Torta di pane (Cake of bread)

One of the specialities of Lugano is the cake of bread (the original name is torta di pane), ever available at the folk festivals. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

300 gr of stale bread
5 cookies “amaretto”
1 litre of milk
a few salt
a whole lemon
150/200 gr of sugar
one spoon of cacao
a glass of grappa
200 gr of raisins
1 gr of vanilla
50 gr of cedar
50 gr of pine nuts
butter

Leave the bread in the hot milk for 4 hours (or all the night), then mince it and add the other ingredients - except peanuts and butter. Pour the compound in a buttered baking tin. Cover with the pine nuts and cook in the oven for 2 hours and a half. Then sprinkle with 50 gr of sugar.

Chill out Nights in Lugano II

La Lanchetta Lounge Bar

Relaxing atmosphere, great wine's selection, excellent cocktails, and good food...

If you are looking for those ingredients in order to have a real chill out evening, well, "La Lanchetta" is definitely your place.

Smooth Jazz and lounge music will be the soundtrack of your nights in Lugano, sipping a delicious glass of Prosecco enjoying the amazing view of the lake.

Thursday: Live Jazz Music

Friday and Saturday: Dj set

How to get there:

viale Castagnola 16
6900 Lugano

By Bus: TPL SA
N°1,N°2,N°9,N°12

Watch the Map

Watch the Videoclip

(better using Firefox Mozilla, or check I.E. preference)

Tel: +41 091 972 25 98

Chill out Nights in Lugano

etnicafè

Are looking for a place before a great night out, or just go somewhere for a nice dinner, maybe for a coffee with your friends? etnicafè could be the perfect choice to enjoy all of that. It is a highly recommended café in Quartiere Maghetti, close to the center of Lugano. Eventhough it is surrounded by unlikely looking purpose-built warren of shops and pharmacies, it is still one of the most fashionable place among young people. You can find a relaxed atmosphere for an inexpensive candlelight dinner, with different etnical dishes. The menu is all Mediterranean, with Greek, Spanish and Lebanese specialities around Fr.15, for example Tartizza, Tacos, Quesadillas. Take away is also possible.

You also can plump for a large pint of beer or any kind of cocktailes following your taste. Special Margharitas and Daiquiris are available also in 1 liter size, which are suitable for a group of 4. The tasts are in lemon, strawberry and banana, they give you a refreshing and unforgetable experience. Unfortunately the café is closed on Sunday evenings, but on the rest of the week we can enjoy the ambiance till 1 am. After, the closest choice for a long night out is the New Orleans bar, just 1 minute far from Etnic.

A great night in Etnic

Address
Piazza Maghetti, 6900 Lugano

View the map

Contact
+41 91 923 3825

Chocolate museum

If I say: "If I show you this picture, what would you think?" Obviously you will think at Caslano and its Alprose Chocolate Museum!

A little bit of hisory...

Cacoa was mentioned by the Olmecs as early as 1000 b.C. In the year 1502 Christopher Columbus brought cocoa home to europe, where it spread rapidily, conquering Italy first, then France. In the 18th century chocolate progressively becomes a mass production.
Since 1957, expert chocolatiers in Caslano near Lugano have been dedicating their effort to the creation and production of the finest possible chocolate products. Alprose belongs among the largest chocolate-producing companies in Switzerland.

Following the catwalk, you will be introduced to the various steps of chocolate production: you discover how to dry and liquid ingredients are mixed and stirred, then poured into their final form and packaged.
Your visit at the museum ends in the "Nostalgia" shop, where you can taste the rich variety of Alprose products: bars, napolitains, dragées, pralinés... The prices are also quite low!

I am sure that the highest moment of your visit, as it was for me, would be the chocolate fountain: a real source of chocolate! You must not miss it!

Few pratical information:

The museum is open from Monday to Friday at 09.00 - 17.30 and on Saturday and Sunday at 09.00 - 16.30.
The shop is open from Monday to Friday at 09.00 - 18.00 and on Saturday and Sunday at 09.00 - 17.00

Price: CHF 4.- Adults/CHF 1.- Children 6-16 years

www.alprose.ch

Buildings - An architectual approach

Important examples of modern architecture in Lugano are the Mixed-Use Building, via Ciani, the Caimato Offices, via Maggio and the Banca del Gottardo, viale Franscini; three works by Mario Botta, one of the most famous Ticino architects.
Derived from given urban situations, the designs provide consistent architectural responses, exercising a purifying effect on the urban context. Special emphasis is given on the image as a determining factor.



