Sense-Sational Ticino
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Tales from Switzerland's Sunny South Sense-sational TicinoFrom Stand Up Paddling in the Ascona delta to cruises on Lake Lugano: discover the best of southern Switzerland off the beaten track. GottardoCYCLE WITH Bike is THE a ride PROS for the adventurous ReadyA TWIST to try ON gincarlin? TRADITION IN MUGGIO VALLEY ACITY stroll OF through ART Lugano's cultural highlights PackWHERE in some DONKEYS life lessons AND on this LLAMAS tour of LEADNorth Ticino THE VIEW Lugano Fine Dining THE VIEW Lugano...a world of its own! THE VIEW Lugano SPA 2 0 1 7 Switzerland's Leading Design Hotel theviewlugano.com EDITORIAL 1 One of the many favorite places: the director of Ticino Turismo Elia Frapolli on the lakefront of Lugano. 5 REASONS WHY IT'S NICE Dear reader, TO HOLIDAY IN TICINO Climate Join us for an excursion through a typical day in Ticino: hiking a glacier in the morning, and Mild. Even in winter, peo- then enjoying a gelato under the palm trees on the lakeshore in the afternoon. From hiking ple sit outside in the pi- in peaceful valleys to chatting with locals on a busy piazza, medieval castles to contempo- azza to drink an ear- rary architecture, Italian style to Swiss precision, Ticino is a place of stimulating contrasts. ly-evening apéro. Did you You'll find the full spectrum of local colour that southern Switzerland has to offer in know that Ticino basks in this inaugural edition of Ticino Turismo magazine. In the pages that follow, you can explore 2,170 hours of sun a year? the Gotthard region with a former racing cyclist, or take a boat cruise to a romantic din- ner at a grotto on the lake. Discover the art scene emerging in the erstwhile finance hub People of Lugano, or sample a traditional cheese from Valle Muggio that is now being made with The combination of Medi- Ticino's very first gin. terranean culture and warm The hospitality of Ticino's wonderful hosts never fails to delight our visitors and makes hospitality ensures that a holiday here unforgettable. Meet architect Giovan Luigi Dazio and his daughter Lisa, for one feels immediately at instance, who gave Hotel Fusio in Vallemaggia a new lease of life after a 46-year slumber. Or home in Ticino. Viva la vita! the SUP instructor Andrea Pirro: this young entrepreneur takes guests on a Stand Up Paddle board on excursions to the intriguing Ascona delta, with its clear, smooth, turquoise water. Landscape Those are just some of the stories you'll find in this issue. Whether hiking on the lake Sit back and relax, start to imagine your next holiday and get inspired for your visit to or taking a cycling tour Ticino. We look forward to meeting you! through the mountains, a beautiful view is guar- See you soon, anteed. Tag your pho- tos on Instagram or Face- book with the hashtag #ticinomoments and share Elia Frapolli your personal highlights! Director Ticino Turismo Cuisine Southern Switzerland is a delight for foodies, from polenta in a simple grotto to the haute cuisine of a multi-starred restaurant. Events Whether you take in a world-class film festival, a jazz concert in the old town or visit a wine cellar – Tici- no boasts the longest open- air season in Switzerland. 2 TICINO.CH Index Discover 6 Finding one's place among donkeys: in the saddle, through the breathtaking Blenio Valley. 18 6 18 38 Relax 10 A Stand Up Guy: 18 Stand Up Paddling with Andrea Pirro in the Ascona Delta. 26 10 Lago Maggiore 14 32 Lago di Lugano 28 42 Marvel 14 Art in all colours, shapes and sizes: a cultural stroll through Lugano. Experience 18 Cycling from Gotthard to Biasca: We go for a spin with former racing cyclist. Look for these binoculars in the magazine: they'll point you to the best of what Ticino has to offer. From hidden-away local- ities and solitary paths to breath-taking views and surprises amidst the everyday, it's often the little moments that make you feel the most. And there are plenty on offer in Ticino, Discover where the delight is in the details. Find some of our favourites 26 A weekend in… at: ticino.ch/experiences Bellinzona. INDEX 3 DID YOU KNOW? This year, it's all about food: Marvel 28 Lugano has been named When the first “Città del gusto 2018”. Ticino's gin meets An array of events for food- an old tradition: ies and gourmets is on offer. Culinary discoveries luganocittadelgusto.ch in Valle di Muggio. Passengers on the maid- Enjoy 32 en rail journey through the With a boat to polenta, Merlot and Gotthard Base Tunnel in dining by candlelight: Grotti Tour of 2017 were greeted by an Lake Lugano. 