Lugano's August 1st Party

1. August is a national holiday throughout Switzerland and therefore every city, town and village centre is brought to life. The City of Lugano invites you to celebrate the National Holiday offering various opportunities for reflection on the role of the Confederation concluding with the traditional great fireworks display.

There will be various official and musical moments throughout the day, starting in the morning with the ringing of the bells of Lugano and culminating with the speech of a prestigious guest in Piazza della Riforma and the fireworks starting from 22.30.

Should you wish to get a closer look the Lake Lugano Navigation Company is organizing boats to watch the fireworks close-up from the lake. Spaces are limited, tickets can be bought on the website www.biglietteria.ch.

Also note that extra TPL buses services will be provided for the event: www.tplsa.ch

Below find the whole programme for August 1st, 2019:

06:00: Ringing of the bells of Lugano

10:15 | Piazza della Riforma
Meeting of the Authorities in the Patio of the Palazzo Civico and parade

10:30 | Piazza Indipendenza
Laying of the wreath at the Independence Monument

20:30 | Via Nassa
Meeting of the Autorities and City Associations

20:45 | Via Nassa
Parade of the Authorities and City Associations
Via Nassa, Piazza Battaglini, Riva Vela,
Rivetta Tell, Via Canova, Piazza Manzoni and
Piazza della Riforma

21:15 | Piazza della Riforma
1 August address
Roberto Badaracco, Counsillor, Head of the Department for Culture, Sport and Events of Lugano

22:30 | Golfo di Lugano
Great fireworks display
The spectacular fireworks display will complete the Swiss National Holiday celebrations by lighting up the  Lugano lake front, from Rivetta Tell to the Giardino Belvedere.

FOOD
Piazza Manzoni
31.07 and 01.08 | 18:00 – 01:00 |
Grottino dell’Associazione Carnevale Lugano

Rivetta Tell
31.07 | 18:00 – 01:00
01.08 | 10:00 – 01:00
02.08 | 18:00 – 01:00 |
Grottino Amici del Grott Mobil Lugano

Piazza Rezzonico
01.08 | 17:00 – 00:00 |
Grottino della Società Federale Ginnastica Lugano

Piazza Battaglini
31.07 | 17:00 – 00:00
01.08 | 16:00 – 01:00 |
Grottino DNA Bianconero & Events HCL

Piazza Manzoni
01.08 | 16:00 – 00:00 |
Mescita dell’Associazione Nümm da Lügan

Piazza Luini
01.08 | 18:00 – 00:00 |
Grottino del Gruppo Feste San Pietro Pambio

CONCERTS
Patio Palazzo Civico
11:00: Concert of the Philharmonic of Castagnola

Piazza della Riforma
21:45: Concert of the Philharmonic of Lugano

Piazza Manzoni
18:00 and 23:15:  Entertainment with Lüganiga Band

August 1st speech for Swiss Abroad 2019

On the occasion of the Swiss National Day 2019, the President of the Swiss Confederation traditionally holds the 1st August speech for Swiss Abroad.

According to the statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office, in 2018 around 760'200 Swiss citizens were registered with Swiss representations abroad. The Swiss community abroad has grown in recent years. If it were a canton it would be Switzerland's fourth largest in terms of population.

Did you know that the Swiss Abroad Act governs the fundamental rights and obligations of Swiss nationals living abroad? It also defines a variety of services that Switzerland can offer its citizens who are living and/or working abroad permanently or temporarily.

The questions is: How Swiss do you feel? Are you representing the values that one associates with Switzerland? Switzerland and its governing body would like thank you for representing Switzerland so well.

To read the National Day 2019 greetings for the Swiss abroad: click here.
To see the video with English subtitles of President of the Swiss Confederation Ueli Maurer, click here.

The Swiss National anthem which no-one sings to

The first Swiss national anthem was “Rufst du, mean Vaterland ” (When you call us, Fatherland), written in 1811 by Johann Rudolf Wyss and sung to the tune of the British national anthem “God Save the Queen”.

The current anthem, referred to as the ‘Swiss Psalm’, was first performed in 1841. The lyrics were written by the Zurich poet Leonard Widmer, while the melody is the work of Albert Zwyssig, a monk and composer from the canton of Uri.

In 1961, the Federal Council decided to provisionally adopt the Swiss Psalm as the national anthem to be played at military and diplomatic occasions. It only finally became the official national anthem in 1981.

In 2014, the Swiss Public Welfare Society (SGG/SSUP), a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to foster national belonging and highlight social issues, launched a competition to find a brand-new anthem.

