This Lake Como Dupe in Switzerland Is a Secret Among Locals-Without the Crowds and High Cost

"From the summit of Monte Gambarogno, the towns hugging the shore of Lake Maggiore appear as tiny specks, dwarfed by the snow-capped southern Alps to the north. It's arguably the best view in Ticino, Switzerland's Italian-speaking canton, and I'm one of just a handful of tourists enjoying it. After the hike, I'll cool off at a lakeshore beach, enjoy a glass of sparkling vino from a winery down the way, and wonder how no one seems to know about the Gambarogno Riviera."

"Located across Lake Maggiore from Ascona and Locarno, and connected by regular bus and ferry service, Switzerland's secret riviera stretches from Magadino, near the mouth of the Ticino River, to Dirinella on the Italian border. The collection of villages charms with colorful houses, red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, and sun-drenched beaches, all stitched together by footpaths, hiking trails, and winding roads."

""This used to be the poorest part of the lake-all of the villas were on the other side," says Elia Frapolli, who moved to the village of Piazzogna with his family when he opened Habitat, a new boutique hotel he hopes will help put Gambarogno on the map. "But here, it's more authentic. In this part, every village has a church in the middle, and some houses are still made of stone. This is how it was in the past.""

"Rather than nightlife, visitors come seeking quietude. Gambarogno is surrounded by chestnut forests and edged by the pristine lake, making it easy to reconnect with nature. "I love the landscape, the healthy air, the splendid climate all through the year," says Ida Locatelli, an interpretive guide at the botanical garden on Isola Grande. Locatelli has lived in Locarno, on the shore of Lake Maggiore, since 2006."

Gambarogno stretches along Lake Maggiore from Magadino to Dirinella, opposite Ascona and Locarno, with regular bus and ferry connections. Villages feature colorful houses, red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets and sun-drenched beaches linked by footpaths, hiking trails and winding roads. Visitors favor boating, hiking, local wine and a relaxed, lower-cost version of la dolce vita. The area was once the poorest part of the lake, with villas on the opposite shore, but villages retain authentic stone houses and central churches. The region emphasizes quietude amid chestnut forests and the pristine lake, offering healthy air and a year-round splendid climate.

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