Monte Generoso

Last updated
Monte Generoso
Calvagione
Montegeneroso.JPG
Monte Generoso, as seen from Cantello in Italy
Highest point
Elevation 1,701 m (5,581 ft)
Prominence 1,321 m (4,334 ft) [1]
Isolation 14.4 km (8.9 mi) [2]
Listing
Coordinates 45°55′52.5″N9°01′12″E / 45.931250°N 9.02000°E / 45.931250; 9.02000 Coordinates: 45°55′52.5″N9°01′12″E / 45.931250°N 9.02000°E / 45.931250; 9.02000
Geography
Alps location map.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Monte Generoso
Location in the Alps
Location Ticino, Switzerland
Lombardy, Italy
Parent range Lugano Prealps
Climbing
Easiest route Hike or Monte Generoso Railway
View to the north from Monte Generoso showing Lake Lugano and Melide Picswiss TI-18-03.jpg
View to the north from Monte Generoso showing Lake Lugano and Melide

Monte Generoso (also known as Calvagione) is a mountain of the Lugano Prealps, located on the border between Switzerland and Italy and between Lake Lugano and Lake Como. The western and southern flanks of the mountain lie in the Swiss canton of Ticino, whilst the north-eastern flanks are in the Italian region of Lombardy. [3] [4]

Contents

The view from the summit of the mountain encompasses the lakes of Lugano, Como, Varese and Maggiore. To the north are the Alps, stretching from the Matterhorn via the Jungfrau and the Saint-Gotthard Massif to the Bernina Range. To the south are the Lombardy Plains and the Po Valley, with the city of Milan and the Apennine Mountains visible on a clear day. [5]

The summit can be approached by the Monte Generoso Railway, a rack railway that starts from Capolago in Switzerland, and climbs via the western flank of the mountain. The summit station includes a panoramic terrace and buffet, a restaurant and a hotel. The new restaurant Fiore di pietra (stone flower) designed by the architect Mario Botta was inaugurated on 29 March 2017. A paved path links the railway's summit station to the summit proper, a distance of approximately 350 metres (1,150 ft) and a difference in altitude of about 100 metres (330 ft). [3] [5] [6] [7]

There is road access from Mendrisio in Switzerland to Bellavista, some 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the summit and an intermediate station on the railway. Hiking trails reach the summit from different starting points, including Bellavista, Capolago and Mendrisio. [3] [5] [8]

The Monte Generoso Observatory is located adjacent to the railway's summit station, and is operated by the Monte Generoso Insubrica Astronomy Group. Also nearby is a small chapel dating from the 20th century. [6] [9]

The area is included in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments.[ citation needed ] The mountain slopes are home to a herd of between 300 and 350 chamois. [10]

The artist and author Edward Lear spent summers from 1878 to 1883 on the mountain. His oil painting The Plains of Lombardy from Monte Generoso is in the Ashmolean Museum in the English city of Oxford. [11] [12]

The Fiore di Pietra restaurant (Mario Botta) Fiore di pietra (Mario Botta).jpg
The Fiore di Pietra restaurant (Mario Botta)
20170625 MonteGeneroso.jpg
Monte Generoso panorama, 2017

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ticino</span> Canton of Switzerland

Ticino, sometimes Tessin, officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eight districts and its capital city is Bellinzona. It is also traditionally divided into the Sopraceneri and the Sottoceneri, respectively north and south of Monte Ceneri. Red and blue are the colours of its flag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lugano</span> Municipality in Switzerland in Ticino

Lugano is a city and municipality in Switzerland, part of the Lugano District in the canton of Ticino. It is the largest city of both Ticino and the Italian-speaking southern Switzerland. Lugano has a population of 62,315, and an urban agglomeration of over 150,000. It is the ninth largest Swiss city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Lugano</span> Lake in Italy and Switzerland

Lake Lugano is a glacial lake which is situated on the border between southern Switzerland and northern Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated between Lake Como and Lago Maggiore. It was cited for the first time by Gregory of Tours in 590 with the name Ceresio, a name which is said to have derived from the Latin word cerasus, meaning cherry, and refers to the abundance of cherry trees which at one time adorned the shores of the lake. The lake appears in documents in 804 under the name Laco Luanasco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte Generoso railway</span>

The Monte Generoso Railway or Ferrovia Monte Generoso (MG) is a mountain railway line in the Italian speaking canton of Ticino, in south-east Switzerland. The line runs from Capolago, on Lake Lugano, to a terminus near the summit of Monte Generoso. It is the highest railway in Ticino. The summit offers extensive views over the Lombardy Plain, part of the Po Valley, and towards the Alps.