In the great cylinder at Molino Nuovo, the volumetric tension is reflected in the inner spatial organisation, while at the Caimato Building, the handling of the external surfaces alludes to traditional practice.


Botta uses large vertical cuts and so light, essential elements in his works, to give more feeling to the Building of Banca del Gottardo.



Reference: M.Daguerre, Birkhäuser Architectural Guide Switzerland 20th Century


To know more:
www.botta.ch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Botta


Enjoy! By Daniele Cereghetti, Dunai Ferenc & Magni Elisabetta

Buildings - A tourist approach

If you are in Lugano, you can't miss the San Lorenzo Cathedral! This fabulous building is situated over the city centre, near to the funicular which brings you to the railway station. I didn't know that it was so ancient: it was built in 875 and now it is facing a period of restoration. This Cathedral is envied by the most beautiful Italian cities... so if you are there you have to go and see how great it is!!!

Go and have a look to the City Hall too. It was built in 1844 with the proposal of being the headquarters for the cantonal parliament. It was built with the money of Lugano citizen and its particularity is that it was a really expensive project. So go and read the plate dedicated to Lugano’s people... It is situated in the heart of the city, dominating the well-known “Piazza Riforma”. It is a really nice building you can't miss it!!!

I was then walking along via Trevano and I saw this interesting building… "Banca del Gottardo". I discovered that it was built in 1988 by the famous architect Mario Botta. I was surprised by its dimensions and by the fact that this enormous building is only a bank… it is one of the biggest banks in Lugano!!! Go and see it: Lugano is famous for its banks!!!

To know more:
www.lugano.ch
www.lugano-tourism.ch
www.gottardo.ch

Enjoy! By Daniele Cereghetti, Dunai Ferenc & Magni Elisabetta

Climbing For Beginners

Climbing in Ticino has a really long tradition, which goes back over 20 years ago.

This is for sure of the reasons which pushed The USI Sport to organise a 4 lesson-course for every strong-arm student who is interested in approaching this "vertical" activity .

The course is supervised by Giovanni Galli, who is also an expert alpine guide...so keep calm guys...he's like a spider, I'm sure he will take you down even if you are stuck on the roof !!

The boulder room is located just between the 2 soccer fields in Cornaredo (via Trevano 100), and it's made by boards equipped with specific grips to help climbers getting higher and higher. And most important thing...on the floor there are lots of really soft "crash pads"...just in case you'll fall down !

All the equipment is provided by the trainers (shoes, ropes, harness, crabs and so on...) so just go there, breath deeply and focus on the wall !

...Only be sure that all the knots are tight enough to your body before starting...It's up to you!

If you want to experience the "real" adrenaline of climbing, once a month indoors and outdoors excursions are organized in all Ticino's region...We strongly suggest you to go...and challenge yourself with real rock faces !

If you need more infos...just check this out:

http://www.sport.unisi.ch/pag/a_arrampicata.htm

By: Sara Borghi, Charlotte Mailland

Exhibition: Miquel Barceló

We would like to invite you to join us on our stroll through a comparably new but quite successful "temple of culture": "The Museum of Modern Art of the City of Lugano" (Museo d'Arte Moderna della Città di Lugano).

The current exhibition (12th November 2006 - 4th Februrary 2007) displays more than 80 works, paintings and sculptures, of the contemporary Spanish artist Miquel Barceló (*1957). We took a closer look at his biography and his paintings.

The most striking aspect is the mixture of materials Barceló uses to create a certain liveliness in his paintings. For example he "recycles" rice, spaghetti, fibres, straw, sand and newspapers. It was very entertaining to discover what materials were used in the different paintings. The temptation to explore the screens by touching them was therefore tentalising, but the guards of the museum were anxiously aware of this and always close on our heels. Even though his use of materials is unconventional the displayed subjects are derived from everyday life. Therefore the exposed works of art are quite easily accessible, also for laymen (like we consider ourselves). Most of his paintings are realised on huge screens and create the illusion that you easily could "enter" resp. "step inside" them.

For more information

http://www.miquelbarcelo.org/

http://www.mdam.ch/

by Alexandra Sowka and Mona Contzen

The Museum of Modern Art of the City of Lugano

"The Museum of Modern Art of the City of Lugano" (Museo d'Arte Moderna della Città di Lugano) was our first step to explore the cultural side of Lugano.