11-member concierge team with tips for making the most of their stay in Ticino. As of April 2018, there will be an app offering all these tips in one place. Use it to find activities that match your existing interests, or to discover a whole new side of Ticino. ticino.ch/apps The world's best gelato comes from southern Swit- Relax 38 zerland: “Quasi uno stec- A place find a new life: spend the co” – this iced delight made night in Fusio, where the walls are from coffee, chocolate, saf- steeped in history. fron, raspberries and lime, and created by Gianluca Fiorentino took first prize 5 Did you know? 12 curious facts for the best gelato at the about Ticino. 2017 patisserie world cham- pionship in Milan. 24 A mountain of action – from slack lining to climbing. In Valle Onsernone, three charming hostels joined to- 37 La vita è bella: try these 5 ideas gether to become the Wild for a relaxing visit to Ticino. Valley Hostels, offering overnight accommodation 41 Buonanotte Ticino: at every price range. unusual overnights. wildvalley.ch 46 #ticinomoments: our user It's official: Ticino wine is shared those beautiful Ticino's tops. Piccola Vigna win- Enjoy photos with us. 42 eries in Coldrerio – locat- Between tradition ed between Mendrisio and and innovation: all 48 Caro Ticino: author Eveline Chiasso – won the gold you need to know Hasler about her adopted medal Grand Prix du Vin about Ticino's country. Suisse 2017 for its Merlot. Merlot. piccolavigna.ch 4 TICINO.CH/DISCOVER DISCOVER 5 TICINO IS FULL OF SURPRISES Did you know that… …the cinema screen on the Piazza Grande at the Locarno Festival measures 80 square meters? …there is a yoga trail in Sass da Grüm on Monte Gambarogno? …the smallest municipality in Switzerland is Corippo (about a dozen inhabitants), a village in the Verzasca Valley? …there is a copy of Leonardo Da Vinci's mas- terpiece The Last Supper in Ponte Capriasca, a village outside Lugano? …over 6,000 years of history is on display at the new archaeology park in Tremona? …the northernmost rice-growing region of the world is found in the Maggia Delta, and it's brewed a finerice beer? …Mendrisio hosts its very own donkey racing event once a year? …there is a tea plantation with 1,400 plants on Monte Verità, near Ascona? …Bosco Gurin is the lone German-speaking municipality in otherwise Italian Ticino? …southern Switzerland's network of hiking trails is some 4,000 kilometers long? …author Hermann Hesse said of his adopted home of Ticino, “The sun shines more intensely here and the mountains are redder”? …you can go trekking with llamas, donkeys and mules in the Blenio Valley and learn some useful skills for your business career at the same time? Find out more on the next page! 6 TICINO.CH/DISCOVER DISCOVER — VALLE DI BLENIO 7 IN THE SADDLE, THROUGH THE BREATHTAKING BLENIO VALLEY Finding one's place among donkeys In her former life, Susanne Bigler Gloor was the regional head of HR for a large bank. Today she's surrounded by donkeys, mules and alpacas in the beautiful Blenio Valley, where she offers trekking and other nature experiences with her pack animals. CUMIASCA Laura's put her foot down. And her head too. Upon spotting the last tasty tuft of grass in the meadow, she's stopped walking and started grazing – much to Leo's chagrin. In his regular life, the lanky 53 year-old is the CEO of a medium-sized company. People usually listen to him. But Laura just ignores him, no matter how much he coaxes, commands or pulls on her halter. Leo turns to Susanne Bigler Gloor for help. With a smile, she tells him he needs to communicate more clearly with the donkey, so that she knows what he wants. “And how am I supposed to do that?” Leo asks. Stubborn as they are, it's actually not so difficult to get a donkey to follow instructions. “Animals notice immediately how focused someone is,” comments the expert. Her observations are drawn from half a lifetime's worth of experience with don- keys, mules and alpacas. Four years ago, she left her manage- ment position with a bank in Bellinzona and made the animal business her full time job. Together with her business partners Kurt Rammelmeyer and Rosmarie Herzig, she offers trekking experiences and training courses with donkeys and other pack animals as a way to “hit the road on four feet”. 8 #ticinomoments To say Cumiasca is a steep climb is something of those for handicapped people. an understatement. Starting from Acquarossa, Whether one comes for a single day or the road starts to wind up the mountain. At a whole week, alone or in a group, the animals each sharp curve, the mountain vistas expand, are the centrepiece of the experience.