In 2015, the  jury pronounced as winner Zurich-born Werner Widmer, whose song ‘Schweizerstrophe’ (or ‘Swiss stanza’) combines all four national languages.

However, the Swiss Public Welfare Society will only submit the song to the Federal Council for approval as the new Swiss national anthem once it has broad-based support among the public. Four years down the road and only Bern, Switzerland's political centre, is singing the new version.

A version of the winning lyrics was also made by combining the four national languages of Switzerland. Following is the English translation:

Virgin cross on reddened ground,

Sign of an old union sound!

Freedom, independence, peace, guide us all.

To equality let our hearts open,

In diversity they've awoken.

For all and one liberty,

And one and all equity,

Beloved Swiss standard,

Lead our union ever forward.

So, since the new lyrics have not been officially adopted this means that it is up to Switzerland's 2222 municipalities to decide whether they wish to impose the new anthem text asking its inhabitants to sing it on August 1st. We all now which text we will be humming to.

The original manuscript of the Swiss national anthem

Traditional August 1st Brunch

Celebrate Switzerland's National Day with a traditional Farmer's Brunch. It is a family event not to be missed. For the past 26 years Swiss farmers have been inviting city dwellers (Swiss and foreign alike) for brunch on their farms. Last year 350 farms all across the country welcomed over 150'000 guests.

Hosted by selected Swiss farms who offer you a brunch, they will provide you with the opportunity to taste different kinds of home-made cheese, meat, milk, bread, Birchermüesli and many other gastronomic specialities in a very particular atmosphere.

You'll have the certainty of trying some excellent high quality products. If you're lucky you'll enjoy some typical Swiss music, meet a Swiss celebrity, be served out of a giant Roesti frying pan or admire some amazing National costumes. The kids will love all the direct contact with the farms' animals

Book now for a brunch in one of the farms! Click here to find a list of Ticino's participating farmers.

My favourite so far is: Alpe Duragno at the top of Monte Tamaro. See purple trail on map. My friends recommend the farms on top of Monte Generoso. Capanna Cava is worth a mention as well.

As places in the farms are limited, registration is mandatory and better done early. You can register by telephoning or e-mailing the farmers directly before July 30th 2019. There are still quite a few spots left as of this morning. Please communicate how many children and adults you'll be.

Venue: 1.August Brunch
When: Thursday, August 1st, 2019
Time: 9:00 - 13:00
Price: CHF 25.- to 40.-
Directions: All participating farms will be signposted with the logo: «Brunch»
For more info: Tel: 056 462 52 10 on workdays from 10:00 bis 12:00 and from 14.00 to 16:00
E-Mail: info@brunch.ch
Homepage: www.brunch.ch
Ticino's participating farmers: ticino.brunch.ch/it

Far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the beautiful Swiss countryside and fine Swiss products can be enjoyed not only on August 1st. On www.vomhof.ch, you'll find all the farms that offer their products throughout the year!

100 Lifetime skills you can teach your kids...

Would your kid know how to mail a letter? Or how to check out books a the library? Can he/she change a light bulb? Sewing on a button has all but disappeared from today's skills...

Here is a list of 100 lifetime skills that kids can learn in under 5 minutes. So, which ones are important to you?

Taste my city, a Swiss culinary discovery tour

Switzerland Tourism has launched a brand new culinary campaign called: "Taste my Swiss City".

Thoughtfully designed and compiled by locals, these culinary tours are available in eleven cities, and each tour includes up to seven handpicked restaurants, bars, bistros and cafés.

The tours, all linked via a leisurely walk, aim to enhance the visitor’s experience by introducing them to not only what and where locals eat, but also to help them gain a better understanding of the local ways of life, culture and the ongoing evolution of the city through the eyes of its residents.

To join, all you need to do is choose a tour and make an online booking to receive a ticket. With that ticket you can independently discover up to six restaurants, bars, bistros and cafés where you'll be served a speciality dish or drink at every stop.

At the end of the tour, you'll not only have sampled the equivalent of a full meal, but also discovered unusual culinary spots that are off the beaten path.

It is quite possible that you will find yourself backstage in a jazz bar or in a cosy bistro discussing the delicious morsels on your plate with the locals. The journey might even take you behind the scenes at one of the oldest chocolate makers to learn all about the history of this sweet delight. Or to a historic bar wondering what ingredients might possibly have gone into your drink, before a helpful barman reveals the answer.

The rather different view you get of the culinary landscape is thanks to your insider, who will guide you through the city virtually. The tours are self-guided and can take between two and three hours on foot to complete.

