Lake Lugano — The Italian Side
Porlezza, Valsolda, Campione d’Italia and Porto Ceresio: Italy’s share of the Ceresio, between the provinces of Como and Varese
📌 Don’t miss on the Italian Ceresio
Every summer the calendar comes alive with long-standing appointments along the Italian shore: the Passeggiata Gastronomica organised by the Pro Loco of Claino con Osteno (early August) and the special Ferragosto boat rides on the “Emerald Lake” run by the Lake Lugano Navigation Company. Source: in-Lombardia.it
The part of the Ceresio that belongs to Italy
Lake Lugano, also known as the Ceresio, lies mostly within Swiss territory, in the Canton of Ticino, but a meaningful stretch of its shoreline — around 18 km² of lake surface — belongs to Italy: the western shore between Porto Ceresio and Ponte Tresa, the north-eastern basin known as the Porlezza arm (which includes Valsolda), and the small, isolated exclave of Campione d’Italia, entirely surrounded by Swiss territory. Source: Treccani, Enciclopedia Italiana
The lake sits at roughly 271 metres above sea level, between Lake Maggiore to the west and Lake Como to the east, reaching a maximum depth of 288 metres between Gandria and Punta Santa Margherita. Its Italian waters are split administratively between the province of Como (which covers the entire north-eastern shore) and the province of Varese (facing the south-western shore, between Ponte Tresa and Porto Ceresio). Source: Sapere.it, De Agostini
Data: Sapere.it, De Agostini
A pre-Alpine landscape with a Mediterranean touch
The Ceresio’s scenery is typically pre-Alpine yet with a Mediterranean feel: peaks such as Monte Generoso close the horizon, while olive trees, camellias and lemon trees thrive along the shore thanks to an unusually mild climate for the latitude. Source: italia-italy.org
On the Italian side the pace is slower and more intimate than in nearby Lugano: small towns such as Porlezza and Campione d’Italia offer a quiet, traditional atmosphere, while Valsolda still carries the spirit described more than a century ago in Italian literature. Source: Ufficio Stampa Nazionale
What makes the Italian side of the Ceresio unique
🏛️ A one-of-a-kind exclave
Campione d’Italia is Italy’s only exclave, entirely surrounded by Swiss territory — a small lakeside town that blends lakeside charm with a distinctive border identity. Source: Happy.Rentals
📖 Fogazzaro’s “Piccolo mondo antico”
Valsolda, with the village of San Mamete and the hamlet of Oria, is the land that inspired writer Antonio Fogazzaro’s celebrated novel “Piccolo mondo antico” (“The Patriot”): the writer’s family home, now Villa Fogazzaro Roi, has become a property of the Italian National Trust (FAI). Source: QuiComo.it
🎰 Italy’s oldest casino
Founded in 1917 during the First World War, the Casinò di Campione d’Italia is among Italy’s and Europe’s oldest and largest casinos; today it occupies a contemporary building designed by architect Mario Botta and inaugurated in 2007. Source: Wikipedia
The stops along the Italian shore
Porlezza
The lake’s northern gateway, with a lakefront lined with restaurants and moored boats; an ideal base for trekking and excursions into Val Sanagra. Source: Milano Città Stato
Campione d’Italia
A small Italian exclave within Swiss territory, famed for its historic casino and for the parish museum that preserves the village’s memory. Source: Campione Tourist Board
Porto Ceresio
A village on the south-western shore of the lake, with a welcoming waterfront and the parish church of San Bartolomeo, dating back to the 17th century. Source: Brescia Domani
Lavena Ponte Tresa
A town split between Lavena (dating back to the 12th century) and Ponte Tresa (born around the 19th-century bridge), at the point where the lake narrows into the Tresa river. Source: Wikipedia
Valsolda Nature Reserve
The trail climbing from San Mamete towards Passo Stretto crosses this reserve, linking Valsolda, Valrezzo and the Val Cavargna. Source: Brainstorming Culturale
Monte Generoso
The peak overlooking the lake’s eastern basin, a key landmark for anyone travelling along the Italian shore towards Campione. Source: italia-italy.org
Ponte Strolech waterfall
From Porlezza, a stairway and trail lead to a gorge with a waterfall where you can cool off, roughly a two-hour walk. Source: Vita in Camper
Villa Fogazzaro Roi
A 19th-century house donated to the FAI (Italian National Trust) in 2009 by Marquis Giuseppe Roi, once belonging to the family of writer Antonio Fogazzaro. Source: I Viaggiascrittori
Mario Botta’s casino
The contemporary casino building, clad in golden Tuscan stone, has become an architectural icon of the village and a venue for cultural events. Source: Borgo Racconta
Church of San Martino
Home to the vault frescoes painted between 1696 and 1697 by Valsolda-born painter Paolo Pagani, regarded as his most important work. Source: Guide e Accompagnatori Turistici di Como
San Mamete
Known as the “pearl of Valsolda”, it opens onto the lake with its hamlets of Albogasio Inferiore and Superiore. Source: Brainstorming Culturale
Oria
A small village on the shores near Como that has remained almost unchanged since the 19th-century world described by Fogazzaro in his novels. Source: QuiComo.it
Dasio
One of Valsolda’s most beautiful hamlets, and a good starting point for exploring the scattered hilltop settlements of the municipality. Source: QuiComo.it
The flavours of freshwater fish
The cuisine of the Italian side of the Ceresio revolves around freshwater lake fish, an ingredient rich in omega-3s that local restaurants serve both in traditional preparations and modern reinterpretations. Source: HOI News
🍝 Dishes to try
Risotto with perch
The signature dish of the Lombard lakes: creamy risotto folded with fillets of freshwater perch, often paired with a dry white wine. Source: La Voce del Ceresio
