Summer romance: Austria and Switzerland (part 4)

29 January 2013 Travel time: with 26 April 2012 on 08 May 2012
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Day 7. The best day ever. Lugano. Gandria. Rainbow over the lake.

Morning. Yes, birds sing. And how did you guess? ! ))) Mainly cloudy. But it doesn't drip from the top. And it pleases! Remember, in "Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath... ": ... When do people sing? At demonstrations, at the opera they sing, when they drink they sing...No, do you know when people sing? When they are happy…” I catch myself quietly purring some kind of melody… It means I’m definitely happy)))

Lugano is the largest city in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, and the third largest banking center in the country. Locals sometimes joke that for thirty thousand inhabitants in Lugano there are three hundred banks. It is located almost on the border with Italy at the picturesque lake Lago di Lugano between two mountains: Bre and San Salvatore.


Our hotel was right next to the Paradiso station of the San Salvatore funicular. The price for the joy of climbing is 17 francs one way and 24 francs round trip. At the beginning of the day, there was no point in going, because.

The expressiveness and liveliness of the paintings is amazing. It is curious that the inhabitants of Lugano served as prototypes of the people depicted on the fresco "The Crucifixion of Christ", and the painter depicted himself in the center riding a white horse.

Ciani Park completes the walk along the promenade. The park has a large collection of subtropical plants. As well as ducks, white well-fed swans and ...that's right, singing birds))))

Since the village of Gandria was listed in the failed elective, it was decided to visit it on our own. Berth, ticket, boat. Set sail. Complete deja vu. I've already seen it! Norway. Ferry. Fjords. Find ten differences))) But how beautiful are these pictures overboard!

Gandria is a tiny village located on the steep slope of Monte Brae descending to the lake. This is a former customs post, now there is a one-of-a-kind museum of smuggling.

Upon arrival, tourists quickly disperse on the embankment and gather only for the departure of the next boat.

Ticinskaya Venice. A very colorful place. Picturesque narrow streets. Stairs. Descents. Ups. I got lost. Found. Got lost again. Flowers. Flashlights. Yards. Cafe terraces hang right over the water. Yachts. Boats. Mountain-lake perspective on already Italian territory. A real island of peace and serenity.

I'm going back to Lugano. It cleared up. The fountain was turned on. A jet of water seems to be coming from the lake itself. Glare of the sun. The play of light and shadow. Light clouds and heavy clouds. Rainbow over the fountain! ! ! Double! ! ! A bewitching spectacle. Until the fountain is turned off, I sit, apparently, with such a stunned - enthusiastic expression on my face that I cause involuntary smiles of passers-by))) Lights are lit. It's getting dark. The embankment is losing its shape. Reflections in the water. Happy City Lights.

Day 8. Sunrise over the lake. A piece of Italy. Bolzano.


Morning. Birds))) Sunrise over the lake. I present a funny sight. I run along the shore and try to persuade the intractable Swiss swan to stop moving so quickly out of the frame))) I talked. The frame turned out beautiful)))

Coin in the lake. Of course I want to come back! Bus. We cross the conditional border. We are in Italy! ! ! Italian landscapes outside the window. Italian cinema. Italian mood)))

Bolzano is the capital of South Tyrol, the German-speaking part of northern Italy. The city is small, so you can easily move around on your own two feet. If you ask me about the first association with the city, I will say without hesitation - blue poppies. A huge flower bed of red and blue poppies in the very heart of the city, on Walter Square. I've never seen blue poppies in my life! Natural wonder...

Quick run around the city. Italian flags on the streets. At houses. On the poles. The Italians are preparing for the festival. Entire front gardens on the balconies. Streets. Houses.

Signboards. With the guide we are the first group for her practice, before us there were only individual tours. Therefore, at first, she does not quite understand what to do with all of us)))

From homemade, for the note to future tourists. The Archaeological Museum is located in Bolzano. The main exhibit of the museum is a mummy called "Ö tzi". The mummy was found accidentally by tourists from Germany during an excursion on a glacier (1991). The tourists decided that in front of them were the remains of a deceased climber, but scientists found out that the ice mummy was about 5.300 years old. This is the oldest mummy in Europe. At first, the mummy was transferred to Austria, but then it was found that the remains of an ancient man were found on Italian territory, so the mummy ended up in the museum of the city of Bolzano.

Merano. The second largest city in the autonomous province of Bolzano in northern Italy.

The city is located in a deep Alpine valley and is well known for its spa resorts, mild Mediterranean climate and clean healthy air. Saint Nicholas is considered the patron saint of the city.


At one time, the city was well advertised by one crowned person - the Empress of Austria-Hungary Elisabeth, known by the nickname Sisi. She was brought to Merano on business - Sissi brought her sick daughter Marie Valeria here. The girl in the local climate quickly gained weight and recovered, after which Elizabeth believed in the miraculous effect of the local air and water.

Fairy city! I completely agree with the Empress))) Pink chestnuts. Mountain river. The tops of the mountains in the snow. Botanical Garden. Cathedral of Saint Nicholas. He is not only the patron of the city, but also of all travelers, how can one pass by? Via Portico.

These very porticos form two long galleries on either side of the street, so that one can pass from one end to the other without going out into the open sky. Italian ice cream. It's still the best in the world

A storm is coming. It gets cold. Heavy storm clouds gloomy hung over the city. It looks like it's starting to rain...)))) We're leaving. A ray of light breaks through the dark clouds, illuminating part of the surrounding landscape. Nature paints pictures. Light. And you, gratefully fix. In mind. In the heart.

Road. Austria. The region of the Carinthian lakes. City of St. Kanzian.

Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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Мерано
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Мерано, Собор Святого Николая
Мерано
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Больцано, синие маки!
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Лугано, рассвет над озером
Гандрия
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Лугано
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