Taste my Swiss City tours are available in Basel, Bellinzona, Bern, La Chaux -de-Fonds, Lausanne, Locarno/Ascona, Lugano, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Vevey / Montreux, and Winterthur.

For more info: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/experiences

Keep Ticino's mountains clean

Montagnepulite: This project was born to promote an effective management and sustainable use of mountain huts in Ticino, and in particular the litter management. The responsible management of litter in the mountains is a matter of common sense. We can all contribute by producing less waste.

Let’s reduce the amount of waste and not leave waste in the nature. You will give a valuable contribution if you bring your rubbish back home. Abandoned waste in nature takes too long to decompose: a simple cigarette butt takes anywhere from 1 to 5 years, a can from 20 to 100 years. Even a banana skin, although biodegradable, takes two months to decompose. The waste, in addition to being ugly, it cause pollution and is a danger for animals.

So thank you for joining the movement Montagna pulita.

https://www.cleanmountains.ch/en/golden-rules

You can become a pioneer: everyone can contribute, starting even with the smallest of actions. Maybe your simple idea will “infect” other people. Do you have any innovative solution to share?

Join the SHERPA project and see how a small gesture can become contagious! You will find garbage bags at participating mountain huts. Take one bag and bring your waste down to the valley to dispose of it properly.

This summer 2019 you could find the SHERPA project in the following huts:
- Capanna Monte Tamaro, UTOE
- Capanna Adula, UTOE
- Capanna Bovarina, UTOE
- Capanna Monte Bar, CAS Ticino
- Capanna Cornavosa, SEV
- Capanna Scaletta, SAT Lucomagno

If you fill in Sherpa's guestbook, you will participate in a raffle and you could win nice eco-logic prizes! The 1st prize is a bike Merida City/Trekking Crossway 500 worth CHF 1190.-.

Festival of the decade: Fête des Vignerons

The FÊTE DES VIGNERONS is a celebration organised by the Confrere des Vignerons, unique in the world, and takes place once a generation in Vevey. The last one took place in 1999!

This little town situated at the heart of the viticultural region Lavaux, in the canton of Vaud, is more commonly know for being Nestlé's worldwide headquarters.

Towards 1770, the Confrere des Vignerons assumed the objective of encouraging the perfecting of wine-growing and rewarding the winegrowers/labourers for the quality of their work instead of focusing on possible gaps in knowledge. Today it has become the first living Swiss tradition to have been recognised by UNESCO.

The Fête des Vignerons has not stopped growing, both in terms of the importance of the event and in terms of its artistic quality. The musical and poetic patchwork of the first Fêtes of the 19th century, where people were happy with an arrangement of words of circumstance on popular, well-known tunes, has been succeeded by Fêtes in which recognised artists created original and coherent pieces.

The challenge for the organisers of the Fête des Vignerons is to ensure both the expression of the aesthetic will of directors and the technical realization of a temporary stage space, which must accommodate many thousands of performers.

The Fête des Vignerons is an open-air spectacle not to be missed, paying homage to viticultural traditions many centuries old of an entire region with a spectacular show and coronation of the vineyard hands. The arenas are built for a month of performances starting July 18th, 2019. This year's arena is expected to host up to 20,000 spectators, all gathered to be part of the celebration en masse.

Venue: Fête des Vignerons
Where: Vevey "Ville en Fête" (map)
Date: July 18th to August 11th, 2019
Tickets available online: https://www.fetedesvignerons.ch/en/about/the-fete/

Hiking along the lowest point in Switzerland

Lago Maggiore is the lowest point of Switzerland, only 193 m above sea level. The "Sentiero Monti di Piazzogna" winds along the sometimes steep mountain flank above Gambarogno with stunning views of Lake Maggiore and Ascona.

Setting off from Monti di Piazzogna in direction Monti di Varian you reach the easy-going hiking path with beautiful panoramic views leading to Centocampi and then descending through the picturesque village of Caviano downhill to Ranzo-Sant'Abbondio.

You can discover the terraces of "Monti di Caviano" (also known as Centocampi) where you'll find the only thatched roofs in Canton Ticino. Thanks to the restoration carried out by the local tourist authority, there is still a hut with its original roofing made of rye straw, which was once common to all.

Don't forget to pack a yummy picnic and lots of water for the way.

Hike: Sentiero Monti di Piazzogna
Length: 10 km
Ascents: 500 m
Descents: 1050 m
Hiking time: 3 h 45 min
Grade level: easy
Map: https://map.schweizmobil.ch/
More info: https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland

Celebrating Colombia's National Day in Lugano

Looking for a different kind of fiesta? Did you know that July 13th is Colombia's National Day? Every year the Latina community celebrates this special date in Lugano and you are invited to join.

