is our landscape” “Our biggest asset - Camping Tamaro · “Our biggest asset is our...

“Our biggest asset is our l andsc ape”

T H E C O N T R A S T S B E T W E E N N A T U R E A N D B U I L D I N G S D E F I N E T H E Q U A L I T Y O F T I C I N O ,

S A Y S T O P A R C H I T E C T M A R I O B O T T A .

Mario Botta, where can you get the best view of Ticino?From above, from the mountains. But you shouldn’t just

consider Ticino as the sum of its parts, but rather as something thatchanges.

What do you think about?About the landscape, which is always full of surprises. It

puts the achievements of men into perspective, because it’s strikingand powerful, and despite that,it’s in perpetual transformation,through light, wind and the chan-ging seasons. It is the best thingabout the canton of Ticino.

What would you recommend to tourists with an interest in architec-ture?

The unique quality of Ticino lies in the relationship betweenthe buildings, such as churches, villages, bridges, and the landsca-pe. The intensity of this relationship defines the area we live in. Ofcourse, there are also a few individual, worthwhile buildings, likethe Romanic churches of Negrentino and Giornico.

As a contemporary architect,you feel a strong connectionwith the Romanic period, why isthat?

With their unspoilt lines, incontrast with their surroundings,these churches still have a verymodern style.

Botta’s church at Mogno:

a tribute to the Romanic period.

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Her risotto is legendary. “I find cream always improves it”, recommends the 90-year old, born and bred in Ticino. “It’s alsogood with gorgonzola. But best of all with fresh mushrooms andonions”.

Ada Zeeb has been in front of the stove for over 50 years, ingourment restaurants and simple osterie. Her genuine home-made

specialities have always been in demand. Potatoes with luganighe(sausages) or polenta with brasato (braised meat). Costine (spareribs) with cazzöla (a stew made of potatoes and cabbage), a tastyminestrone (vegetable soup) or pesce in carpione, fish marinated invinegar for several days. “The most important thing, though”, saysAda Zeeb “is that you take your time to enjoy your food”.

A P A S S I O N F O R T H E G R O T T O S

Ticino offers everything to tempt your palate: the tantalisingchoice ranges from restaurants recommended by the Gault-Millaurestaurant guide to the locally-revered “grotto”. “At the stone ta-bles under the ancient trees, there is a truly relaxed atmosphere,where everyone talks to everyone else”, says Ada Zeeb.

The food is simple, too: apart from hot minestrone, there areoften only cold dishes with sliced local meats and small roundcheeses (formaggini). Everything is home-made. It is accompaniedby the house wine, usually Merlot, from the small, earthenwarepitcher known as the boccalino or tazzino. Ada Zeeb beams proud-ly: “The grotto is the best place to experience a piece of the real Ti-cino.”

“ You need to take your timeto enjoy your food!”

A D A Z E E B F R O M G I U B I A S C O H A S B E E N C O O K I N G F O R H E R G U E S T S F O R O V E R 5 0 Y E A R S . S H E K N O W S W H A T S H E ’ S

T A L K I N G A B O U T W H E N I T C O M E S T O T I C I N E S E C U I S I N E .

She recommends the grotto

as “a piece of the real Ticino”: Ada Zeeb.

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The chestnut trailA F T E R T H E C H E S T N U T T R A I L T H E R E

I S O N LY O N E T H I N G L E F T T O D I S C O V E R : A C H E S T N U T I C E C R E A M .

Arosio is the highest village in Malcantone and the startingpoint for a special type of excursion: the Chestnut Trail. The fivehour round trip leads to the heart of the colourful world of chest-nut trees, to the church of San Michele, with its doors and windowsmade from chestnut wood, and over to the small stone houses

where chestnuts are dried. And if anyone should feel like chestnuticecream, chestnut beer or chestnut flour after the excursion, theyshould ask the tourist office for the guide with the right addresses.

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Chestnuts: the fruit that Ticinese

specialities are made from.

REGIONE LAGODI LUGANO

“Again!” cheers the ten year old boy, though his father isagainst the idea. He thinks the adventure park on Monte Tamaro isfantastic, but unlike his son, he’s had enough. For two and a halfhours they have both swung from platform to platform in the cen-turies-old beech wood, climbed up ladders and gone abseiling. Thatwill have to do.

B E A U T I F U L V I E W S A N D F A S T - P A C E D D E S C E N T S

The modern adventure park at the middle station of theTamaro skyway is not just for families. Apart from the children’scourse, there are another four difficulty levels to choose from, witha total of 45 platforms high up in the treetops. Yet the park is nolonger the only reason why Tamaro fulfils the desire for adventureof amateur sports lovers’. Mountain bikers love the twistingdescent to Arosio, along with the new cross country cyclingtrack. Walkers love the challenging, four and a half hour cross-ing from Monte Tamaro to Monte Lema, where you can take pleas-ure in the breath-taking views. And there is wide scope here forbirdwatchers or paragliders to indulge their passions too.

Summit meetings of the giantsO N T H E M I G H T Y M O U N T A I N S A R O U N D L U G A N O ,

T H E V I E W I S N O T T H E O N LY T H I N G T H A T T A K E S Y O U R B R E A T H A W A Y .

At the Adventure Park at Monte Tamaro,

not only children reach the top.

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T R E K K I N GDiscover the little known valleys of Ticinoon foot: the brochure “Lugano Trekking”describes a three day expedition, a 44 kilo-metre route leading from Monte Brè toTesserete (Capriasca) in 21 hours. Thevariation through Val Colla is particularlyspecial.

