Lugano

Lugano (lūgä'nō), city (1990 est. pop. 26,100), Ticino canton, S Switzerland, near the Italian border. A commercial center in the Middle Ages, Lugano is a popular resort noted for its scenery and climate. Aside from tourism, international banking is the city's major source of revenue. Machinery, textiles, tobacco products, and chocolate are made. It was taken from Milan by the Swiss cantons in 1512. Lugano is Italian in character. Notable buildings are the Romanesque Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the 15th-century Monastery of Santa Maria degli Angioli, with its frescoes by Bernardino Luini. Its art museum has a fine collection of European masters. The town, the largest in Ticino canton, is situated on the Lake of Lugano, Ital. Lago di Lugano (lä'gō dē) or Ceresio (chārā'zyō), narrow and irregular in shape (c.20 sq mi/50 sq km), which lies between Switzerland and Italy.