Morcote is often called the most beautiful Swiss town. Picturesquely situated on the slope of the mountains falling to the shores of Lake Lugano, it has an Italian atmosphere and many interesting monuments.
The origins of the city date back to the 10th century, and around 1100 a castle was built here to control the trade on Lake Lugano. At that time, the city belonged to the rulers of Milan, and it was joined to Switzerland with the entire surrounding area in 1517.
Due to its location, the village consists of two parts. The lower one, located on Lake Lugano, has Italian style and is built up with beautiful villas and loggias reminiscent of buildings from the vicinity of Venice and Milan. There is also a marina for cruise ships on the lake and a water sports equipment rental.
The second part of the village with valuable monuments of sacred architecture is located on the slope of the mountain. The most important of them is the Church of Santa Maria del Sasso, which is a destination of numerous pilgrimages. Its interior is decorated with 16th-century frescoes. Next door you can visit the church of St. Anthony and the oratory of St. Anthony of Padua.
The major attraction of Morcote is the Scherrer Park with vegetation from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is also characterized by interesting small garden architecture and numerous fountains and ponds.