S H O P P I N GFoxtown Factory-Stores in Mendrisio is abargain-hunter’s paradise. From Anna Suito Gucci and Trussardi, 130 outlets offerm o r e t h a n 2 0 0 d e s i g n e r n a m e s , w i t hdiscounts of up to 70 per cent off the usualretail price.

D I S C O V E R YYou can take a stroll from the Lake ofConstance to Geneva, without breaking in-to a sweat, at the “Swissminiatur”, the funpark in Melide. It features an open-airdisplay of the most beautiful locat ions,monuments and modes o f t r anspor tin Switzerland – on a scale of 1:25.

R E L A X A T I O N The Acquapark California in Balerna-Chiasso has much to offer: a fitness centrewith aerobics courses, indoor swimmingpool with hydromassage tubs, children’samusement park with playground slidesand a health spa with saunas, scented bathsand Kneipp therapy.

W I L D L I F E An unexpected perspective which will cer-tainly make you smile: grazing on the slo-pes of Monte Lema you can actually see aherd of Highland cattle. The animals seemto be as happy as if they were in their nati-ve homeland, the Scottish highlands. Theirmilk and meat certainly taste superb.

W O N D E R F U LWonders are still to be found, at least inMalcantone. The “Wonder Trail” begins inNovaggio, where it ends after seven kilo-metres and 13 information boards on “won-derful” topics. The high point is the last re-maining blacksmith’s forge in Switzerland.

F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N :Lugano Turismo, LuganoTel. +41 91 913 32 32 www.lugano-tourism.ch

Lake Lugano Navigation Company,Lugano Tel. +41 91 971 52 23 www.lakelugano.ch

Malcantone Turismo, Caslano Tel. +41 91 606 29 86 www.malcantone.ch

Mendrisio Turismo, Mendrisio Tel. +41 91 646 57 61 www.mendrisiotourism.ch

Miscell aneous news from Ticino


The world is left behind: at the “floating gardens” of Brissago.L

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A deep blast of the horn: The boat sets sail from the BrissagoIslands as the sun is reflected on the waters of Lake Maggiore.From the stern you can see Italy disappearing beneath a light bluesky. On the shore, colourful villages, and a little slower, the migh-ty mountains, attract the attention. The warmth and gentle vibra-tion of the engines lull you, images of the day pass through yourmind, and you ask yourself: can this be real?

A M A G I C A L R I V E R W O R L D

The light green of the river Verzasca! Like liquid jade, thewater seeks its way through the eroded rocky landscape. InLavertezzo it ripples under the double-arched bridge “Ponte deiSalti”: if you walk against the direction of the river, you will findcomfortable stone “beds” and natural whirlpools. You can enjoythe beauty of this valley and its legendary river all day lying onyour beach towel (but be aware of currents).

Yet there are simply too many attractions in this region.One valley further on, you can find the famous white marble ofPeccia. And sculptors who know how to handle it. The result: in asmall village deep in the Maggia Valley the visitor can observe

many a sculpture. And a little further, in the secluded “hundredvalleys” of the Centovalli region and in Onsernone Valley, you canfind deserted, historic hiking trails.

Where water works wondersT H E G R E E N W A T E R S O F T H E R I V E R V E R Z A S C A ,

T H E M A R B L E S C U L P T U R E S I N T H E M A G G I A V A L L E Y , T H E F L O A T I N G G A R D E N S O F B R I S S A G O :

W A S T H A T J U S T A D R E A M ?

Once a fishing village, nowadays a resort with

the largest concentration of luxury hotels in Switzerland: Ascona.

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Picturesque: the River Verzasca in Lavertezzo.

T H E P L E A S U R E G A R D E N S

The high points, however, are the Brissago Islands, the “floa-ting gardens”. Anyone stepping down from a boat here dives into amagical world of exotic buds and strangely shaped leaves, bewit-ching scents and sweet fruits. The Russian Baroness Antoinette deSaint Léger transformed the islands into an exotic garden, and en-tertained writers here, before a German businessman was allowed tobuild the pleasure gardens and Romanic baths for his dancers.

Even today, this place can still transport you immediatelyaway from the real world, so that the deep sound of the ship'shorn as it comes into shore will startle you. It takes the day-dreamers back to Ascona, the “Jewel on Lake Maggiore”, as thislittle town is called. It used to be a fishing village, but nowadaysit hosts the best luxury hotels in Switzerland. Ascona is music tothe ears of pleasure-seekers - and not only during the ten-daylong jazz festival.

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It is one of the most important film festivals in the world, andperhaps the most beautiful, but certainly the most charming: theInternational Film Festival in Locarno draws 200’000 spectatorseach year under its spell and lasts for eleven days and nights, withhundreds of film showings, discussions, receptions and partiesuntil the early hours of the morning in the welcoming little townfor this one-off event.

T H E L A R G E S T C I N E M A I N T H EW O R L D W I T H A S T A R R Y S K Y

No Hollywood blockbusters are shown, but films with apolitical and social content. The festival aims to show new filmsfrom around the world. The most important are shown in PiazzaGrande, the heart of the festival. As soon as darkness falls, anunforgettable atmosphere takes over: the houses of the old townwith their Lombardy-style architecture provide a picturesquebackdrop, the starry sky gives a special kind of magic and 7’000chairs in front of a huge screen make for the largest cinema in theworld.

Even if you cannot get hold of a ticket for the Piazza, youwon’t leave empty-handed: the small streets of Locarno are alsofull of a crackling atmosphere at this time, full of sociable peoplewith the same objective: to enjoy the films.

