Ticino is strategically located between Lombardy, with Milan at its center, and the Zurich area, which are two of the most dynamic regions in Europe. This strategic position has established Ticino over time as a key logistical and financial hub.
The Canton of Ticino has historically been the gateway to Lombardy, with which it shares not only the language and the culture but has strong economic ties too. In just 1 hour you can reach Milan's city center as well as to the international airport of Malpensa.
Likewise, heading north, the opening of the world's longest railway tunnel (the Gotthard Base Tunnel, stretching 57 km) allows passengers to reach Zurich in just over an hour and a half. This means that within a 90-minute journey from Lugano there are more than 6 million residents. This central position between northern and southern Europe also influences Ticino’s culture: it inherits its creativity and flexibility from the Latin culture and the precision and reliability from Swiss culture.
Thanks to its unique geographic location, Ticino has long been a hub for logistics and transportation activities, from the historic “Via delle Genti” that crossed the Gotthard centuries ago to the recent establishment of major international companies that chose Ticino for its proximity to Milan and Lombardy, as well as its excellent logistics infrastructure.
Ticino’s rich cultural, natural, and gastronomic environment make it an ideal location for all types of events. For those looking to organize seminars, conferences, or incentive programs, Ticino offers an excellent solution where the Swiss efficiency and quality blend perfectly with the Mediterranean creativity and atmosphere.
Ticino has a long-standing tradition in wealth management and private banking, with a strong focus on international clients. After Zurich and Geneva, Lugano is the third most important financial center in Switzerland. In addition to major banks and internationally recognized private banks, Ticino hosts highly specialized activities in wealth management, fund management, and family offices. The dense presence of financial services provides the local economy with access to a highly developed capital market and a top-tier financial infrastructure.
The Canton of Ticino is also one of the leading international hubs for commodity trading, particularly in steel, and is a key player in banking process outsourcing (Business Process Outsourcing). Thanks to its expertise in banking, fiduciary and insurance services, as well as in information technology and artificial intelligence, Ticino is emerging as a prominent player in the fintech sector. Since 2020, the Università della Svizzera italiana has been offering Switzerland’s first master’s program dedicated to this field.
