Santa Maria degli Angioli

Not only sun and lake but also culture in Ticino. Let us discover one of the most famous churches in the region.

At the beginning of Via Nassa and the pedestrian area of the city of Lugano is the Church of Santa Maria degli Angioli.

Built between 1499 and 1500, the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli was originally part of the adjacent convent, of which you can still admire the cloisters that were preserved during the recent renovation.

Its facade is much less striking than that of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo that overlooks the city, but it houses the most famous Swiss fresco of the early Renaissance.
In fact, inside the church you can admire a fresco of the Passion and Crucifixion by a disciple of Leonardo da Vinci, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532).
This fresco is distinguished by the multitude of characters, more than 150, that make the scene alive and enliven it.

In Santa Maria degli Angeli there are also two other works by Luini, a Last Supper, on the left wall of the nave, and a Madonna and Child with St. John in the first side chapel.

The possibility of renting an augmented reality guide to the nearby LAC has also recently been inaugurated, guiding the user to the discovery of the church but also of the convent, the Grand Palace Hotel and the LAC itself.

Reaching this church from the Tresa Bay Hotel is very simple and free, thanks to the Ticino Ticket that allows you to use free and unlimited public transport in the region throughout your stay.
In front of the hotel there is the FLP train that will take you to the station, from which you can reach the centre by taking the new funicular railway. Or, on foot, stop and visit the recently restored Cathedral of San Lorenzo, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Gulf of Lugano.

From the centre, turn right along Via Nassa, known as Via dello Shopping, and at the end of which you will find the church and the LAC, Lugano Art and Culture.

To enjoy this day of culture in the best possible way, we suggest you book our LAC package, currently dedicated to the Magritte exhibition: you will have already included your entrance ticket to the LAC and an excellent three-course dinner at our BAIA Panoramic Restaurant to better enjoy your day!