Discover the world of Dinosaurs

On July 10th the largest Jurassic park in Switzerland will open its doors in Locarno!

A 200 million year journey through time, DINOSAURS PARK welcomes you to the land of dinosaurs. 35 incredible full-scale dinosaurs, animated by amazing Animatronic technology make the Age of Reptiles real as never before, offering a unique experience for adults and children.

Dinosaurs were the dominant land animals in the Mesozoic Era. During their extraordinary 172 million-year reign, they adapted to climate changes by evolving into a wide variety of species, ranging from long-necked herbivorous to fast birds, to the high and mighty T-Rex!

Conceived by Image Exhibitions in collaboration with the world-renowned dinosaur paleontologist, Professor Gregory M. Erickson (one of only 150 full-time professional dinosaur paleontologists in the world!), the exhibition presents some of the most unique dinosaurs in the world and some of the most recent fossil discoveries.

The exhibition reproduces the prehistoric geographic areas inhabited by dinosaurs and is completed by original fossils, casts, reconstructions and various interactive stations.

Venue: Dinosaurs Park

Where: Rotonda di Piazza Castello, Locarno

Opening Hours:

Tuesday through Friday: 15.00 - 21.00

Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 - 21.00

Prices: Full (from 16 years): CHF 20.00

Reduced fare for students/AVS/AI/ groups: CHF 16.00

Reduced fare for children (from 4 to 15 years): CHF 10.00

Free admission up to 3 years old

Family package (2 adults + 2 children): CHF 50.00

Book your exclusive 1 hour guided tour with a dinosaur expert here: info@dinosaurspark.ch

Available in Italian, English and German.

In case of bad weather the exhibition will not take place.

Looking at the world through a woman's eyes

WOMAN directed by Anastasia Mikova and Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a worldwide project giving a voice to 2000 women across 50 different countries. Despite its very large scale, the film offers an intimate portrait of those who constitute half of humanity. 

It is an opportunity to shed light on the injustices women are subjected to all over the world, but what WOMan would like to underline most is the inner strength of women and their capacity to change the world despite all the difficulties they are facing. 

In this new era where women's voices resonate more and more, the aim of the film is not only to call for rights or focus on problems, but to find solutions and try to reconcile the two genders. The project deals with topics such as motherhood, education, marriage or financial independence but also menstruation or sexuality.

This non-profit movie is a true rollercoaster of emotions and the transitions between topics are spectacular. The stories, the editing, the visuals and the respectful way in which the women from all over the world are interviewed is incredible and worth watching. It is bound to make you laugh, cry, while feeling appalled, amazed, thrilled and inspired.

UNESCO World Heritage in Switzerland

Three outstanding natural phenomena and nine great cultural achievements in Switzerland bear the most sought-after emblem of UNESCO: The World Heritage site.

If you live in the Ticino you'll know that the three imposing castles of Bellinzona - Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro - are among the most significant examples of medieval defensive architecture and under UNESCO heritage. But what about the other properties in Switzerland?

Discover the World Heritage ticket giving visitors access to historic walls, to discover treasures rich in history and to admire spectacular natural landscapes. So, if you haven't made any plans yet, check out what this lovely country has to offer. 

Book online now. Select the site you wish to visit by clicking on "Book now" and you will be redirected to the booking platform where you can select the number of tickets, add them to your shopping cart and off you go!

Castello di Montebello a Bellinzona

Map of the 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites

Happy Summer

Swiss Review readership survey

The publisher of "Swiss Review", the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) is conducting a comprehensive readership survey in which it hopes many people will participate. The OSA represents Swiss expatriates' interests in Switzerland. It informs Swiss living abroad about what is happening in Switzerland and provides them with a wide selection of services.

This month the Research Institute for the Public Sphere and Society (FÖG) – the University of Zurich’s independent body specialised in media research – has been entrusted with coordinating the survey.

What content does "Swiss Review" need to offer to ensure that it is as relevant to readers in Switzerland’s neighbouring countries as it is to those Swiss who live thousands of miles away? What topics interest the extremely diverse "Fifth Switzerland"? What should tomorrow’s "Swiss Review" look like?

The readers are the best people to answer these questions. Express your thoughts about the magazine in its current form, provide OSA with information about your own reading habits, tell them what you would like to see in future, and feel free to submit any general feedback that you may have. You can access the survey directly via the following link: survey2020.foeg.ch

Key findings of the survey will be published in the 1/2021 edition of “Swiss Review”.