Bright lights in Piazza GrandeI N E A R LY A U G U S T E A C H Y E A R ,

T H E L O C A R N O F I L M F E S T I V A L I S H E L D , F O R M A G I C A L N I G H T S U N D E R T H E S T A R R Y S K Y .

The Piazza Grande during the Locarno Film Festival.

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There should be a hundred valleys here, at least if you tran-slate “Centovalli” word for word, although someone has exaggera-ted a little. However, the promise of the “Centovalli Railway” hasnot been overstated. It leads through a romantic, adventurousstretch, through ravines and over viaducts, to Domodossola in Ita-ly, and is certainly the most comfortable way to discover the spec-

tacular Centovalli region, which looks the same as it has since thedawn of time.

F U N I C U L A R O V E R T H E W A T E R F A L L

Most passengers only notice that small funiculars lead up tohigh, isolated mountain pastures and hamlets in the steep, denselywooded valley from the corner of their eye. However, for thosewho make the journey into picturesque Verdasio, climb into the lit-tle funicular to Rasa and let themselves be carried over the dizzyingheights of the deep gorge of Melezza, over the waterfall, can expe-rience the full power of the Centovalli region.

Of course, here there are innumerable possibilities forhiking. In particular, the area around Intragna with the highestchurch tower in Ticino (65 metres) is a walker’s paradise. How-ever, the best route leads along the Northern side of the valley fromIntragna through Costa and Monti di Comino to Verdasio.

Nostalgia on the railwaysI N C E N T O V A L L I , T H E R A I LW A Y W H I C H T R A V E L S P A S T T H E H I G H E S T C H U R C H T O W E R I N T I C I N O

L E A D S B A C K T O A N O T H E R T I M E .

All aboard for a comfortable discovery

of the wilds of the Centovalli region.

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Brother Agostino, what is your favourite time of day in Madonna del Sasso?In the morning, when it’s still quiet and the rising sun shines

through the glass windows of the choir in the church.

Do you sometimes think: Oh, isn’t it beautiful to live here?That happens at night, when everything is still up here. Or

on a summer evening, when we can hear the singing of theCarmelite nuns from afar.

How do the monks relate to the hustle and bustle of tourism?We only come across visitors who come to see the view or the

monastery by chance. If they show respect, they are very welcome.

Should the monastery still be open for tourists?Tourists are also people, first and foremost. And we are here

for people who need us. However, too much disturbance during theservices is not wholesome.

What should a visitor to Madonna del Sasso not miss out on?The atmosphere of the church. He should breathe in this

profound atmosphere while seated, or kneeling, because in the

“On summer evenings we c an hear singing from afar”

F O R V I S I T O R S T O T H E M O N A S T E R Y M A D O N N A D E L S A S S O , B R O T H E R A G O S T I N O R E C O M M E N D S

T H E P R O F O U N D A T M O S P H E R E O F T H E C H U R C H .

He loves the early hours of the morning: Brother

Agostino from the monastery Madonna del Sasso.

church there is a half-light, almost like in a basilica from theOrient. The Pietà (religious statue) in the courtyard, the statue ofthe Virgin Mary at the main altar and the many religious scenespainted on the walls are also very interesting.

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A historic landscape in green:

Onsernone valley.

It is as unworldly as it is veiled in mystery, this valley withits rocky gorges, woody slopes and the little roads winding high upinto the terraces, where they branch into stone-built villages. Theactual distance to Locarno is not great, although it feels immense.There is a reason why writers have repeatedly chosen to settle here:to feel the primordial power. It drew Alfred Andersch to Berzona,as well as Max Frisch, who paid tribute to the Onsernone Valley inhis work “Man in the Holocene”.

However, the best known, and also the most controversialwriter of the valley was Aline Valangin (Dorf an der Grenze - Villageon the Border). Together with the lawyer Wladimir Rosenbaum shecreated an island of freedom and contentment in Comologno du-ring the 1930s. James Joyce also stopped here, as did C.G. Jung andKurt Tucholsky. Here they founded a refuge for the politicallyoppressed, and often the guests of the attractive Aline Valanginwere also her lovers. It is little wonder, then, that her permissivelifestyle caused a commotion in the village and even throughout thevalley. Today, things are quieter in Comologno. Yet the beauty ofthe valley and its wild landscape have remained. There are count-less historic walks just waiting to be discovered.

In a different worldT I M E A N D A G A I N , W R I T E R S H A V E S O U G H T

T H E S O L I T U D E O F T H E O N S E R N O N E V A L L E Y , W H I C H T H E Y C A N S T I L L F I N D T O D A Y .

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Why did you bring your theatre to settle in Verscio?Ticino is something special, not only because it looks pretty

and has a mild climate. It has a charisma which makes you feelhappy and inspires you to work.

How would you describe a typical inhabitant of Ticino?Very humorous, a typical Latin-type. Really the people from

the valleys are tolerant and hospitable, with an incredible enthusia-sm for telling stories.

What are the typical qualities of a native of Ticino? The old locals of the valleys are simple, but intelligent, open

and unprejudiced people. The cultured city dwellers are ratherreserved. They don’t speak in dialect any longer. And then there arethe adventurers...

If a tourist asks you for advice, what do you recommend? I love the remote valleys, where you can go walking during

even the hottest summers and cool yourself off in an ice-coldmountain stream. You can only find these types of walks in Ticino– and you can do most of them quite easily with the whole family.

