Summit of Monte Caslano at Lake Lugano near the border with Italy

Saturday October 24, 2026 -- Another ugly day in the north, rainy and cold weather, and a promise of milder temperatures in the south, so off we go again into the Ticino! But this time not into a side valley, but to the very southern part along Lake Lugano and near the Italian border, near the popular market town of Ponte Tresa, end of the train line from Lugano.

Back in March 2017, we did a two-day trip to the region, where we also overnighted in a lovely hotel on the south side of Monte Caslano, where we could look directly into the Italian village of Lavena across a strait barely 60 meters wide, which forms the border of the two countries here. At the time, after our overnight, we walked the lakeside trail around the eastern side of the mountain, but had never been up to the summit. So this is what we chose to do this day.

Normally it's barely a two-hour trip to get to Caslano, but we had some bad luck with train issues, and missed our planned connection in Lugano, having to take the next train 30 minutes later. And then we realized it was market day in Ponte Tresa, and all the people from our train and the next one were crowded on the tiny single train headed south. But we made it unscathed, had an easy hike up the mountain (it's not very high) with some very nice views of this arm of the lake, and ended our hike with a bit more of a lakeside walk. 

And Urs was hungry, so we had pizza at the train station in Lugano before heading home, as apparently they make some of the best pizzas in Switzerland there.... (Although at 4 p.m. there is not a lot of selection). 

Having left home at 8:15, we were supposed to get to Lugano at 10 a.m., but due to issues along the way, our train was delayed and we got here at 10:20, meaning we missed the 10:09 connection to Caslano. We had to wait in the 10:39 train, which filled up quickly with the passengers from the next connection as well. 

We survived the 26-minute ride in the overfilled train, (this was also only a single composition, weirdly enough, as most other trains were two connected, and considering there was a market in Ponte Tresa -- one stop further on -- you'd thing they would have made sure all the trains were doubles!) and got out at Caslano at 11:03, about 30 minutes later than originally planned. 

That's Monte Caslano in the back, where we are headed. It's not a very high mountain!

We started at about 11 a.m. at the Caslano train station, walked parallel to the water in the Ponte Tresa basin, then walked to the summit of Monte Caslano. Then around the north side of the mountain into the town of Caslano, and continuing along the lake, we got back on the train in Magliaso at 3:30 p.m. 

We headed to the mountain on a road parallel to the lakeshore, with a couple of lake accesses. Here we can see to the town of Ponte Tresa, where the market takes place on Saturdays. 

Close-up view of Ponte Tresa. Half of the town is in Switzerland, and the other half in Italy. The church is in Switzerland, and I believe the other, palace-looking building, is in Italy. And all the buildings on the mountainside are in Italy. 

What a gorgeous copse of palm trees. 

Another detour to a lake access. There was quite a bit of activity here with these racing boats. Again, the mountain in the back is in Italy. 

By 11:50 we were on our way up the west side of the mountain. Due to recent rains, the trail was wet, and exposed rocks were slippery. Also, we were on the shady side of the mountain, which isn't always a bad thing when you are going uphill. 

What a pretty bunch of fungi

Now, as the trail reaches the southern side of Monte Caslano, we get some welcome sunshine on the forest trail!

This was an official look-out point on the south side of Monte Caslano. Unfortunately, the trees have grown to block off most of the view across the narrow strait to Italy. In fact, the promontory in the front here is in Italy, whereas the mountain at the back (southern tip of the San Salvatore Range) is in Switzerland. 

This part of the mountain is a large chestnut forest, as you can see by all the chestnuts we had to wade through again!

By 12:40 we reached the little chapel on the summit of Monte Caslano. It only took an hour to walk up here from the base of the mountain. (Unfortunately, there were two other people up here and they had occupied the sunny bench, otherwise we would have had our picnic lunch here). 

Right across from the chapel is this wonderful view down to the city of Caslano, and this arm of Lake Lugano. 

A short section down from the chapel was the large cross (it seems to be lit up at night) where we enjoyed some more views, and sat on some rocks to have our lunch. 

A close-up view of Caslano from the site of the Cross. The range at the back is the Monte Tamaro Range, which you can walk along between cable cars on both sides (Monte Lema on this side). We did that very long hike (5 hours!) in October 2014.

And an even closer view of the town's church, which we are hoping to detour to later. 

Just in case we are not sure where we are! Actually, back in March 2017 when we were here the other time, we had walked along the eastern perimeter of the mountain at lake level and come out down there. 

This is a close-up view to a mountain called Monte Boglia, whose summit forms the border with Italy to the east. We climbed up to that summit on a fantastic snow-free January day in 2020 (photos HERE). It is always interesting for us to see where we had previously walked, as viewed from a different vantage point. 

And this is a close-up look at the north end of this arm of the lake. The nearer town below is Magliaso, where we are ending our hike, and the town on the north end is Agno, with its air strip. 

