Monte Bre

Monte Bre stands at 925 metres on the eastern side of Lugano and faces south-west across the lake, which is the basis of its claim to be the sunniest mountain in the country - a local formulation about hours of sunshine rather than a measured national record, and worth taking as such. The funicular from Cassarate opened in 1912. Just below the summit sits the village of Bre, a compact cluster of stone houses that became an artists' village in the twentieth century - Wilhelm Schmid, a painter of the New Objectivity, lived and worked here and his house is a museum, and an open-air art trail runs through the lanes with works by various artists set among the buildings.

What you actually see

• A south-west face over the lake - the basis of the sunniest-mountain claim.
• A 1912 funicular - two sections up from Cassarate.
• The village of Bre - stone houses that became an artists' colony.
• An open-air art trail - works set through the village lanes.

When to go

March to November. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The sunniest-mountain line is a local claim, not a measured title. The funicular closes for maintenance periods. The village is tiny and quiet, with a couple of restaurants. Haze often limits the distant view.

Nearby

Lugano is below; Gandria and the lake path are along the shore.