The City Of Lugano-Switzerland

The population of Lugano amounts to about 53000 inhabitants extending over an area slightly larger than 48 km2. These small dimensions can be surprising if compared to the importance and international fame of the City. Structures and services are indeed designed for a population of about 100'000 inhabitants, mainly distributed in the surrounding area. This means that urban services, such as electricity, gas, water and transport distribution networks, are provided to the whole Sottoceneri, as well as structures such as the Conference Palace or Lugano Airport which play a role of Cantonal importance. Another presumably interesting point: Lugano guarantees about 38'000 jobs.

The economy of the City of Lugano is organised revolving around three great sectors which developed and acquired a leading position at different times but which, for a series of circumstances, are perfectly integrated and harmonised with each other, thus establishing a structure and a dynamic and functional image. The first leading sector, dating back to the second half of the Nineteenth Century, is the tourist industry. The conditions of its birth and development are closely linked to the peculiar qualities of the subalpine landscape, of the lake, of its shores, of its mountains of volcanic origin and to the favourable climate conditions of the region. The construction of the Swiss railway network, and particularly of St. Gotthard's North-South route, made it easy for everyone to reach the wonderful landscape. This sector deeply affected urban design and the quality of the City's facilities. The second characteristic of our economy, based on an even older tradition, is trade.

Since as early as the Middle Ages, Lugano has been the hub of a thriving traffic of goods and, particularly, it has been the home of one of the most popular cattle fairs in Europe, an event, which has given Lugano celebrity and prosperity. The third component of our economy is the sector of financial and banking services. This sector, the last one to make its appearance, is presently the main driving force of our economy. It started to develop in the post-war years following the Second World War; between the Sixties and the Seventies it made the City the third financial market in the Confederation and nowadays it meets the most sophisticated demands of the high-tech service industry. In spite of the changes which occurred in the financial and banking sector, with the well-known concentrations in the Nineties, Lugano continues to be an attractive market to such an extent that new international banks have recently decided to establish themselves in Lugano.

Exchange
Foreign currency and traveller’s cheques are exchanged in banks, at railroad station exchange offices (the main ones are open until 10.00 p.m.), in airports, in certain tourist offices and hotels.

Currency
The monetary unit of Switzerland is the Swiss franc that may be divided into cents. 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent coins, as also 1, 2, and 5 franc coins are in circulation.There are 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 franc banknotes.

Opening Hours
Shops are generally open from 8 or 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday (with an interval of one or two hours). On Saturdays they close at 4.00 p.m. or 5.00 p.m.. In cities, supermarkets and department stores are open all day long and once a week they are open in the evening (only in certain periods). Banks are open from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday and are generally closed on Saturdays (in big cities they don’t close for the lunch break). It is possible to exchange currency at the main railroad stations and airports, where the exchange office is open until 10.00 p.m. and in some places even until 11.00 p.m.
 
Access to Lugano
By Plane. The airport of Lugano, which is situated South of the Alps between Zürich and Milan, has two main functions. The first is that of ensuring fast connections between the Insubric region and the main Swiss and European centres; the second is that of making the region easily accessible both to the numerous tourists and businessmen.
The best international flight connections are from/to the Italian airport of Milan-Malpensa, less than 1 hour from Lugano.
The Bergamo Airport (Orio al Serio) offers low cost airfares from Europe.

Official local handling agent
Amiconi Consulting has been appointed as the exclusive local handling agent for the 8th International Alexander Technique Congress. The Company will be able to assist you with accommodation bookings and transfer needs from and to the nearby Italian international airports of Milan Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio, and will organize tours, sightseeing, pre and post Congress tours of the city and the beautiful southern region of Switzerland, Ticino.

Amiconi Consulting
Corso Elvezia 1
CH - 6900 Lugano
Tel +41.91.921 38 12
Fax +41.91.921 38 13
www.amiconiconsulting.ch
info@amiconiconsulting.ch

For more information about the Lugano area see:
www.lugano-tourism.ch
www.ticino-tourism.ch