Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland and the only one in which Italian is the official language. (Despite being very similar to standard Italian, Swiss Italian has some words assimilated from French and German.) The three largest cities are Bellinzona, Lugano and Locarno. The Ticino region offers delicious food, excellent wines and magnificent alpine scenery. Numerous hiking trails lead to wildflower meadows and glacial lakes. The canton is split geographically in two by the Monte Ceneri Pass. The northern region of Sopraceneri comprises two major valleys around Lake Maggiore. The southern part, called Sottoceneri, is centered on Lake Lugano. The city of Locarno plays host to Switzerland’s most prestigious annual film festival.