This small Swiss town in Ticino canton has narrow cobblestone streets and traditional wine cellars. The Holy Week processions draw thousands of visitors each spring.
Mendrisio, a small town in Switzerland's Italian-speaking Ticino canton, sits at the base of Monte Generoso. You can walk through medieval streets to discover the 17th-century Palazzo Pollini, watch the centuries-old Good Friday processions (recognized by UNESCO), or taste local Merlot wines in mountain-carved cellars. The town's location between Monte Generoso and Monte San Giorgio makes it an ideal starting point for hiking through vineyards and exploring fossil-rich mountains.
Walking Through Mendrisio's Historic Center
Start your exploration at Piazza del Ponte, where you'll find the Neoclassical parish church of Saints Cosma and Damiano. Look for the 13th-century medieval tower next to the square - it's the last remaining structure from three former castles. Walk up Via Torriani and Via Santa Maria to reach the Church of Santa Maria, which stands on Roman villa ruins and includes a 12th-century Romanesque bell tower. Continue to San Giovanni Battista church to see its Late Baroque interior with gilded stucco work and painted vaults.
Wine Cellars and Local Production
Monte Generoso creates natural air currents that maintain temperatures between 12-14°C in Mendrisio's wine cellars (grotti). These mountain-carved spaces store wines produced from Merlot grapes grown on the surrounding slopes. Many grotti now serve as restaurants where you can taste local wines alongside Ticinese dishes like brasato (braised beef) and polenta.
Religious Processions and Cultural Events
During Good Friday processions, 600+ participants in historical costumes walk through Mendrisio's streets carrying illuminated transparencies and recreating scenes from Christ's passion. The Sagra dell'uva wine festival in late September fills the streets with wine-tasting stations and food stands. Visit the San Martino fair on November 11th to experience Ticino's oldest agricultural festival, held near the Romanesque church of San Martino.
Museums and Architecture
Visit the Art Museum in the former Serviti convent to see paintings and sculptures dating from the 1500s to today. The Giovanni Züst Art Gallery contains artworks from regional painters of the 17th-19th centuries. At the Tremona archaeological site, you can explore excavated medieval settlements and see artifacts from daily life dating back to 5500 BCE.
Transportation and Day Trips
Take trains from either Mendrisio or Mendrisio San Martino stations to reach Milan, Malpensa Airport, Varese, Bellinzona, and Como. From Mendrisio, you can hike to Monte San Giorgio to visit its fossil museum containing 240-million-year-old marine reptile specimens, or follow marked trails through the vineyards between Monte Generoso and Monte San Giorgio.
