The former fishing village of Morcote lies on the shores of Lake Lugano and is undoubtedly one of Ticino’s most photographed subjects. It is no coincidence that picturesque Morcote has already been voted the most beautiful village in Switzerland.

Morcote is characterised by its division into a secular part on the lake and an ecclesiastical part on the hillside. Both parts feature monumental structures. 

Along the lakeshore, numerous palatial buildings such as the Palazzo Paleari stand alongside simpler structures. The lakeside facades with their magnificent arcades are one of Morcote’s most distinctive landmarks. Directly behind them are the winding, cobbled lanes of the village centre, which still clearly reveal its medieval origins.

From here, a spectacular Way of the Cross leads up around 400 steps to the pilgrimage church of Santa Maria del Sasso. A fountain and several wayside shrines accompany the ascent. At the top, the church stands alongside an octagonal baptistery, watching over the village like a patron saint. Next to it is a monumental cemetery where international celebrities are buried. Inside the pilgrimage church, visitors can admire frescoes from various periods, a beautiful stone dome and an organ built around 1700.

An exotic attraction in Morcote is the «Parco Scherrer», once created by the St. Gallen textile merchant Hermann Arthur Scherrer. Palms,  camellias, cypresses, bamboo and many other fragrant plants grow in the subtropical collection. The park is open to the public and attracts visitors not only with its plants, but also with cultural  and artistic events.