Polenta with missoltini
Missoltini — sun-dried lake fish preserved in oil — are a classic of the pre-Alpine Lombard tradition, typically served with polenta. Source: Lecco Tourism
“Riso in cagnone” with perch
An older, simpler version of the risotto: boiled rice creamed with butter and sage, served with breaded, fried perch fillets. Source: Lecco Tourism
The lake’s calendar of events
🎉 Passeggiata Gastronomica — early August
Organised by the Pro Loco of Claino con Osteno, with a special boat service run by the Lake Lugano Navigation Company as part of the “Porlezza Tour” to bring visitors along. Source: in-Lombardia.it
🎆 Ferragosto on the “Emerald Lake” — 15 August
Evening boat rides to admire the lake on the night of Ferragosto (Italy’s mid-August holiday), one of the most eagerly awaited summer events around Porlezza. Source: in-Lombardia.it
🎶 Patron saint festivals and fish fairs
Throughout the year, the villages of the Italian shore host patron saint festivals, Christmas markets and fish fairs — good occasions to sample local cuisine and craftsmanship. Source: Brescia Domani
From the 17th century to Mario Botta
In the church of San Martino at Castello, in Valsolda, the vault frescoes were painted in 1696-97 by Paolo Pagani, a painter born in the village, on his return from a distinguished international career in Moravia; they are considered his most important work. Source: Guide e Accompagnatori Turistici di Como
In Campione d’Italia, the first Municipal Casino was designed in 1917 by architect Amerigo Marazzi, with Belle Époque interiors by painter Girolamo Romeo; the current building, inaugurated in 2007, was designed by Ticino-born architect Mario Botta. Source: Casinò di Campione — History
A tour through the villages of Valsolda
A classic route starts from the car park above the cemetery in Oria and descends to Villa Fogazzaro Roi; it then continues to San Mamete, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Caravina in Cressogno, and finally the church of San Martino in the hamlet of Castello. Source: Guide e Accompagnatori Turistici di Como
🗺️ Literary itinerary through Valsolda (full day)
Stop 1: Villa Fogazzaro Roi in Oria. Stop 2: the lakeside village of San Mamete. Stop 3: the Sanctuary of Caravina in Cressogno. Stop 4: the church of San Martino in Castello, with Paolo Pagani’s frescoes. Source: Guide e Accompagnatori Turistici di Como
How to organise your visit
🏨 Where to stay
Porlezza is a good base for budget-friendly stays on the Italian side, with lakefront residences offering studios, lake-view apartments and villas with private gardens. Source: Happy.Rentals
🚗 Getting there
The nearest reference airport is Lugano-Agno, in Switzerland; travellers arriving from Italy typically reach the area via the province of Como (towards Porlezza) or the province of Varese (towards Porto Ceresio and Lavena Ponte Tresa). Source: Travelocity
🚢 Getting around on the lake
Boat travel is a traditional way to explore the Ceresio: the first paddle steamer connected Lugano and Capolago as early as 1848, and today the Lake Lugano Navigation Company’s fleet counts 9 boats with a combined capacity of 2,930 passengers. Source: Treccani, Enciclopedia Italiana
Three days on the Italian side of the Ceresio
Porlezza and Val Sanagra
A stroll along the Porlezza waterfront, followed by a walk to the Ponte Strolech waterfall in Val Sanagra (about two hours). Source: Vita in Camper
Valsolda: San Mamete, Oria and Castello
Visit Villa Fogazzaro Roi in Oria, walk through San Mamete and the Sanctuary of Caravina, and end at the church of San Martino in Castello. Source: Guide e Accompagnatori Turistici di Como
Campione d’Italia and Porto Ceresio
Morning in Campione d’Italia, taking in the parish museum and Mario Botta’s casino; in the afternoon, head to Porto Ceresio, with its 17th-century church of San Bartolomeo. Source: Campione Tourist Board
FAQ — Lake Lugano, Italian side
Around 18 km² out of the lake’s total 50.5 km² lie within Italian territory: the western shore between Porto Ceresio and Ponte Tresa, the Porlezza/Valsolda basin, and the exclave of Campione d’Italia. Source: Sapere.it
It is Italy’s only exclave entirely surrounded by Swiss territory, well known for its historic casino, founded in 1917. Source: 888 Poker
Valsolda, and in particular the family home in Oria, now Villa Fogazzaro Roi, an Italian National Trust (FAI) property since 2009. Source: I Viaggiascrittori
Risotto with perch, the signature dish of Lombard lake cuisine, along with polenta served with missoltini. Source: La Voce del Ceresio
By boat, on the historic fleet of the Lake Lugano Navigation Company, operating since 1848; by road, the Italian villages are connected via provincial roads along both shores. Source: Treccani, Enciclopedia Italiana
San Mamete, Oria, Castello and Dasio are the main hamlets of the scattered municipality of Valsolda, each with its own character. Source: QuiComo.it
The Ceresio’s quieter side
Although most of Lake Lugano lies within Switzerland, the Italian side — from Porlezza to Porto Ceresio, by way of Valsolda and the exclave of Campione d’Italia — remains an underrated corner even for those who live nearby, such as Milanese day-trippers, despite its wealth of villages, art and nature. Source: Milano Città Stato
A small world, old-fashioned, and still waiting to be discovered.
Who wrote this article? Based on what?
📋 Transparency and verifiability
Who wrote it: Giuseppe Baldassarri — ItalyTrade.org.
What it’s based on: Verified sources linked throughout the text (Treccani, Sapere.it/De Agostini, Wikipedia, local outlets and the official tourism sites of the towns mentioned).
Are there other points of view: Yes, noted where relevant.
Possible conflicts of interest: None. Independent editorial content.
Giuseppe Baldassarri
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