Historically, grottos of Ticino (situated in the southern part of Switzerland, where Italian is spoken) were maintained by families to conserve alimentary goods produced within their own region. Situated in a fresh area, away from traffic, the grottos were generally used as a storage place for home grown products, such as cheese, salami and other cured meats from the area. Grottos also served as a meeting place for passers-by who needed to stop for a friendly meal and local wine. Unfortunately over time, the grottos were transformed into restaurants, losing their original ambiance of typical Ticinese life.

The Grotto Bassa