Greetings from Ticino

Have some fun and greet a friend. Weekends and holidays are even more exciting when shared with a special person. Choose a picture of a location in Ticino as background or upload your own and send a personalised virtual greeting via postcard.ticino.ch.

4,000 km of hiking trails and 365 km of cycle paths await you. Over 50% of Ticino is covered by forests and more than 120 km2 by lakes. In Ticino there is plenty of space to keep a safe distances and it is easy to get to. So go ahead, enjoy your hike and don't forget to dip those toes of yours into that crystal clear river at the end of the day while you write your card. See you soon!

Just add your name...

https://postcard.ticino.ch

CoronaQuest, a Swiss invention

We might have had enough of talking about Corona but today I discovered a game to play with kids recommend by the WHO and developed in Switzerland! It's called CoronaQuest and encourages players to integrate sanitary behaviour.

CoronaQuest is a online card game with courage points that was developed in just a few days in view of the reopening of schools in the Canton of Vaud on May 11th, 2020. It is a project carried out by the Department of Training, Youth and Culture of the Canton of Vaud and freely inspired by the famous Hearthstone game. 

It was designed so that the rules are assimilated while playing and aims to inform on health-saving gestures and actions that can make return to school less stressful and safer. It also encourages a kindlier attitude among people towards each other. The game will help children to acquire new habits but, above all, it will also provide a great deal of fun.

Why not give it a try with your kids: https://coronaquest.game. All you need is a computer, i-pad or smartphone and an internet connection.

Kukuwa, my confinement discovery

So, you've heard of zumba lessons and maybe even barre classes but what about Kukuwa?

Covid-19 had forced us to exercise indoors and I can't help but think back to the days when Jane Fonda instructed us how to grapevine on her VHS video tapes. Home fitness has been shaping our lives for longer than we think only now it has taken on a much more conscientious part of our daily routine. 

Clothing brands, apps, and trainers were all offering workouts for free on various digital platforms. Given the amount of chocolate being consumed in our household during confinement, I had decided to launch myself into the exercise offer online trying everything from Vinyasa yoga to Zumba and from mindfulness meditation to African dance. 

At the top of the list and by far the most fun discovery of my quarantine is Kukuwa! A dance workout blending African soukous, makossa, and soca rhythms into a low impact, high energy cardiovascular, fun-filled energetic class that challenges my fitness ability and my coordination. It feels like I'm on an exotic expedition through Cameroon, Zambia, Namibia, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Malawi all the while moving my boomsey!

The workout is great fun. The moves are sexy, fast and really get those muscles in shape and that heart rate up! The music is upbeat and the instructors a good giggle. 

Kukuwa is definitely the best discovery during my confinement. What 's yours?

Be a tourist at home and discover Ticino

Ticino's Tourism and Transport Board has launched a campaign called "#riscopriltuoticino" inviting residents to be tourists in their own canton from June 6th until Sunday July 5th, 2020.

The offer includes a 50% discount on lift tickets and a reduction on day passes for lake tours valid for navigation on the Ceresio and Verbano lakes. 

It goes without saying that all Ticino public and tourist transport companies will pay great attention in complying with the safety measures of the public transport protection plan issued by the Confederation.

Following you'll find the companies participating in the initiative: Monte Generoso Railway, Monte San Salvatore Funicular, Cassarate-Monte Brè SA Funicular, Monte Lema Cable Car, Monte Tamaro Gondola, Lake Lugano Navigation, Cardada Tourist Facilities, Pizzo di Claro Cable Car, Funicular Locarno-Madonna del Sasso, Friends of Nara, Valbianca SA, Nuova Carì Management Company.

What are you waiting for, go explore your own back yard. Ticino has so much to offer! DOn't forget to share your photos by using #riscopriltuoticino.

Today I registered to VOTE!

Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, 

one another, this country and this world!

Make a difference. Register to vote!

Wouldn’t it be fun to work as a cow photographer?

Many photographers dream of doing photo shoots with models. Konrad Lustenberger has achieved that dream, but his models are cows. Thanks to SwissInfo we get a glimpse into Switzerland's most iconic farm animal through the lense a professional photographer! Now, if that doesn't make you smile? It certainly made my day. Swissness at its best!

In the midst of one of 300 cow portraits produced by Konrad Lustenberger annually.