Deep blue lakes merge with the breathtaking mountain scenery, vast chestnut forests, warm climate, palmtrees, beaches and Italian feeling - the Swiss Canton of Ticino impresses with its natural beauty, cultural treasures and special charm. The wonderful landscapes have always attracted artists, poets and intellectuals. Hermann Hesse who lived in Ticino wrote his internationally successful "Steppenwolf" here and was inspired by the beautiful scenery. The canton of Ticino - also called Italian Switzerland - takes its name from the River Ticino, which flows through the cantonal capitol Bellinzona. Water generally plays an important role: the two biggest lakes Lago Maggiore and Lake Lugano feature a Mediterranean feeling, the flourishing urban centres and holiday resorts Locarno, Ascona and Lugano are located here. For visitors interested in culture, Ticino has a lot to offer. Architecture and design have been taken seriously for centuries past, with a string of world-class architects emanating from the Ticino. In Ascona, the Teatro San Materno is considered as an architectural masterpiece. The medieval buildings of Bellinzona and its fortifications are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And some of the most beautiful Renaissance frescoes in Europe can be found in Lugano in the church Santa Maria degli Angioli. Strolling through the historic town centre of Lugano, visiting one of the interesting museums or cultural festivals, taking the funicular railway up to Monte Bré, discovering one of the beautiful hiking trails, playing golf, sunbathing at the lake or just enjoying "dolce far niente" in a subtropical garden - Ticino is an ideal destination for all tastes.