A mountain of the Lugano Prealps, on the border with Switzerland, Sighignola is called the Balcony of Italy for the enchanting and unique panorama it offers. Since 1913 the Italian Touring Club has promoted tourism to this natural area, subsidising the construction of the road. The following year a restaurant was opened, now in disuse. For more than 37 years, the tourist appeal of the Vetta then had to coexist with - and was put to the test by - the abandoned building site of the upper station of the Campione - Monte - Sighignola cable car, which was never finished. In 2008, the FAI launched a series of awareness-raising initiatives, establishing a technical roundtable with the Lombardy Region, the Swiss Canton and the Municipalities of Lanzo d'Intelvi and Arogno, until 2010 when I Luoghi del Cuore intervened even more concretely in the rescue of the area. All these efforts contributed to the demolition of the ecological eyesore by the Swiss authorities, which concluded in 2012.
The border between Italy and Switzerland is now situated on two different terraces from which the Swiss flag flies on one side and the Tricolor on the other. In particular, from the latter, at a height of 1,320 meters, the visitor can enjoy a panorama that stretches from Lake Lugano to the Grison Alps as far as Monviso, and includes peaks such as Monte Rosa and Monte Cervino. The Balcony is equipped with a small refreshment kiosk, open during the summer season and at weekends.
DIRECTIONS:
Upon having reached loc. Lanzo, in the municipality of Alta Valle Intelvi (Co), follow the "CENTRO" signs to reach the church of San Siro;
From here, follow the signs for "Via Sighignola".