BELLINZONA
If you like hiking, mountain biking, canoeing or wild-water kayaking, you’ll want to visit the Upper Canton of Ticino. The Italian-speaking canton got its name from the river which flows from the Gotthard Massif down the Leventina Valley to ultimately merge with the Po River in Pavia. On its route the Ticino River passes by the Village of Giornico, the site of the famous battle with the same name where in 1478 the Swiss Confederates defeated the Milanese soldiers gaining the control over the St Gotthard. From there the river flows to Bellinzona, the Capital of the Canton, and then through the Lago Maggiore where it leaves Switzerland and enters Italy.
Mention Uri, Schwyz & Unterwalden and an image of the Rütli immediately comes to mind. In Bellinzona however, they also identify the three castles which overlook the town: Castelgrande (Uri), Castello Montebello (Schwyz) & Corbaro Sasso (Unterwalden). Historically the town acted as the gateway to Italy and its castles are today on the UNESCO cultural world heritage list. A fun way to get to the castles from old town is to take Artù, the small tourist castle train. If you have the opportunity to travel to Bellinzona in the Spring, be sure to take the time to visit the Castle of Montebello for their “La Spada nelle Rocca” festival during which ladies, horsemen, archers & musicians dressed in period costumes re-enact local customs of the era. You can also learn the secrets of their salame.
It is not always easy to trace back the origins of our traditions and local folklore. Some are well founded on historical facts, while others leave room for interpretation. Either way they reflect who we are and what we value. They are all interesting & their celebrations are lots of fun. This is indeed the case in Bellinzona during Carnival. This five day boisterous event is called “Rabadan” in the local dialect meaning noisy. Each year the Mayor symbolically turns over the keys to the City to the King of Fools. Parades are held, parties take place to the early morning hours, polenta along with lots of Ticinese Merlot is served throughout the city.
Once a year in June & July, the men of Leontica, Aquila & Ponto Valentino in the Blenio Valley of Ticino, don army uniforms & costumes of fusiliers, drummers & officers dating back to the Napoleonic wars for a parade in their respective villages. According to tradition, they are honoring a vow made by Swiss mercenaries who fought in Napoleon’s failed Russia campaign of 1812. The latter promised that if they returned safely from the war, they would commemorate the sacrifices so many of them made with annual parades in their villages. Approximately 6000 Swiss mercenaries died in that campaign.
Checkout the videos by clicking on the highlighted links above.
If you like hiking, mountain biking, canoeing or wild-water kayaking, you’ll want to visit the Upper Canton of Ticino. The Italian-speaking canton got its name from the river which flows from the Gotthard Massif down the Leventina Valley to ultimately merge with the Po River in Pavia. On its route the Ticino River passes by the Village of Giornico, the site of the famous battle with the same name where in 1478 the Swiss Confederates defeated the Milanese soldiers gaining the control over the St Gotthard. From there the river flows to Bellinzona, the Capital of the Canton, and then through the Lago Maggiore where it leaves Switzerland and enters Italy.
Mention Uri, Schwyz & Unterwalden and an image of the Rütli immediately comes to mind. In Bellinzona however, they also identify the three castles which overlook the town: Castelgrande (Uri), Castello Montebello (Schwyz) & Corbaro Sasso (Unterwalden). Historically the town acted as the gateway to Italy and its castles are today on the UNESCO cultural world heritage list. A fun way to get to the castles from old town is to take Artù, the small tourist castle train. If you have the opportunity to travel to Bellinzona in the Spring, be sure to take the time to visit the Castle of Montebello for their “La Spada nelle Rocca” festival during which ladies, horsemen, archers & musicians dressed in period costumes re-enact local customs of the era. You can also learn the secrets of their salame.
It is not always easy to trace back the origins of our traditions and local folklore. Some are well founded on historical facts, while others leave room for interpretation. Either way they reflect who we are and what we value. They are all interesting & their celebrations are lots of fun. This is indeed the case in Bellinzona during Carnival. This five day boisterous event is called “Rabadan” in the local dialect meaning noisy. Each year the Mayor symbolically turns over the keys to the City to the King of Fools. Parades are held, parties take place to the early morning hours, polenta along with lots of Ticinese Merlot is served throughout the city.
Once a year in June & July, the men of Leontica, Aquila & Ponto Valentino in the Blenio Valley of Ticino, don army uniforms & costumes of fusiliers, drummers & officers dating back to the Napoleonic wars for a parade in their respective villages. According to tradition, they are honoring a vow made by Swiss mercenaries who fought in Napoleon’s failed Russia campaign of 1812. The latter promised that if they returned safely from the war, they would commemorate the sacrifices so many of them made with annual parades in their villages. Approximately 6000 Swiss mercenaries died in that campaign.
Checkout the videos by clicking on the highlighted links above.