The party is organised by the association Viva mi Tierra, an association helping Colombian children with limited resources. They will perform typical dances such as la cambia, il currulao and il bambuco. A wide variety of Colombian cuisine will be offered.

Don't miss the parade starting 16pm in Piazza del Municipio and marching through the streets of Paradiso. Thereafter the party continues in the courtyard of the elementary school in Paradiso with lots of Latin American music.

Invite your friends, the entrance is free.

Venue: Dia Nacional de la Colombia
Where: Elementary School of Paradiso, Via Ernesto Bosia 6, 6900 Lugano
Date: Saturday, July 13th, 2019
Time: 16:00
For more info about Viva Mi Tierra contact them directly at: associazionevivamitierra@gmail.com

Data never sleeps...

Today data is omnipresent and often overwhelming.

We live in a world full of data, and it’s expanding at astonishing rates. We may need to unplug and take a break from time to time, but data never sleeps. All around the world, data is being created every minute of every day, from clicks, likes, and shares, to rides, transactions, and streaming content.

By way of example, Doom’s Data Never Sleeps 6.0 reported that in 2018 Google conducted an average 3.8 million searches per minute.

In its sixth year, Data Never Sleeps shows exactly how much data is generated every single minute, and how that data is fueling innovation. Plus, for the first time, the scope has been expanded to give a snapshot of data across several industries, including tech, media, retail, financial services, travel, and social media. See for yourself and take a look at this info graph.

IWCL Evening Group Summer drinks party

The International Women's Club of Lugano (IWCL) Evening Group kindly invites you to their SUMMER DRINKS PARTY at the Swiss Diamond Hotel.

Swiss Diamond Hotel is a five-stars luxury hotel located in a fascinating corner of the lake surrounded by the enchanted view of the mountains. It uniquely combines the Alps majesty with Lake Lugano romanticism. Now, would you need any more convincing?

The Swiss Diamond Hotel is offering finger food and risotto with a lovely chance to catch up with the ones staying in town for summer. It is also a great opportunity to meet new friends. Just shoot an e-mail to iwcleveninggroup@gmail.com and let them know you are coming. As usual friends/husband and partner are most welcome.

Venue: IWCL Summer drinks party
Where: Swiss Diamond Hotel, Riva Lago Olivella 29, 6921 Vico Morcote
Date: Tuesday, July 9th, 2019
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
https://www.swissdiamondhotel.com/en/
Only cost: your drink(s)

Cinema al Lago

“Cinema al Lago” is for all those who love watching a good movie under the stars. With Lake Lugano as the backdrop to the big screen the best films of the past season are projected.
The films scheduled from June 27th to July 25th 2019 are:

- Thursday 27.06.2019 Bohemian Rhapsody
- Friday 28.06.2019 A star is born
- Saturday 29.06.2019 Pets 2: animal life
- Sunday 30.06.2019 The favorite
- Monday 1.07.2019 Johnny English strikes again
- Tuesday 2.07.2019 A just cause
- Wednesday 3.07.2019 Rocketman
- Thursday 4.07.2019 Green book
- Friday 5.07.2019 After
- Saturday 6.07.2019 Bohemian Rhapsody
- Sunday 7.07.2019 The wife
- Monday 8.07.2019 Do not marry my daughters
- Tuesday 9.07.2019 The return of Mary Poppins
- Wednesday 10.07.2019 Spider-Man: far from home
- Thursday 11.07.2019 A star is born
- Friday 12.07.2019 Bohemian Rhapsody
- Saturday 13.07.2019 Green book
- Sunday 14.07.2019 Van Gogh: on the threshold of eternity
- Monday 16.07.2019 Anna
- Tuesday 17.07.2019 Dolor y Gloria
- Wednesday, 18.07.2019 Bohemian Rhapsody
- Friday 19.07.2019 Pets 2: animal life
- Saturday 20.07.2019 Toy Story 4
- Sunday 21.07.2019 Wolkenbruch
- Monday 22.07.2019 Book Club
- Tuesday 23.07.2019 Green book
- Wednesday 24.07.2019 Rocketman
- Thursday 25.07.2019 A star is born

Tickets can be bought online (www.open-air-kino.ch), Coop City or at the Tourist Office of Lugano in Piazza della Riforma.

Venue: CINEMA AT THE LAKE 2019
Where: Lido di Lugano
Date: June 27 - July 25, 2019
Ticket price CHF 15.-
www.open-air-kino.ch
The evening cash desk and doors are open from 8.30pm
The screenings will take place at the Lido in any weather.

Happy Independence Day