May 12 - Lake Lugano

This morning we left Lake Como and drove north into the Italian speaking part of Switzerland to the town of Lugano on Lake Lugano.  Lugano was controlled by the Dukes of Como or Milan through the medieval years and remained part of Italy until 1513 when it became part of the Swiss Confederation.  In 1798 Napoleon conquered the Swiss and set up the Helvatic Republic.  After much unrest and fighting Napoleon was forced out and the Swiss were once again independent.  Today we refer to the country as Switzerland but its official name is Conferation Helvetia hence the CH abbreviation on Swiss automobiles.

When the various Italian states were merged and the country of Italy was formed in the 1860s, the area around Lugano considered joining it but the local citizens decided they preferred their independence as part of Switzerland even though they spoke Italian.

Lake Lugano is a glacial lake and is 63% in Switzerland and 37%  in Italy, cover almost 20 square miles and has a maximum depth of 945 ft.  Its a beautiful lake and here is a photo looking across the lake from the city of Lugano.

Here is one looking down the lake.  Lots of steep hills surround it.

Some of the shorelines are pretty rugged.

This the Chiesa Di Santa Maria degli Angeli (Church of St. Mary of the Angels).  Construction began in 1499 and was completed in 1500 but it was not consecrated until 1515.  It was originally part of a Franciscan monastery but the church is all that is left.

It is famous for the large fresco by Bernardino Luini that was completed in 1529.  This is considered the most beautiful Renaissance fresco in Switzerland.  Tthe detail in this fresco can not be appreciated in this small an image as it has over 150 figures detailed in it.

This is the main altar with additional frescoes surrounding it and 4 large silver figures above it.

Here is a close up of one of these figures.

Here is a fresco that is just to the side of the altar.

And here is the other famous fresco of the last supper that is on the side wall of the church.

Here is a photo of Pat with 2 of our traveling companions, Barbara and Matt Roseanu.

Here is one of the large hotels on the lake front.

And an example of a very economical form of transportation.

This is the water fountain in the town square.

And some modern art.

Here is the town square.

Here is a photo of the main altar in one of the "new" churches in town, Chiesa San Carlo Borromeo built in 1640.  St. Borromeo was part of a very important Milanese family that rose to prominence in the 14th century and are still considered important Italian aristocrats.  St. Borromeo was a Cardinal and Archbishop of Milan in the 16th century and is buried in a glass crypt under the main altar of the Duomo in Milan.

Here is a very nice Pieta over one of the side altars.

That finished up our trip to Lake Lugano.  Very pretty area and Lugano was a very clean and neat city.  We got back on our bus and headed back into Italy and drove to the town of Baveno on Lake Maggiore where we will spend the next 2 nights.