“Ticino makes you happy ”T H E W O R L D F A M O U S C L O W N D I M I T R I

T E L L S O F T H E O R I G I N A L F E A T U R E S O F T I C I N O A N D T O U R I S T I C H I G H L I G H T S .

The clown Dimitri runs a theatre and a theatre

school in Verscio.

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At the school of sculpture in Peccia,

stone becomes art.

Without a doubt, the inhabitants of the valley love theirwild, romantic Maggia with the great range of options for swim-ming and picnicking. But they truly adore the stone. Granite fromVallemaggia is everywhere, especially in the shape of works of art.In Foroglio, the foundations for unique fountains also emerge fromthe rock. Today, Peccia in the upper Maggia Valley is truly the mostfamous sculptors’ village in Switzerland.

Thanks to its white marble, it can count on a valuable natu-ral resource which is nurtured by the quarry, the marble works andthe famous school of sculpture. The sculpture trail in Peccia is anew cultural milestone in the Maggia Valley, made up of thirtyworks which are rearranged each year. This brings it full circle: theartists not only breathe new life into the stone, but it is also thestone in form of sculptures that breathes new life into the wholeMaggia Valley.

It is no wonder that the region’s marketing is also based onstone (“Vallemaggia Pietraviva”). Exhibitions on the theme, hikingtrails, study programmes, visits to the quarry and overnight staysin stone houses are some of the offers already in place, with othersto be completed by 2006.

Change is the only constantI N T H E M A G G I A V A L L E Y , R O C K F A C E S A R E M A D E I N T O

W O R K S O F A R T : A V A L L E Y S Y M B O L I S E D B Y S T O N E .

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They met each other at a barbecue. They discovered thatthey only lived a couple of tents away from each other. They beca-me friends, and today they have hired the banana boat, hoppingover the waves and shrieking with delight if the boat turns over andthey all end up in the water.

G A M E S W I T H O U T F R O N T I E R S

Anyone spending their holidays in Tenero, at the largestcampsite in Ticino gets more than the opportunity to meet a wholegroup of people. They have a whole lake besides. And what a lake!On Lake Maggiore it seems that you can do anything to turn yoursummer into a dream: swimming, fishing, rowing, sailing, windsur-fing, wakeboarding, and even diving, thanks to the excellent qualityof the water. The shore is pleasantly shady, and the boats go to allthe important excursion points, like the Brissago Islands for exam-ple, or, on the Italian side, the Borromaic Islands. From June toSeptember, a free boat link connects Tenero with Locarno. On LakeMaggiore, you want for nothing – except more holidays!

Fun in the wetL A K E M A G G I O R E O F F E R S W A T E R L O V E R S E V E R Y T H I N G

T H E Y N E E D F O R H A P P Y S W I M M I N G .

Action from Tenero:

Lake Maggiore is certainly a lot of fun.

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Reed beds, oxbow lakes, tarns and lowland forests: the“Bolle di Magadino” nature reserve is one of the last natural riverdeltas in Switzerland, with European importance. Where theVerzasca and the Ticino flow into Lake Maggiore the micro-clima-te has created a habitat for more than 240 types of migratory birds,marshland birds and herons.

M A G N O L I A S A N D C A M E L I A SG A L O R E

Gambarogno is rich in nature. It stretches along the north-eastern shore of Lake Maggiore: a mountainous region, less beauti-ful and luxuriant than the opposite shore, yet it has wild hikingtrails and the warm yellow of the setting sun. There is also thesecond oasis in the area: the 17’000 square metres of the botanicalgarden of Gambarogno which belongs to the nursery gardener OttoEisenhut. 950 different types of camelias and 350 varieties of ma-gnolia bloom amid countless other plants, making it an unrivallednatural paradise.

Habitat of 240 species of birds: Bolle di Magadino.

Where nature reigns supremeT H E R I V E R D E L T A A N D T H E B O T A N I C A L G A R D E N :

I N G A M B A R O G N O T H E R E A R E T W O M A R V E L L O U S O A S E S .

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C E L E S T I A LA futuristic skyway, a bridge that seems tolead from the mountain directly up to thesky, and a “musical wood” where you canlearn to see sounds: Mount Cardada fea-tures excursions that are as tactile as theyare astounding.

V I S I O N A R YIn the early twentieth century, MonteVerità over Ascona was a meeting place forphilosophers, who had recently foundednaturalism and vegetarianism. Even today,the recently designed museum exudes thespirit of these visionary people.

U N I Q U EBosco Gurin lies at 1507 metres, making itthe highest parish in Ticino, but it is betterknown as an important location for wintersports (with half pipe and illuminatedslopes). The Walser dynasty established thevillage as long ago as 1253. Since it is pre-dominantly their descendants who livehere, in the village you can hear a Germandialect alongside Italian.

T E R R I F I CThere is no higher bungee jump: 220 metresdown from the Verzasca Dam into obli-vion, at a speed of 100 km/h. Pure adrena-lin, so you feel like James Bond, who alsojumped from here during the introductionto the film “GoldenEye”.

A U T H E N T I CBread, cheese and organically grown ve-getables, but also genuine holiday accomo-dations in farms can be found on the web-site www.agriturismo.ch.

F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N : Ente Turistico Lago Maggiore, LocarnoTel. +41 91 791 00 91www.maggiore.ch

Gambarogno Turismo, ViraTel. +41 91 795 12 14www.gambarognoturismo.ch

Ente Turistico di Tenero e Valle Verzasca,TeneroTel. +41 91 745 16 61www.tenero-tourism.ch

Vallemaggia Turismo, MaggiaTel. +41 91 753 18 85www.vallemaggia.ch

Miscell aneous news from Ticino

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The market has its own rhythm, they say: “towards closing time the young people also arrive”.

