiso you can take the Funicolare opened in 1890 the station lies at an altitude of 282, 0 meters.

The intermediate stop leading to the top is situated at 491,0 meters while the highest point corresponding to the arrival is at 884, 0 metres with a further prolongation once there along a pleasant walk side ending at 912,0 metres of altitude. 

The minimum slope near the valley station is approximately 16% while the maximum reaches about 61%.The funicular can transport 70 people with a maximum speed of 3,5 metres per second. The haul rope has a diameter of 33, 0 mm and the power traction motors is of approximately 200,0 kilowatts.

Once there you are in the boundaries of Carona which just some years ago was incorporated as a neighbourhood of Lugano, a former independent municipality, all that because that point for a geographic territorial Cantonal subdivisions with new designs of municipal borders was inserted  under administration of that city.

The panoramic views are absoluterly stunning, you will enjoy unforgettable, magnificent images of a big part of the Canton of Ticino including the territories corresponding to Mendrisio, all the basin of Lake Ceresio, but also the Italian Region of Lombardy admiring the wild valley Val D´Intelvi, a large section of the province of Como and in addition the French Alps of the Haute-Savoie, that beautiful department part of the region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

The Terrazzo Panoramico is a stupendous panoramic terrace which will offer you something more of extremely fantastic with a unique view of the majestic Monte Rosa which with its 4634,0 metres of altitude is the second Alpine peak behind the Mont Blanc.

Furthermore with that marvellous scenery all around delighting your eyes you can also spend a pleasant time enjoying a lunch in the Ristorante Vetta, a restaurant which offers delicious Swiss and Italian specialities.

Monte San Salvatore also has a Museum opened in 1999, arranged inside a building on two floors providing rooms displaying a collection of religious objects while other sections are mainly devoted to geology and speleology.

That mount as other peaks of the local territory is characterised for a notable presence of caves, there are six in that mountain often visited by geologists to study the formation of the rocks, analysing fragments to establish the millenary age of determined sections created by the erosion of the glaciers centuries and centuries ago.

 That exhibition is particularly sensitive to that relevant natural patrimony and attraction introducing the visitor in a very exhaustive way a more than interesting explanation providing an illustration of the chronological history of those grottoes at the foot of the Lepontine Alps.

On the summit of that peak you can also enjoy historic, artistic attractions as the Chiesa di San Salvatore, the Church dedicated to St. Saviour erected in the 13th century becoming since that medieval period a well known pilgrimage destination.

That Religious building was restored in different occasions, largely re-arranged in the early 18th century when in 1718 it had a modification and a further over one century later in 1820, an operation in which it partially lost its original Romanesque image.

That religious building is nowadays well preserved, those works were mainly managed to conserve a relevant National patrimony heritage, the last restoration took place in 1938 when the entire facade was totally covered by a fine granite. 

The structure after those works of preservation greatly conserves its charm with its well defined fine lines, a beautiful sloping roof, a cross placed above the front side, while the interior developed along a splendid a nave boasts a beautiful barrel vault and a choir.

In alternative to the Funicular trip for those who love trekking or walking along steep trails there is a path reaching the summit of Monte San Salvatore in about one hour and forty minutes. 

Along that trail developed on an ancient one which was used by the first settlers reaching the centres in the low valley trading their fresh dairy products you will transit across Pazzallo, a tiny hamlet which represents a sort of intermediate stage situated in a splendid woody scenery at 421,0 metres of altitude.

This experience in Switzerland will be  unique in its kind, the images of  the Canton of Ticino are always mesmerizing and Monte San Salvatore will give a unique chance to admire them from a different perspective. 

Link : https://www.montesansalvatore.ch/en/

Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation

Hotel Walter au Lac

Acquarello Swiss Quality Hotel