2025 Events at San Grato Park in Carona

The San Grato Botanical Park, located just a few kilometres from the city centre, in the Carona district, between Mount San Salvatore and Monte Arbostora, lies at 690 metres above sea level and offers panoramic views over the lake and surrounding hills.

Here, among woods and paths, the Associazione Amici del Parco San Grato (Friends of San Grato Park Association) organises various events from March to September 2025, dedicated to the promotion of tourism and nature.

• 29 March 2025 – WWF Eco-Volunteering Afternoon
  Snack offered. Registrations to be sent by 22 March 2025 to [email protected].
  Meeting point at San Grato Restaurant, Carona.
   
• 27 April, 1 May and 4 May 2025 – Guided Bloom Tours
   
• 25 May 2025 – Nature Festival
  (on the lawn in front of Villa ex-Giussani)
   
• 15 June 2025 – Yoga Class
   
• 9 August 2025 – Night of the Stars
  Stories for children and night sky observation.
   
• 7 September 2025 – San Grato Festival
  Outdoor mass in the morning and entertainment in the afternoon.

The detailed programme of each event (with schedules, additional activities and further information) is available in a downloadable document below and on the association's website. The events of the Associazione are sponsored by the City of Lugano.

To take part in all events, registration is mandatory by writing to [email protected].

In case of bad weather, events will be cancelled.

An extraordinary place just a stone's throw from the city

Within its 200,000 m², San Grato Park hosts the largest collection of conifers, azaleas, and rhododendrons in the Insubric Region, with particularly stunning blooms in spring. Five themed trails (botanical, relaxation, panoramic, artistic, and fairy-tale) stretch for over 5.5 km, and since 2017 a sensory path, created for the park's 60th anniversary, has been added. Just a short walk from the restaurant, there is also a large play area for children of all ages.

Originally a horse pasture owned by the jurist Martin Winterhalter, the park was purchased in 1957 by Luigi Giussani (founder of the former Monteforno steelworks in Bodio). Later acquired by the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) in 1983, it was donated to Lugano Tourism in 1997. Finally, in 2024, it was acquired by the City of Lugano.

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