Now we are headed down to the "Sentiero Panoramico", i.e. the Panorama Trail. It's now 1:15 p.m., and even though the sign says 25 minutes to the lakeside at Caslano, we are taking a longer way down, to arrive into the town at its west end. 

Heading down along the panorama trail. 

To be fair, there were a few spots where we had some nice views. There are three mountain ranges on this photo: On the left behind me with the houses at the base is called the Collina D'Oro, which we walked up in November 2024; on the right and slightly behind the Collina D'Oro is the southern end of Monte San Salvatore (we have walked there many times); and at the very back is Monte Generoso, where we also have been many times. This here is the view of Monte Caslano from Figino at the base of the Collina d'Oro: HERE.

Then along the north side of the mountain just below the cross we had been to, and some very fabulous vertical cliffs, we walked for about one kilometer (about 20 minutes) in the shadow of the mountain. 

At 2 p.m. we reached the base of the mountain and the town of Caslano, exactly an hour after leaving the summit. 

Admiring the courtyards in the town of Caslano.

Arches, alleyways and interesting courtyards. 

We then reached the main road along the lakeshore, where there were still some visitors enjoying the mild sunny day. (I am not sure, but this might be the pizzeria where we had dinner on that March 2017 day before our host from the Guesthouse on the south side of the mountain picked us up for our overnight.... Specifically, here is a photo of that yummy pizza: Pear and Gorgonzola! --> HERE). 

We then made a detour to the town's church, which we had seen from the summit. It is called "Chiesa di San Cristoforo" and was built in the 17th Century. (Side note: There is another such church right next to the train station in Caslano, which I had wanted to have a look at before starting on our walk, but we only remembered once we were quite a ways down the road....)

An attractive mosaic decorates the front of the church above the main entrance. 

Another stunningly beautiful interior. According to Internet information, the Baroque stucco work and frescoes were done by a local artist named Adelchi Maina. 

The modern organ just did not seem to fit, though!

So many beautiful details in this church's interior

Two side altars as well as the main altar. 

We then headed down a different alleyway back to the lakeshore, admiring more courtyards. I was particulary impressed with the potted tree that grows all the way up to the second floor balcony!

The arched "windows" that adorn the covered balconies are so pretty. 

Back on the main road down, we can see the cross above the verical cliff walls, which we later walked along. 

Another attractive, Mediterranean-style lakeshore. This place has a pretty lakeside promenade, but not yet discovered by tourists. 

I can imagine this lakeside outdoor seating area must be pretty busy in summer!

Instead of returning to the train station in Caslano, we decided to continue along the lakeshore for a while, enjoying the water and the lovely views we had this day. Along the way there are always some very pretty buildings to admire. Behind this villa, we get another look at the bell tower from the San Cristoforo church. 

Walking along the lakeshore promenade with a look to the east side of Monte Caslano, and the south end of Monte San Salvatore Range in the center. 

What a cute feature! I just had to try it out!

A fun bench in the sun at the lakeshore in the town of Caslano. 

A nice view back towards Monte Caslano now, and we can even see the cross at the summit, plus the cliffs we walked along later. 

Now we follow the lakeshore northwards toward Magliaso. 

Along the lakeshore between Caslano and Magliaso

It looks like there might be some fishing going on there!

Final stretch along a park-like promenade before heading westward to the train station in Magliaso.

Attractive villa on the way from the lake to the station at Magliaso Village

At 15:31, our train (starting in Ponte Tresa) is not quite on time for the 24-minute trip back to Lugano. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. This is just at the border with Italy. There is a small strait in two parts of the lake here, which forms the border. 

These are all the hikes we have done in this region. This is one arm of Lake Lugano. The main part of the lake is on the other side of the Monte San Salvatore range. 

Back in Lugano at 15:50

Location of Monte Caslano within Switzerland. 

It was only 4 p.m., but Urs was hungry, so we skipped our connecting train in Lugano, and shared a pizza at the Station Pizzeria! At this time there is not a lot of option of pizza "flavours" (i.e. only four on the menu), so we had a simple Prosciutto and Mozzarella pizza. Not quite as fancy as the one I had in Caslano 9 years ago! (Here is that PHOTO again!)

SIDE NOTE: Here is what the region looks like from the summit of Monte Boglia. Among other peaks, we could see Monte Caslano from there!

SIDE NOTE: Here is what the region looks like from the summit of Monte Boglia. Among other peaks, we could see Monte Caslano from there!

Also Side Note: This is what the weather was like at Lake Zug right about the time we were getting to Caslano. The mountain shrouded in clouds is Mount Rigi. 

Also Side Note: This is what the weather was like at Lake Zug right about the time we were getting to Caslano. The mountain shrouded in clouds is Mount Rigi.