As you can see, right from the design it's worth to take a look at the building from the outside!

History of the museum

The "Villa Malpensata", constructed in the 18. century, was donated to the city of Lugano in . Used as a museum it exposed different works of art until the city decided in 1990 to reconstruct the buildung and at the same time to change the museum's concept. So, in 1992, the "The Museum of Modern Art of the City of Lugano" opened its doors and focused from then on particularly on the promotion of 20. century art.

Exhibitons

Special attention is drawn to the expressionist movement, with man and his worries in the focus of interest. Previous exhibitions were dedicated to the works of: Emil Nolde (1994), Edward Munch (1998), Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (2000). Collections from the surrealist Marc Chagall and the artistic couple Christo and Jeanne-Claude were also shown.

Our opinion

From our point of view, it is quite remarkable that such a small museum can manage to organise exhibitions with works of art from famous artists and one should defenitely use the opportunity to see great art at close quarters.

Wanna try?

Address

Museo d'Arte Moderna
Riva Caccia 5 6900 Lugano

Contact

Tel. 0041 (0)58 866 7214
Riva Caccia 5
E-mail. info@mdam.ch
www.mdam.ch

Open: Tuesday - Sunday, 9am - 6pm

by Alexandra Sowka and Mona Contzen

San Lorenzo Cathedral

San Lorenzo Cathedral

San Lorenzo cathedral is set in Via Cattedrale, Lugano, a very nice panoramic position.From the church one can enjoy a beautiful view of the town, the lake and the sorroundings mountains.
The church origins are very old: some writings already in 875 A.C. speak of a church called "Sancti Laurentii in Luano". It has a facade early renaissance period (1517). Inside the cathedral there are frescoes from the 14th century to the 16th century on the pilasters. On one of them you can find the portrait (executed in 1346) of Bishop Bonifacio da Modena. Madonna delle Grazie Chapel (the most important of the side chapels) was founded in 1494 and was rebuilt in 1774 following the project of the architect Gianbattista Casasopra.

The altar was a project of Andrea Biffi, also architect of Milan's Cathedral. Above the altars you can find the portraits of Saint Lawrence and Saint Rocco in front of Saint Mary, all painted by Giovanni Battista Carloni da Rovio.

The church became cathedral in 1888.

Some restoration took place between 1905 and 1910 with Bishop Alfredo Peri-Morosini.

In 2003 the cathedral was totally restored.

For more infos about this and other churches in Lugano visit:http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/

Parco Botanico San Grato

Driving to Parco Botanico San Grato is a real adventure in itself. First, we got lost somewhere up in the mountains, then we nearly crashed down from the narrow mountain streets and - last but not least - a man we asked for the right way nicely warned us not to go there at this time of the year because it would not be worth it.

Finally, we reached the 62.000 square metre area located in Carona, 12 kilometres far from Lugano, which hosts the largest collection of azaleas, rhododendrons and conifers of the Insubric Region. Within the park, visitors can chose between a variety of theme walks signed by different signposts and enjoy the diversified flora, the overwhelming panorama, as well as some interesting information about the ornamental and natural vegetation.

Still "suffering" from our adventurous drive we decided to enjoy the calmness of the nature by walking along the "relax path" - with its 1.5 km the shortest and most comfortable walk through the park. On our trip we got to know that the park was passed on to the bank of Switzerland and in 1997 donated to the Lugano Tourist Office.
Despite the winter season, the beauties and the benefits people can get by experiencing the park are manifold. We experienced the loneliness, the silence and a "fairytale" atmosphere which stood in strong contrast to the noisy and polluted city nearby. Even though the blossoms were not present anymore, we enjoyed our stay by walking a bit, watching the artworks, singing, or simply sitting down amidst the autumn colours of the leaves.

For those who are interested in a very deep and different experience:

Opening time: all the year
Ideal time of visit: April/May
Entry: free
Restaurant/Bar: Open in spring and summer
Website: http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/

By Marika Pierguidi, Leonie Peter

Parco Civico Lugano

The only thing we knew about Parco Civico, or „Parco Ciani“- as it is called by the inhabitants - was that it is supposed to be one of the most beautiful parks in Switzerland.
Being curious, we entered the 63.000 square metre area, located on the lakeside only two minutes from Central Lugano.
The name of the park goes back to the aristocratic Ciani brothers from Lugano, who bought the estate in 1845 and restored it by planting new, rare plants and trees and who also placed some sculptures of popular artists like Vincenzo Vela.

