Massagno: Culture, Churches and Sport

Massagno is in the Lugano district of the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. The municipality is almost entirely hilly: La Punta is 321 m above sea level, and the summit of the hill of Praccio is 439 m above sea level. Parco Tre Pini is also in the hilly area of Praccio. Nearby are Lugano, Viganello and Pregassona. The road network also shapes the local layout: it is about 13 km long and includes several stairways and pedestrian streets.

History and Sacred Buildings

Massagno and Gerso have medieval origins; Massagno is first mentioned around the year 1000. Several sacred buildings trace the area’s history across different centuries: the Oratorio di Sant’Antonio di Gerso dates from 1670, and the Chiesa della Madonna della Salute from 1729. The present-day Chiesa di Santa Lucia dates from 1931.

The chapel known as “in selva” is one of the oldest wayside chapels in Ticino and contains frescoes from the late 15th and early 19th centuries. The chapel at the Girasole retirement home also houses an 18th-century stained-glass window depicting the Saviour. Religious tradition follows a seasonal rhythm, too: the nine-day penitential novena to the Madonna della Salute is observed each year on nine consecutive cold mornings in January. During the winter months, the Greek Orthodox parish of Lugano celebrates the Divine Liturgy once a month at the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio di Gerso on Via Selva; check service times before visiting.

Art and Cinema

Since 2008, the municipality has organised an annual art exhibition at Casa Pasquée. It is also home to “L’acrobata a cavallo”, a bronze sculpture by Remo Rossi from 1955. A second bronze by Rossi, “un giocoliere”, from the same year, is located at the Scuole Medie on Via Cabione.

Cinema LUX art house opened on 20 December 1958. Today it is owned by the municipality and privately operated; its programme features art-house and auteur films. The Studios section based there produces films and documentaries, with a particular focus on emerging young filmmakers and social issues connected to the area.

Sport and Outdoor Activities

Centro sportivo Valgersa has three swimming pools: one for swimmers, one for non-swimmers with a depth of 60 to 120 cm, and one for small children. Facilities also include a 23 m multi-lane slide, a beach volleyball court, a table tennis table, a reading corner and a picnic area. The facility can accommodate 800 to 1,000 people.

The other sports facilities are also described in detail: the hybrid-grass football pitch measures 92 × 60 m and is approved for matches up to the 2nd league. The centre also has areas for archery and shot put, as well as an athletics facility. Its running track is 346 m long and has two lanes; the 100 m straight has eight lanes. High-jump, long-jump and triple-jump facilities complete the offer. This lets you distinguish between swimming, ball sports and athletics as different sporting options.

Public green spaces, playgrounds and gardens offer opportunities to spend time outdoors, particularly for families and children. Parco Ippocastano can be accessed via Via Sindacatori and Via Madonna della Salute.

Transport and Getting Around

Routes operated by Trasporti Pubblici Luganesi (TPL) and Autolinee regionali luganesi (ARL) run through the municipality of Massagno. A PubliBike self-service station with conventional and electric bicycles is located on Via dei Platani, near Cinema Lux. Lugano railway station and the funicular are close to the centre of Massagno; the funicular makes it easy to reach the centre of Lugano. These options serve different purposes: the bus routes run through the municipality, while the funicular connects to the centre of Lugano.

Autumn and Winter Events

The traditional autumn Castagnata is scheduled for Sunday, 18 October. It is organised by Pro Massagno and features chestnuts, music and wine. The event is free and open to everyone, although programme details may change. The traditional Mercatino di Santa Lucia is scheduled for 12 December 2026 on Via Motta and Piazza Girasole. Pro Massagno organises it together with local associations; dates and participating associations may change.

Discover more destinations: Alto Malcantone, Astano, Sorengo, Miglieglia, Carona, Roveredo, Brusino Arsizio, Aranno

For the wider travel overview: Lugano.