Are you looking for a destination where the blue of the water meets the timeless charm of history to lose yourself among medieval alleys and panoramic stairways just a stone’s throw from Italy? There is a special place overlooking Lake Lugano where every glimpse seems painted, perfect for treating yourself to a trip away from the daily chaos. I’m talking about Morcote, a charming little village located in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland.
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Welcome to the Pearl of Ceresio
A place that intrigued us, not knowing it, seeing it from the Lombardy side of the lake, given that it is located in front of Porto Ceresio, in the Varese area. So, after looking for it on Google Maps, we crossed the border and headed towards Morcote which literally won us over right away. There is no question of why it is one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland and is defined as the “Pearl of Ceresio”: you just need to look around to understand it.
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Reaching this small village of less than a thousand inhabitants is very easy: it is about twenty minutes from Lugano and just over an hour from Milan (pay attention to the vignette if you are traveling on the Swiss motorway). After parking on the lakefront, we walked among the ancient shops and historic porticoes. The name of the town comes from Proto-Latin brunette And caputor “head of the mountain”, and its identity has its roots in a past of fishermen and shepherds, as evidenced by the city coat of arms. Having become a thriving commercial port thanks to the privileges granted by the Duchy of Milan, the village then changed its face in the mid-nineteenth century with the construction of the Melide bridge near Bissone, transforming itself into the tourist gem we celebrate today.
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The wonder of Santa Maria del Sasso and the Oratory
Leaving the lakefront, we entered the heart of the historic center to begin a slow climb towards the upper part of the village via a panoramic staircase of over 400 steps.
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Once we reached the top, our effort was amply rewarded by the beauty of the church of Santa Maria del Sasso. This sanctuary, founded in 1319, houses precious Renaissance frescoes, baroque decorations and a majestic seventeenth-century organ, flanked by a high Romanesque bell tower.
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Near the church there is also the monumental cemetery, which houses decorated chapels, statues and historic tombs.
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Crossing the building leads to the courtyard of the Oratory of Sant’Antonio Abate (also known as the baptistery of Sant’Antonio da Padova with works by Giovanni Carlone da Rovio).
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Here, two stone columns frame an iconic view of Lake Lugano, giving us one of the most spectacular and photographed views of the whole of Switzerland over the rooftops of Morcote.
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The village is an unmissable stop on the Grand Tour of Switzerland: all you have to do is wear comfortable shoes, prepare your camera and simply let yourself be lulled by the poetry of this enchanted place.
