Mount S. Giorgio rises to a height of 1,097 m from the shore of the lake in front of the city of Lugano. An enchanting view from the peak astounds visitors, and a network of paths easily joins the various towns in the region.
The vegetation of the mountain is distinguished by a typical coppice forest that includes rare plants and magnificent chestnut trees, which are thousands of years old and have completely hollow trunks.
The region is most noted for its geological treasures and the fossils conserved within; above of all fish, invertebrates and sea reptiles of rare if not unique species from the mid-Triassic period, about 230 million years ago.
Many of these can be admired at the Meride Fossil Museum. On June 2nd, 2003 Mount S. Giorgio was included among UNESCO's World Heritage sites.