The finest type of pleasure

T I C I N O ’ S M A I N T O W N , B E L L I N Z O N A , I S I N A S T R A T E G I C A L LY I M P O R T A N T P O S I T I O N ,

E S P E C I A L LY S O F O R C U L T U R A L I N T E R E S T S A N D P L E A S U R E - S E E K E R S .

“The market has its own rhythm”, says the lady stallholder,putting tomatoes on the scales. “Just after seven, the old peoplearrive. They inspect the vegetables carefully and buy for the wholeweek. Then at ten, the streets are chock-a-block with all kinds ofpeople, especially families, but also chefs, looking for a high qua-lity oil or special type of honey for their restaurants. Towards theend, at eleven, the young ones are also awake. They don’t buymuch, but they enjoy the market atmosphere”.

T H E S I G N O F G O O D T A S T E

At least in good weather. When the sun shines, the Saturdaymarket in Bellinzona takes on a film-like atmosphere: loud andcolourful, the stalls extend through several streets and into squares,often interrupted by street cafes. You can smell the sun-ripenedfruits from the Magadino plain, try cheese specialities from theMuggio Valley, pick up sausages made according to old recipes andcrisp Ticinese bread, buy freshly cut flowers and enjoy the taste-fully renovated facades of the buildings in the old town.

At the foot of Castelgrande,

the summer nights are celebrated.

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C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E W I T H A B R O A D V I S I O N

If you look a little higher up, you will see the Castelgrandedating from the 13th century, the oldest of the three castles ofBellinzona. Today, it is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.With its stern architecture, it appears decidedly modern. Goodnews for any lazy-bones: there is a lift from the old town right intothe courtyard of the castle, so get moving!

Up here, you can hardly hear the voices from below. You areat one with the sky, and with the splendid history of Bellinzona.The view of both the other castles (Sasso Corbaro and Montebello),the dramatic walls which you can walk around, the old gardensover the castle rocks, really give you a flavour of the place: theforay into the Middle Ages can begin!

The old walls are waiting to be discovered.

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Winter in ticino

Y O U C A N G O S T R A I G H T F R O M T H E P I S T E T O T H E S T R E E T C A F É U N D E R T H E P A L M T R E E S .

This only happens in Ticino: while over Airolo and Carìsnowboards almost touch the sky, an hour’s drive further south,golfers hit their balls on the green courses of Losone. And you caneven wear a light sweater while shopping in Lugano’s old townduring the morning, which will last you until you glide on cross-country skis across the sugary white of the Leventina during theafternoon.

P U R E N A T U R E , G U A R A N T E E D

You can also stay in the Blenio Valley and experience winterthe traditional southern way: under radiant sunlight in a small,white-covered paradise, as a guest of the cheerful inhabitants ofTicino, who will warm up your heart even in bad weather. Or havefun on the snow, on the idyllic Campra, on cross-country or tour-ing skis, freestyle boards, snow shoes, or carving skis. Or visit oneof the famous Romanesque churches. Or perhps take a trip to Narawith its many attractions including a “Snow Park” and a sledge run,or Airolo, the ideal departure point for skiing, or the friendly vil-lages of Campo Blenio and Ghirone, offering ski facilities especial-ly suitable for beginners.

Wherever people fly down the ski-slopes, in Ticino, you’reonly a stone’s throw from the street cafés under the palm trees, andfrom a breath of spring air.

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While in Airolo, skis almost touch the sky,

the golf balls are flying in Losone.

BELLINZONA E ALTO TICINO

In wide, secluded pastures, the cows graze, just where theyplease, giving thanks for their five star accommodation with themilk that has made the tasty Piora cheese legendary.

I N C L U D E D : O N E O F T H E S T E E P E S T

F U N I C U L A R S I N E U R O P E

And what about the mountain bikers? They cycle throughthe steep, challenging Alpine area, past large and small lakes, andthrough wonderfully scented mountain woods. Many like to turnback halfway, that doesn’t matter: you don’t have to make it overthe pass into the Blenio valley, to take pictures of impressive moun-tain scenery home with you.

Up here, the hiker’s heart also beats faster. Along withnumerous short excursions along the Ritom lake and over its migh-ty retaining walls, passes and high mountain trails offer a hiker’sparadise on earth. Another thing: one of the steepest funiculars inEurope leads from Piotta to the Ritom lake, – a special experience.

In Piora valley you will find tasty cheese

and splendid mountain bike trails.

Cows and cheese

W H A T D O C O W S A N D M O U N T A I N B I K E R S H A V E I N C O M M O N ? T H E Y R U N A R O U N D T H E P I O R A V A L L E Y I N G R E A T S H A P E !

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New experiences on old roads

S O M E J O U R N E Y S A R E A N E N D I N T H E M S E LV E S . F O R E X A M P L E , T H E “ T R E M O L A ”

W I T H I T S C O B B L E D T W I S T S A N D T U R N S .

blestones, which are extremely demanding, especially when travel-ling by bike over the pass (2108 metres) and you want to force yourway up its 12 % gradient.

A M Y S T I C A L M O U N T A I N

All this “trembling” can hardly be surpassed in terms ofenjoyment, if you travel through the ancient rocky landscape bycar. Or on a Harley Davidson, like Alois Maillinger from Germany.“The Gotthard is the pass to beat all passes” he says. “It isn’t thehighest pass, and doesn’t have the most bends, but there issomething mystical about this mountain”. This is already the thirdtime that Alois has crossed the Tremola, and the third time that heis so overwhelmed, that he stops to take a couple of photos. “Andthat won’t be the last time”, he laughs, rattling off on his Harley.