Bellavista, Italian for "beautiful view", may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gotthard railway</span> Key central Swiss transport link

The Gotthard railway is the Swiss trans-alpine railway line from northern Switzerland to the canton of Ticino. The line forms a major part of an important international railway link between northern and southern Europe, especially on the Rotterdam-Basel-Genoa corridor. The Gotthard Railway Company was the former private railway company which financed the construction of, and originally operated, that line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capolago</span> Village and Quarter in Ticino, Switzerland

Capolago is a village situated at the south-eastern extremity of Lake Lugano, in the Swiss canton of Ticino. Originally a municipality in its own right, Capolago is now a quarter of the municipality of Mendrisio, itself part of the district of Mendrisio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte Ceneri</span>

Monte Ceneri is a mountain pass in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It connects the Magadino Plain and the Vedeggio Valley across the Lugano Prealps at an elevation of 554 metres (1,818 ft) above sea level. It provides the most direct route between the cities of Bellinzona and Lugano. Despite its name, Monte Ceneri is the lowest point on the crest between Monte Tamaro and the Camoghè.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte Rogoria</span> Mountain in Switzerland

Monte Rogoria is a mountain of the Lugano Prealps, located on the border between Switzerland and Italy, north of Astano, at the foot of the Monte Lema. The summit and the majority of the mountain are in the Swiss canton of Ticino, whilst a part of the north-western flank lies in the Italian region of Lombardy. It has an elevation of 1,184 metres above sea level. The view from the summit of the mountain encompasses the Lake Maggiore, the Borromean Islands and the Monte Rosa massif. There is no official hiking trail leading to the summit itself, but there are trails to the mountain pass Forcola respectively Passo di Monte Faëta at an altitude of 1,117 metres located close to the summit plateau. Starting points are: Astano, Miglieglia and Dumenza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lugano railway station</span>

Lugano railway station is the main railway station of the city of Lugano, in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The station is on the Gotthard railway and is also the terminus of the Lugano Città–Stazione funicular. The metre gauge Lugano–Ponte Tresa Railway (FLP) has a separate station at Lugano FLP railway station across the station forecourt from the main line station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte San Salvatore funicular</span> Funicular railway in Ticino, Switzerland

The Monte San Salvatore funicular, or Funicolare Monte San Salvatore, is a funicular railway in the city of Lugano in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The line links a lower station in the Lugano suburb of Paradiso with an upper station at the summit of the Monte San Salvatore. The top yields a 360° panorama with views of the city, Lake Lugano, Monte Generoso and the Italian enclave of Campione.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lugano Prealps</span>

The Lugano Prealps are a mountain range in the western part of the Alps. They are located in Canton Ticino and in Lombardy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capolago-Riva San Vitale railway station</span>

Capolago-Riva San Vitale railway station is a railway station in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The station is in the village of Capolago, part of the municipality of Mendrisio, but, as its name suggests, also serves the adjoining municipality of Riva San Vitale. The station is on the Swiss Federal Railways' Gotthard railway, between Lugano and Chiasso, and on the Monte Generoso railway, a rack railway to the summit of Monte Generoso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lugano-Paradiso railway station</span> Railway station in Switzerland

Lugano-Paradiso railway station is a railway station in the municipality of Paradiso in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The station is on the Gotthard railway of the Swiss Federal Railways, between Lugano and Chiasso. The station opened in 1945 and was renovated in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendrisio electric tramway</span>

The Mendrisio electric tramway was a metre gauge electric tramway in the Swiss canton of Ticino. It linked the town of Chiasso with Riva San Vitale, via Balerna, Mendrisio and Capolago. It was operated by the Società Tram Elettrici Mendrisiensi SA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giubiasco railway station</span>

Giubiasco railway station is a railway station in the Swiss canton of Ticino and municipality of Bellinzona. The station is on the Swiss Federal Railways Gotthard railway, between Bellinzona and Lugano, and is a junction point with several other lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellavista railway station</span>

Bellavista is a railway station on the Monte Generoso railway, a rack railway that connects Capolago with the summit of Monte Generoso in the Swiss canton of Ticino. Bellavista is the principal intermediate station on the line, and at one time the junction point for the Tramway Bellavista.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Nicolao railway station</span>

San Nicolao is a railway station on the Monte Generoso railway, a rack railway that connects Capolago with the summit of Monte Generoso in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The station has a passing loop and a small shelter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capolago Lago railway station</span>

Capolago Lago is an infrequently served railway station on the Monte Generoso railway, a rack railway that connects Capolago with the summit of Monte Generoso in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The station is the lower terminus of the line, and provides interchange with ships of the Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano at an immediately adjacent jetty on Lake Lugano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Generoso Vetta railway station</span>

Generoso Vetta is the upper terminal railway station of the Monte Generoso railway, a rack railway that connects Capolago with the summit of Monte Generoso in the Swiss canton of Ticino. At 1,592 metres above sea level, it is the highest railway station in Ticino. The station is situated a short walk from the mountain summit, and only a few metres from the international border with the Italian region of Lombardy.

References

  1. Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic maps. The key col is located near Cardano at 380 metres.
  2. Retrieved from Google Earth. The nearest point of higher elevation is south of the Cima di Fojorina.
  3. 1 2 3 Translated from the Italian Wikipedia article Monte Generoso
  4. map.geo.admin.ch (Map). Swiss Confederation. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  5. 1 2 3 "Monte Generoso". Monte Generoso Railway. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  6. 1 2 "From the restaurant to the summit". Monte Generoso Railway. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  7. "Restaurants and Accommodation". Monte Generoso Railway. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  8. "Itineraries to discover the mountain". Monte Generoso Railway. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  9. "Astronomy". Monte Generoso Railway. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  10. "The Chamois: Symbol of Monte Generoso". Monte Generoso Railway. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  11. Lambert, Anthony (2013). Switzerland Without A Car (5th ed.). Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 336–7. ISBN   978-1-84162-447-1.
  12. "The Plains of Lombardy from Monte Generoso". Art UK . Retrieved 2014-06-27.