SWITZERLAND BY RAIL - REGIONS
TICINO - FALL 2012
Ticino
is the southernmost region of Switzerland where Italian is the language
and much of the cultural influence, with its main cities, Lugano, Locarno
and Bellinzona. There is always something going on this beautiful land
of mountains and
castles
which
nestles the
lake of Como and Maggiore. Here are some of the happenings and events
for the fall of
2012.
Swiss Cheese Awards
Bellinzona - September 27-30
An “Oscar” for Swiss Cheese? For
the first time in their history, the Swiss Cheese Awards are extending
beyond the Alps into the
southern canton. The prestigious international cheesy competition will
be held this years in Bellinzona, and is expected to host more than
20,000 devoted cheese lovers and avid gourmets who are interested in tasting
the best that Switzerland dairy culture has to offer. As well as sampling
of zesty cheeses, the various varieties cheeses on display will be
for
sale.. Bellinzona will be packed with stands offering hard and soft
cheeses from all over the country.
Ticino – Land of Chestnuts
Ascona - October 6 - 13
For centuries the Chestnut (or Maroni) used to
be the one and only winter time dish in Ticino. The rule of thumb
was that 500 kilos had to be collected
so that an adult person could survive the cold season. To this day
one in every five trees in in the hillsides of Ticino is a chestnut tree.
In the autumn locals can still be found out and about gathering the
fallen
spiny pods. From a culinary point of view, the fruit has experienced
a true revival and chestnuts can be found as an ingredient in many
products, from marmalade to cakes, candies, pasta, and even beer! Celebrate
the
nutty symbol during the autumn fairs in autumn such as the Sagra delle
Castagne in Ascona.
Taste of the Onsernone Valley
Loco - September 9, 2012
Farina bóna is the name of an ever more popular specialty of
the Onsernone Valley. The product produced by grinding roasted corn was
traditionally mixed and eaten only with water, milk or bilberries. Today
the farina bóna is used in a variety of dishes, from the dough
of short crust cakes to ice cream. These and many other culinary highlights
can be tasted at the traditional Farina bóna festival which takes
place on the 9th of September in Loco.
World’s Longest Street Market
Bellinzona-Giubiasco - September 2, 2012
Did you know that the Ticino’s largest piazza can be found in Giubiasco?
The little village’s Piazza Grande runs 2,350 meters from the Piazza
Collegiata, the main square of Bellinzona main. On the 2nd of September
the two squares will be connected by market stalls all along the streets
in between. Every year the Strada in festa attracts thousands of visitors
to what could be the world’s longest market, the book of world
records have yet to comment.
Merlot – the Wine of Ticino
Mendrisio - September 28-30, 2012
A full three-quarters of the Merlot
grapes of Ticino are grown in Mendrisiotto, so it should be no surprise
in the
southernmost tip of Switzerland they
celebrate the grape harvest in great style. The last weekend of September,
a “wine mania” reigns in the main town of Mendrisio. During
the grape festival, visitors to the Magnifico Borgo (“magnificent
town”) as it is referred to by the locals, can visit a series of
marquees and courtyards where they can enjoy the local delicacies and
musical entertainment – all while sipping a fine glass of Merlot
vintage.
Lugano Autumn Festival
Lugano - October 5-7, 2012
Lugano’s fall festival held in early October traditionally marks
the end of the outdoor season. Local cuisine and fine regional wines
will be on offer in the grottini of many squares in the town’s
picturesque pedestrian center. Apart from indulging in the fine food
and wine, visitors can also enjoy a feast of sights and sounds, thanks
to performances from local musicians and artists.
One-Hour Tour through Miniature Switzerland
Melide
So, traveling all across Switzerland would take a few weeks and an unlimited
rail pass? At the Swissminiatur of Melide you can see the whole country
in about an hour. Over 120 sights of Switze3rland are reproduced exactly
on a 1:25 scale. Miniature trains in precise detail represented include
the Matterhorn-Gotthard Express and the newest attractions are the Glacier
Express and a complex of buildings from the village of Elm in Canton
Glarus.
Four River Springs Trail
Airolo
The Four Springs Trail is an impressive hike through the Gotthard
massif to the sources of four major rivers of Switzerland - the Rhine,
the Reuss,
the Rhone and the Ticino, which flow on through four different countries.
The trail leads in five stages through magnificent Alpine scenery,
home to marmots and chamois, across moors and high pastures. Each river
source
is the destination of a day-hike with start and finish points reached
by public transport.