Meanwhile you can hear the nostalgic stage-coach in thedistance, a stage-coach with five horses, taking tourists from Airoloto Andermatt, through the heart of this landscape, where no lessthan four of the most important rivers in Europe have their source.Gurgling, swooshing and chirping are all around, the rocks surgeup into the sky and the grinding of the coach wheels recalls timesgone by, as if this form of transport was still fashionable, even

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“The Gotthard is the pass to beat all passes”,

says Harley rider Alois Mailinger..

There are two reasons why the old Gotthard Pass on theTicino side is called the "Tremola": from above, the longest con-struction in Switzerland, with its walled curves looking like a tem-perature graph “trembling” (from the Italian tremare = to tremble)through the mountain. The other reason lies with the bumpy cob-


though in those days the rough carriage could hardly have been ascomfortable as its modern successors. You lean back, sniff the fra-grant air and enjoy.

R O A D S W I T H T A L E S T O T E L L

In Ticino, these new experiences on old roads are not on-ly to be found on the Tremola. The “Via delle Genti” - “People’sRoad” is worthwhile, along with a visit to “La Claustra”, an archi-tectural gem, where deep in the body of the Gotthard mountain,rocks, water, light and fire create a spectacle for the senses. Eventhe Leventina has a whole host of surprises up its sleeve for its visi-tors. The roads in the Piottino gorge have been restored and at theexit is the “Dazio Grande”, an old customs house, converted into acultural centre with an exhibition area in its cellar, telling of thedramatic history of Gotthard and the Leventina.

In the “Dazio Grande”, an exhibition tells

the history of the Gotthard routes.

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C ycling tours in the Garden of Eden

T O M A T O E S , C U C U M B E R S A N D C O U R G E T T E S : T H E M A G A D I N O P L A I N I S T I C I N O ’ S V E G E T A B L E G A R D E N , A N D A

F A V O U R I T E D E S T I N A T I O N F O R S P O R T S - L O V I N G F A M I L I E S .

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Magadino plain: amid ripening tomatoes,

you can also enjoy a good bike ride.

If you travel from “Monte Ceneri” towards Bellinzona atnight, you feel like an aeroplane landing at Los Angeles: a large,broad plain stretches out before you, lights twinkle everywhere - awonderful view.

F R O M T H E F I E L D S T O T H E S H O P SI N L E S S T H A N 2 4 H O U R S

However, the Magadino plain is not Los Angeles, but a verylarge garden. Here grow most of the more than 3’000 tonnes oftomatoes that Ticino supplies to Swiss wholesalers – so quickly,that 24 hours after they are picked, you can already find them inthe shops. The other vegetables also grow with the claim to maxi-mum purity: the agricultural cooperatives completely reject geneti-cally modified produce. A real garden of Eden!

As the Magadino plain is so broad and flat, it is also wellsuited to sports lovers, particularly families: in-line skating, cy-cling and riding are favourite activities. Even flying! Not like anaircraft landing at L.A., but more like your first tandem parachutejump.


The small stone churches with their modest, austere archi-tecture and the distinctive clock tower represent the art of con-struction in Catholic Ticino like nothing else. In the Biasca region,you can find particularly impressive examples from the Romanicperiod, but also buildings from the Renaissance.

A N I M P R E S S I V E W A Y O F T H E C R O S S

The Romanic church of San Pietro in Biasca, dating from the12th century, occupies a place of national importance in terms ofconstruction. From here, there is an idyllic 30 minute Way of theCross to the 16th century Oratorium Santa Petronilla which is alsovery close to the waterfall of the same name. Also worth seeing inthe small village of Biasca is the stately home “Cavalier Pellanda”,in a definite Renaissance style. It is now used as a museum.

In the region of Biasca, the road to discovery goes further.Here, the choice ranges from the 12th to the 16th centuries, fromchapels in splendid viewpoints to the Romanic villages of Loderio,Cresciano and Osogna, to the monastery of Claro. Anyone wantingto move on a little further (to the North) will be rewarded by thecultural and historical jewels of the church of San Nicolao inGiornico.

The church of San Pietro in Biasca

dates from the twelfth century.

The vill age of religioustestimonies

T H E R E G I O N O F B I A S C A C O U L D A L M O S T P A S S F O R A N O P E N - A I R M U S E U M : S O M E O F T H E M O S T B E A U T I F U L

R O M A N I C B U I L D I N G S C A N B E F O U N D H E R E .

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PicnicS at Lukmanier

I N T H E V A L L E Y O F T H E S U N , N A T U R E R E I G N S S U P R E M E . F R A G R A N T W O O D S A N D B R O A D P A S T U R E S I N V I T E Y O U

T O E A T S U N D A Y B R U N C H U N D E R T H E B L U E S K Y .

No motorways, no railway lines, no McDonald’s: the Bleniovalley, also known as “Valley of the Sun”, seems as though it be-longs to another age. Old stone-built villages let nothing disturb theirpeace and quiet. Dreamy “rusticos” (typical Ticino stone houses)cling to the slopes here and there. And in the broad meadows andwoods, the scent of fresh, sun-dried bedlinen hangs in the air.

