Meet your guide in your hotel lobby and take guided walk through the historic center of Lugano. Visit the the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli Churchwith magnificent frescoes, Nassa Street and its exclusive fashion stores, the Piazza della Riformaand its geranium cascaded buildings, and see how modern architecture can fit in to a historic context in Lugano's new conference center, and many more interesting sights.
Continue your walk through thesuperbly landscaped park with magnificent trees from around the world before boarding a local bus to thestarting point ofthe 1 hour walk on the paved historic “Olive Trail” along the lakeside. At the end of the trail you reach the picturesque village of Gandriaperched on the cliff-side next to Lake Lugano.
From Gandria board a public boat and cruise to your lunch stop at a typical Ticino "grotto", a simple outdoor tavern in a quiet place shaded by trees, where everyone enjoys eating products of the local cuisine and drinking the local Merlot wine that is served in a specialglass called a "boccalino".
Your grotto hostwill set you up with all the ingredients and tools for you to start stirring your own classic "Grotto Risotto" lunch with plenty of instructions and encouragementfrom the chef. Enjoy local Ticino red or white wine while you focus on making your risotto but don't forget to look up and admire the breathtaking views over Lake Lugano with its surrounding mountains and villages.
In the mid-afternoon the public boat returns to collect you to take you back to Lugano.