New Visitors Center – The Secrets of Monte San Giorgio
Meride - October 3, 2012
The beauty of the scenery around the 1,097-meter
high Monte San Giorgio might provide its status as a UNESCO World Heritage,
with mountain peaks
like pyramids, deep blue lakes and picturesque villages, but it’s
the hidden treasures underground which make it really unique. Fossils,
some of which are 230 million years old. This fall a new visitor center,
designed by Ticino’s star architect Mario Botta, opens in Meride
to showcase some of the 10,000 finds unearthed to date
200 Year Promise
Bellinzona-Lottigna 2012
The defeat at Berezina on 28 November 1812 marked the end of Napoleon’s
Russian campaign. Troops from the Blenio Valley also fought on the French
side. Before the battle, the locals swore that if they ever came home
again, they would celebrate their survival every year with a military
parade in honor of God. They kept their word! On its 200th anniversary,
the Milizie Napoleoniche will once again invade Bellinzona, but the local
museum in Lottigna presents an exhibition providing information about
the continuing practice, which should be included in the UNESCO World
Heritage list of living traditions.
Tribute to Pier Francesco Mola
Rancate - Coldrerio
Pier Francesco Mola, born in 1612, was one of the great artists of the
17th century. The Pinacoteca Züst art gallery in Rancate (Mendrisio)
will be exhibiting his paintings, some on show for the first time, as
well as pictures from private collections, through 13 January 2013. Frescoes
by Mola can be found in Venice and Rome, but also in his birthplace Coldrerio,
in southernmost Switzerland. The artist immortalized himself with a self-portrait
fresco, found in the newly-restored Chiesa della Madonna del Carmelo.
Baroque Gem Restored
Riva San Vitale
After a five-year restoration, the Santa Croce church in Riva San Vitale
on Lake Lugano has a new look. The church, consecrated in 1599, was
commissioned by the Della Croce family from Ticino. The origins of
the plans for this Baroque masterpiece with its imposing dome are unclear,
though some clues point to Carlo Maderno (1556-1629). The master builder,
born in Capolago, a neighboring village of Riva San Vitale, most famous
for having designed the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica
in Rome.
Lugano Museum of Art - Window on the World
Lugano - September 16, 2012 – January 6, 2013
In art, a window is an element which plays an important role in creating
perspective. Lugano’s Museo d’Arte offers a large exhibition
to this topic. Entitled “A Window on the World: from Dürer
to Mondrian and beyond”, the event will feature works by De Chirico,
Klee, Matisse, Bonnard, Magritte and Monet.
Lugano Casino - 100 years of Roulette - 36 hours of
Poker
Lugano – November 2012
Lugano’s Casino is now a hundred years old. In order to support
the city’s reputation as a resort of international renown, the
local theater company applied for a gaming license at the turn of the
19th century. Opening in 1912, the ball started rolling in 1912. It was
actually a game called Boule, not the lawn variety, but similar to today’s
Roulette. To celebrate the 100th anniversary, in November of 2012, the
casino will organize a poker tournament, where some of the world’s
best gamblers will take part. The culture museum - Museo delle Culture
- will also present an exhibition on the history of gambling.
Youth Film Festival
Bellinzona - November 17-24, 2012
Bellinzona’s international youth
film festival held among the castles, Castellinaria was founded in1988
and is entirely focused on
young people. Each year there are two competitions - one for short films
and another for feature length movies. The Castellinaria focuses on encouraging
the exchange between different cultures.
Ice Skating - Pirouettes on the Piazza Grande .
Locarno - November 29, 2012 – January 6, 2013
During the cold months
the picturesque square at the heart of Locarno which during the summer
hosts the Locarno Film Festival and the Moon
and Stars music concert series turns into a romantic ice rink in Locarno
on Ice. The skating and twirling will be to the beat of Jazz concerts
organized by JazzAscona. Just like during the summer, but asking the
question how does a Jazz trmpetre play with gloves on?
Christmas Market - Mulled Wine by Candlelight.
Lugano - December 1, 2012 to January 6 2013
The switch of the lights on
the big Christmas tree in the Piazza Riforma in Lugano will be flipped
at 5:30 pm on the first of December, marking
the opening of the Ice Rink and the annual Christmas Market in the center
of Lugano. Open to 8:00 p.m. every evening, over 150 stalls offer a wide
range of food and crafts delights, as well as culture, wellbeing, and
antiques. The festive atmosphere will be complimented by a series of
jazz concerts entitled “Christmas in Jazz”.
Wilhelm
Tell Express Tour
Swiss
Mountain Peaks Tour