H I K I N G T R A I L S A N D P I C N I C A R E A S

There are not many places where you can walk from the bit-ter Alpine climate to a soft, almost Mediterranean atmosphere inone day, as you can here from the Lukmanier to Biasca: throughplaces where all you can hear is the gurgling of the Brenno downbelow in the valley, past southern-style facades and the famousRomanic churches.

There are two things which always draw attention in theBlenio valley. One is the groups of schoolchildren and especiallythe many families, laying out enormous blankets in this picnicparadise, setting out the ingredients for a lavish feast, and enjoya-bly passing the day until evening, in the open air.

Unfold a blanket and spend an enjoyable day

till evening: the picnic paradise of Lukmanier.

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Sweets, culinary oils and teas

are produced from herbs.

S W E E T S M A D E F R O M H E R B S

The other thing is the fields of herbs. Within a few years,the Blenio valley has become a stronghold for herbs. At the AlpineInstitute of Phytopharmacology in Olivone, by a Ticinese projectwhich administers many of the fields, herbs from all over Ticinoare collected, scientifically analysed, stored and with the help ofregional businesses, turned into sweets and culinary oils, amongother things.

The most famous product is herb tea, which is now in everybranch of Migros in Ticino. It is best taken in a thermos flask toaccompany you on your walks. Or enjoy it with a Sunday brunchat the foot of the Lukmanier, with a view over the Blenio valley,with the gurgling of the Brenno in your ears, breathing in the scentof sun-dried bedlinen.

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U N D E R G R O U N DBy the end of 2015, the world’s longest railwaytunnel will be completed. AlpTransit is the nameof the largest building site in Switzerland: twopipes, 57 kilometres long, through the Got-thard. The Southern Gotthard InformationCentre at Pollegio is worth a visit.

A B O V E G R O U N DSouth of Bellinzona, between Camorino andMonte Carasso, are the so-called “HungerForts”, a row of round towers with arrow slits.They were built in 1853, to employ refugeesfrom Ticino, who had been banished from Lom-bardy on the orders of Field Marshal Radetzky.

T R A N S C E N D E N T A LThe monastery at Monte Carasso, dating fromthe 15th century was rebuilt in 1993 by thearchitect Luigi Snozzi, preserving its age-oldstructure with the inner courtyard and arcades.Today it is used as a school and cultural centre.

T H E A T R EThe only remaining 19th century Italian-styletheatre in Switzerland is found in Bellinzona:the Teatro Sociale. It was built in 1846 by theengineer Rocco von Mentlen and was recentlyrestored. The new structural techniques and thecharm of the original theatre auditorium makeeach performance a special experience.

M O N U M E N T SMario Botta is not the only world-class architectfrom Ticino. Luigi Snozzi gained world acclaimwith the restructuring of the village of MonteCarasso and Aurelio Galfetti made a name forhimself with the restoration of Castelgrande.Tita Carloni has also contributed to keeping upthe tradition of fame that unites Ticino archi-tects, the major exponents of whom wereDomenico Trezzini (XVII century) and, most ofall, Francesco Borromini (XVI century).

A M U S E M E N T Rabadan is the name of the carnival at Bellin-zona, which is held according to Romanic tradi-tion in February. During four harebrained days,there are masked competitions, street theatre alot of music rounded off by a colourful proces-sion for sheer high spirits.

T A S T YLemonade from Ticino is known as “gazo-sa”. This refreshing drink is served in ori-ginal bottles. Some natives of Ticino dilutetheir Merlot with gazosa, especially ingrottos, where the evenings can becomelong.

F U R T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N :Bellinzona Turismo, BellinzonaTel. +41 91 825 21 31www.bellinzonaturismo.ch

Biasca Turismo, Biasca Tel. +41 91 862 33 27 www.biascaturismo.ch

Blenio Turismo, OlivoneTel. +41 91 872 14 87www.blenio.com

Leventina Turismo, Airolo Tel. +41 91 869 15 33 www.leventinaturismo.ch

Miscell aneous News from Ticino


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Sophisticated: the Delta Beach Lounge at Lido Ascona.

Sunset Swing

I N H A B I T A N T S O F T I C I N O C U L T I V A T E T H E D O L C E V I T A D A Y I N , D A Y O U T . P A R T I C U L A R LY A F T E R H O U R S .

Slow down and lie back. Get the feeling that you have all thetime in the world, and maybe even a little bit more. Be yourself inthe best possible way, while feeling at one with the universe. Blinkin the sun and discover the culinary world with relish. Dolce vita,the fine art of living, is one of the most famous Ticinese specialities.

T U R N I N G Y O U R B A C K O N T H E E V E R Y D A Y

If possible, this lust for life would be cultivated with eachbreath, day in, day out, as often as work allows. For the native ofTicino, courtesy is as vitally important as congeniality and humour.Yet you will find people in full cry even here, when they can turntheir backs on the daily grind for the rest of the day, when eveningarrives and their friends are awaiting them in a sophisticated bar ora traditional grotto. Then whatever happened yesterday is just asinsignificant as what will happen tomorrow. The only thing thatcounts now is living for the moment! Traditional: evening meal in a grotto.

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DOLCE VITA

“Klock”. A perfect stroke. The little ball drives into the sky,becomes smaller and smaller, can hardly be seen at its highest pointand begins to fall, it lands on the green, bounces twice and staysstill. Great stroke; put down your club and take a deep breath. Thatis when you feel a part of the cultivated 18 hole course of the GolfClub Patriziale in Ascona with its five star green, directly over-looking Lake Maggiore.

