Comprehensive information and links about Switzerland Lugano

Lugano is a city in south-east Switzerland, in the Italian speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy. The city clearly has an Italian character.

The origin of the name is most likely the Latin word i), which is situated between the lakes Lago Maggiore and Lago di Como. The city is located where the river Cassarate enters the lake between the Brè (925m) and the San Salvatore (912m) mountains.

Demographics

Lugano is the largest town in Ticino. Since its merger with some surrounding municipalities (Breganzona, Cureggia, Davesco-Soragno, Gandria, Pambio-Noranco, Pazzallo, Pregassona, and Viganello) in 2004 the city has a population of 52,000, with the whole aglomeration's population at about 115,000. This was the second major expansion after the merging in 1972 with the municipalities of Brè-Aldesago and Castagnola.

The population is Italian-speaking and mainly Roman Catholic.

St. Mary of the Angels Church (XVI Century) with the famous fresco of the Christ's Passion from Bernardino LuiniUniversità della Svizzera Italiana: Lugano is the home of the faculties of economics and communication sciences.Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence: a non-profit oriented research institute for artificial intelligence, affiliated with both the Università della Svizzera Italiana and SUPSI.Franklin College Switzerland: Lugano is home to the internationally accredited Franklin College which hosts a diverse student Ice hockey: the Hockey Club Lugano (HCL) plays in the Switzerland National League. They play at the i and won six national titles, partecipated twice in the European Cup final round and once in the top four final in Euroleague. In 1991, Lugano reached the final of the famous Spengler Cup. It reached twice the third place in the IIHF Continental Cup Superfinal.Soccer: The Associazione Calcio Lugano (AC Lugano) plays in the Swiss Challenge League. They play at the i stadium. The former Football Club Lugano won the Swiss title in 1938, 1941 and 1949 and the Swiss Cup in 1931, 1968 and 1993.Basketball: The BC Lugano Tigers (former Basket Club Lugano) plays in the Swiss National League A (LNA). They play at the i