Chiesa di Santa Maria del Sasso


It's a stiff 15-minute climb up a seemingly endless flight of steps to this church, lifted on a hilltop above the lake and easily identified by its prominent bell tower. Originally built in Romanesque style in the 15th century and later given a baroque makeover, it houses some attractive frescoes. More striking still are the views over Morcote's higgledy-piggledy old town to the lake and mountains beyond.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Parco Scherrer

0.17 MILES

Set in subtropical parkland, Parco Scherrer, 400m west of the boat stop in Morcote, is the dream come true of textile merchant and art enthusiast Hermann…

2. Monte San Giorgio

1.88 MILES

Rising in a pyramid above Lake Lugano, 1097m Monte San Giorgio has become Ticino’s mountain of myth thanks to its rich stash of Triassic marine-life…

3. Parco Botanico San Grato

2.01 MILES

Footpaths thread through these hilltop botanical gardens, which afford sensational lake and mountain views. In May the park is ablaze with the colour of…

4. Swissminiatur

2.74 MILES

At Swissminiatur you’ll find 1:25 scale models of more than 120 national attractions. It’s the quick way to see Switzerland in a day. Trains run twice…

5. Museo dei Fossili

2.93 MILES

Revamped and expanded by Ticinese starchitect Mario Botta, Meride's Fossil Museum showcases vestiges of the first creatures to inhabit the region –…

6. Schokoland

4.06 MILES

Chomp into some cocoa culture at the Alprose chocolate museum, Schokoland – a sure-fire hit with kids. Whiz through chocolate history, watch the sugary…

7. Monte San Salvatore

4.07 MILES

Lugano's very own Sugarloaf Mountain, the 912m peak of Monte San Salvatore has riveting 360-degree views over Lago di Lugano and southern Ticino to the…

8. Museo Hermann Hesse

4.15 MILES

This museum showcases German-born Swiss poet, novelist and painter Herman Hesse's personal objects, including some of the thousands of watercolours he…