A L O T O F W A T E R A N D C H A L L E N G I N G H O L E S

But it is not the only place in Ticino where you can playgolf. At Golf Gerre in Losone you are also surrounded by a pictu-resque landscape. A river, three small lakes and the long, sometimesnarrow greens demand a high degree of precision, if you want tosuccessfully master the 18 hole course (71 par). You can even dothis in winter: thanks to the mild climate, Golf Gerre is playable allyear round, like Golf Club Patriziale in Ascona and the third in thegroup: Golf Club Lugano in Magliaso – also ideal for golfers whoare not only seeking sporting success, but want to enjoy the land-scape.

Aiming over the water: Ascona Golf Course.

Swings with good viewsP L A Y I N G G O L F I N T I C I N O

A L S O I N V O LV E S T H E L A N D S C A P E .

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DOLCE VITA

T H E M E D M A P C O L L E C T I O N S

available at a cost of CHF 10.-/€ 7.- (+postage) per book.

Il Ticino e i suoi sapori - Enogastromic Ticino (available in I/D)

Il Ticino contemplativo - The Spiritual Side of Ticino(available in I/D)

Il Ticino parchi e giardini - Ticino Parks and Gardens(available in E/I/D)

Il Ticino in Mountain Bike - Ticino by Mountain Bike(available in I/D)

B R O C H U R E S F O R F R E E

Panoramic map

Lugano, Malcantone, Mendrisio:HotelsApartments

Lago Maggiore: HotelsApartments

Bellinzona and Northern Ticino:Hotels, Apartments, Mountain huts, Restaurants

Ticino Camping

Ticino Gastronomy

Easy excursions in Ticino

Pathways from the glaciers to the lakes (medium difficulty)

BROCHURESI W O U L D L I K E T O F I N D O U T M O R E A B O U T T I C I N O .

P L E A S E S E N D M E T H E F O L L O W I N G G U I D E S :

54

Name, Surname: ................................................................................. Street: ................................................................................................Postcode, City: ...................................................................................Country: ............................................................................................

Please detach this page and send it to: Ticino Turismo, Casella postale 1441, CH-6501 Bellinzona.E-mail: [email protected] - Fax: +41 (0)91 825 36 14

DOLCE VITA

February BellinzonaRabadan, Carnival and procession

Locarno and GambarognoFestival of the Cameliaand exhibitions

MendrisioHistorical Easter parades

LuganoEaster in the City Centre,entertainments and Easter market

Apr.-June LuganoLugano Festival,classical music concert

May BellinzonaMontebello Castle, “La Spada nella Rocca” medieval pageant

AsconaFestival of street artists

June ChiassoFestate World Music Festival

BellinzonaPiazza Blues

June-July AsconaJazz Ascona New Orleans & Classics

June-Aug. VallemaggiaMagic Blues, open air concerts

July Mendrisio and LuganoEstival Jazz

LocarnoMoon and Stars, concerts in Piazza Grande

MagadinoInternational Organ Festival

LuganoAirshow over the bay

Ascona and LocarnoTicino Music, International meeting for young musicians

AsconaCSI International Equestrian Tournament

August LocarnoInternational Film Festival

TessereteIrish Music Festival

Aug.-Oct. AsconaMusic Weeks, classical music

September LuganoBlues to Bop Festival

Bellinzona“La Bacchica Bellinzonese” wine festival

MendrisioWine festival

Sep.-Oct. LuganoAutumn festival

October Different placesChestnut festival

November BellinzonaCastellinaria,International Youth Film Festival

December LuganoPiazza Riforma, New Year Party

MAKE WAY FOR THE LONGEST OPEN AIREVENTS CALENDAR IN SWITZERLAND

THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS ARE SHOWN HERE.FOR THE DETAILED PROGRAMME, CALL THE TICINO TOURIST BOARD,

TEL. +41 (0)91 825 70 56. OR VISIT THE SITE www.ticino-tourism.ch

DOLCE VITA

Ticino TurismoCasella postale 1441CH-6501 BellinzonaTel. +41 91 825 70 56Fax +41 91 825 36 [email protected]

Bellinzona TurismoCH-6500 BellinzonaTel. +41 91 825 21 31Fax +41 91 821 41 [email protected]

Biasca TurismoCH-6710 BiascaTel. +41 91 862 33 27Fax +41 91 862 42 [email protected]

Blenio TurismoCH-6718 OlivoneTel. +41 91 872 14 87Fax +41 91 872 15 [email protected]

Leventina TurismoCH-6780 AiroloTel. +41 91 869 15 33Fax +41 91 869 26 [email protected]

Ente Turistico LagoMaggiore CH-6601 LocarnoTel. +41 91 791 00 91Fax +41 91 785 19 [email protected]

Gambarogno TurismoCH-6574 ViraTel. +41 91 795 12 14Fax +41 91 795 33 [email protected]

Ente Turistico di Teneroe Valle VerzascaCH-6598 TeneroTel. +41 91 745 16 61Fax +41 91 745 42 [email protected]

Vallemaggia TurismoCH-6673 MaggiaTel. +41 91 753 18 85Fax +41 91 753 22 [email protected]

Lugano TurismoCH-6901 LuganoTel. +41 91 913 32 32Fax +41 91 922 76 [email protected]

Malcantone TurismoCH-6987 CaslanoTel. +41 91 606 29 86Fax +41 91 606 52 [email protected]

Ente Turistico delMendrisiotto e Basso CeresioCH-6850 MendrisioTel. +41 91 646 57 61Fax +41 91 646 33 [email protected]

Per ulteriori informazioni - For further informationPour d’autres renseignements -Voor meer informatie

www.ticino-tourism.ch

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