House Hunting in Switzerland: Mediterranean Flair on Lake Lugano

A Three-Bedroom Villa on the Swiss-Italian Border

$4.2 MILLION (3.95 MILLION SWISS FRANCS)

This low-slung three-bedroom villa overlooks Lake Lugano and the mountains of northwest Italy from Lugano, the largest city in the Ticino region of southern Switzerland.

Built in 1980 and renovated in 2009, the two-story house, with about 1,930 square feet of interior space, borrows from the Spanish Mediterranean style with its arches, tiled roof and wood-frame accents. The style is in keeping with the general ambience of Ticino, known as “Switzerland’s Mediterranean” for its mild climate and laid-back lifestyle, said Ueli Schnorf, owner and chief executive of Wetag Consulting, which lists the property.

The rooms are “few but very large,” designed to maximize the expansive views, Mr. Schnorf said. The main floor consists of the kitchen and open-plan living and dining room with a vaulted ceiling and wood-burning fireplace, and opens to a large stone-inlaid terrace with seating and dining areas. The westward views from a terrace and swimming pool take in the lake and the Swiss-Italian border.

“It’s a brilliant position because you’re on a little hill with a large green area around you and a wide view over the lake and the mountains,” Mr. Schnorf said. The 0.13-acre plot also includes a one-car garage and outdoor spaces for two cars.

The living room features a timbered ceiling and a wood-burning fireplace, but the view from the picture window is the star attraction. A smaller room off the living area is configured as a den, but could be a guest bedroom. The kitchen is up to date with integrated appliances, high-finish cabinetry and stone countertops.

The primary bedroom follows the minimalist aesthetic of the living spaces, with a white wall of built-in closets and a black accent wall behind the bed.

One story down, a second living room has its own wood-burning fireplace and doors to a terrace. Also on this level are a wine cellar, a third bedroom, a full bathroom and a large laundry and storage room. Sliding glass doors open onto a small terrace bordered by natural greenery. Wide-plank oak floors run throughout the house on both levels.

With 62,000 residents, Lugano is the largest city in Switzerland’s Ticino region, where Italian is the official language. The city center, about six miles from the Italian border, reflects the neighboring culture in cuisine, language and lifestyle. Lugano is also Switzerland’s third largest financial center, after…