Swiss Grottoes
Glacial Lake Lugano in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton of Ticino features some grottoes lining its shore. These natural caverns represent authentic Ticino and define the lifestyle of its people.
Grotto Descanso is a village tavern housed in a simple stone building with a shaded terrace overlooking the lake. There is a huge wooden door near the main entrance. Inside is a long wooden table covered with a chequered tablecloth and a wall-mounted wine rack loaded with bottles. This is one of the traditional storehouses fashioned out of the natural landscape.
Mostly dating to the 17th Century, they were originally used as family cellars, preserving wine, salami, cheese, fruit and vegetables. Similar grottos can be found throughout Ticino, and while some remain as private storehouses and others lie unused and abandoned, many, like this one, have been repurposed as cozy watering holes and village taverns.
