What is this place

Parco Ciani is Lugano’s historic lakeside park between the promenade and the River Cassarate mouth. It’s the largest urban garden in Italian-speaking Switzerland, with paths, lawns, sculptures and bay views.

Key features

  • Area ~63,000 m² – the largest urban park south of the Alps in Switzerland.
  • Two garden characters – near Villa Ciani a blend of Italian and English styles, from the dock to the Cassarate mouth a more natural, local woodland palette.
  • South-leaning flora – palms, magnolias, camellias, azaleas and century-old planes; a belvedere and small beach at the river mouth.
  • “Garden of the Righteous” – since 2018, olive trees and plaques honour six Ticino rescuers.
  • On site: Villa Ciani 1840–1843, the Convention Centre 1968, the Cantonal Library and the Cantonal Museum of Natural History.

What to see

  • Neoclassical Villa Ciani and the park’s main gate ensemble.
  • Lakeside paths, fountains and sculptures, including Vincenzo Vela’s “Desolazione”.
  • The playground and lookout at the Cassarate mouth facing Lugano’s bay.

History

A medieval castle stood here – built in 1286, rebuilt in 1498, destroyed in 1517. In the modern era, brothers Giacomo and Filippo Ciani built Villa Ciani in 1840–1843, with a landscaped garden around it.

Ownership passed to Dr. Antonio Gabrini in 1868, then to the Dell’Acqua family. The City acquired the estate in 1912 and opened it as a public park.

In the late 20th century the Palazzo dei Congressi rose on the park’s west edge in 1968. Since 2018 the “Garden of the Righteous” has added a civic memorial layer to Parco Ciani’s role.

Practical information

Location: Lakeside between Riva Albertolli and the right bank of the Cassarate; landmarks include Villa Ciani, Palazzo dei Congressi and Viale Carlo Cattaneo.

Getting there: From Lugano station ride the city funicular to Piazza Cioccaro and walk ~10–15 min; TPL bus line 2 to Lugano, Palazzo dei Congressi.

Access: Mostly level paved paths, free entry; playground and benches by the river-mouth belvedere.

Visiting hours: Year-round; summer Mar–Oct 6:30–23:30, winter Nov–Feb 6:30–21:00.

Visit duration: 30–90 minutes.

Best time: Spring for camellias and azaleas, autumn for soft light; mornings and golden hour are most pleasant.

Notes: Free entry; surfaces can be slick near the water after rain.