Morcote

Morcote is one of Switzerland’s most enchanting villages. The picturesque village on Lake Lugano is in reality part of the Swiss Federal List of protected sites. It was not without just cause that picturesque Morcote was voted Switzerland’s most beautiful village in 2016.

Morcote is called “the Pearl of Ceresio” with its distinctive little alleys, the arcades of old patrician houses, important architectural monuments and its natural beauty. Overall appearance of Morcote is distinguished by its division into two parts with their own characteristic buildings: the lake’s secular part and the slope’s ecclesiastical part.

The lake bank is lined with numerous imposing buildings, including Palazzo Paleari, as well as many simple buildings. The row of houses by the lake, with its magnificent arcades, is one of Morcote’s most distinctive features, and especially characterizes the view from the lake to the village. The winding, cobbled streets of the village center unfold just behind these.

A magnificent Way of the Cross leads up to the Santa Maria del Sasso pilgrimage church about 400 steps from here. The ascent is followed by a beautiful stream and several wayside shrines. The church sits enthroned like a patroness, ruling over the village, once you get to the top. There is also an octagonal chapel and a historic cemetery, where a number of famous international figures are interred. Tourists can also enjoy stunning view of the village and the lake from here.

In Morcote, one very exotic attraction is Scherrer Park, which was built by the textile trader Hermann Arthur Scherrer from St Gallen. This park’s thriving subtropical vegetation includes palm trees, camellias, cypresses, bamboo and lots of other fragrant plants. The park is open to the public and draws tourists through its plants as well as through its cultural and artistic activities.