Nestled between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, Lake Lugano is often called Ceresio by Italy, which shares it with Switzerland. It has a surface area of 48.9 km2, with about one third of it on Italian territory.

Like the two large lakes that flank it on either side, its shape is very tormented. It is a pre-Alpine lake of glacial origin, with a maximum depth of 288m, and all its tributaries have a low flow. Its only effluent is the Tresa River, which flows into Lake Maggiore.

It is surrounded by mountains that are well-known tourist destinations: Monte Brè, Monte San Salvatore, Monte Generoso and Monte San Giorgio, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In terms of towns and villages, the best known destination is of course Lugano in Switzerland. The contacts we provide here are those of the picturesque village of Porto Ceresio, to the south, on Italian territory.

On the eastern side, the small Italian town of Campione d'Italia, enclosed in the Ticino, has a special status as a free zone.

Useful links

Italian Region of Lombardy (iSwitzerland Guide) - Wikipedia