Despite the typical December weather the red and yellow colours of the leaves and plants stood in a sharp contrast to the sky and the misty lakeside and created a fascinating atmosphere.
As described in the brochure, it took us an hour to stroll along the ways, passing by azaleas, olive trees, cork trees , willows hanging their branches into the lake, winter flowers and gaggling seabirds.

Finally we reached the cubic building of "Villa Ciani" that also hosts the art-museum of Lugano, and its garden, embellished by an ornament of white flowers. From there one has a nice view on the monumental Monte San Salvatore and the coastline of the city of Lugano.
For all those who like Mediterranean flora and want to take romantic pictures in a quiet environment, we strongly recommend a visit also in autumn and winter!

Opening hours : Summer 6 - 23 h / Winter 6 - 21 h
Best time to visit : all year
Art-Museum : closed on Monday
Website: http://www.lugano-tourism.ch/

By Marika Pierguidi, Leonie Peter

Jewish Religion

Jewish history in Switzerland has begun in early 13th century. In 1213, Basel was one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe and the first recorded mention of Jews in Switzerland.
Coming from Germany and France, they traveled along the rivers to Bern, Zurich, Geneva, St Gallen, Lucerne, Vevey, Neuchâtel, Fribourg and many other cities.Banished during the fifteenth century, they obtained protection and the right to reside in two villages in the Aargau canton, Lengnau and Oberendingen.

Just for general knowledge, Synagogues are Jewish houses of prayer and study, they usually contain separate rooms for prayer (the main sanctuary), smaller rooms for study, and often an area for community or educational use. Although the synagogue still represents the center of religious life a wide range of activities take place there to meet the most varied needs: conferences and adult education courses are organized, there are social provision associations, as well as daycare centers and a Jewish day school in certain communities.

Addresses:

Via Maderno 11, Lugano

Hotel Dan, Via Fontana 1, Lugano

Banks In Lugano

Banking legislation in Switzerland is well known in the whole world, because of its banking secret and its profitable way of investing capitals.Lugano is the third financial power in Switzerland; in every corner there is a bank offering private banking services but not only: its secular tradition, with the help of Swiss legislation, has taught bankers to have a deeper relation with customers.

Banks and financial institutions are one of the pillars of swiss economy, also thanks to the swiss franc, that is one of the strongest and more stable currency. Swiss monetary and financial markets are two of the most important in the world, as for example its main bank institutions (UBS and Crédit Suisse).
Swiss banks hold the world leadership in private banking services and asset management for private customers. They manage one third of the world private and institutional capitals invested abroad. More than one third of UBS and Crédit Swiss returns come from private banking sector. In 2004 helvetic banks counted 115.600 full time workers, of which 16.000 employed in foreign branches.

Switzerland also has an important number of private banks (13 in 2003), whose owners are powerful capitalists, who have the control and whole responsibility of all bank's activities. In other words, in case of bankruptcy the whole fortune would get lost.
These banks are now facing hard times, due to strong pressures of other commercial competitors that started offering the same services. Switzerland also numbers a network of bank cooperatives, Raiffeisen Banks, including 537 branches located in small centres. Each branch is self managed: the members have decisional power and share responsibility on the good performance of the branch.

So, if you’ve money to invest, now you know where the best place is…

For more information on Lugano's banks, foreign and national, see the link below:

http://www.lugano-online.ch/i/getrecords.asp?cat=7&sct1=66&ct=1&tt=0&sl=&qry=Search%3A&typ=

Lugano Skateboard Mania

...If you feel like you're crazy enough or if you get bored of the usual sport activities, here we have the solution for You ! ...At only 10 minutes walking (5 skateboarding...) from USI , in the beautiful environment of the Cinestar parking, a group of Swiss guys in the '80s built their own paradise ! Skatepark Lugano is part of "Centro sportivo Cornaredo" (Via Trevano) and thanks to its free access, it allows lots of young people to go there and create their tricks.
Don't think you are too old to try ! The skatepark staff is keen to help everyone to approach this discipline. You can try by yourself or in a group, and they can also provide you some equipment if you lack of it.
...Otherwise...if your not confortable enough with this "thrilling" activity, don't worry,there's also place for you: in the bar just in the middle of the Park Happy Hours & Parties are organized every week on Thursday from 18.30pm with good music and drinks !

Learn more on : http://www.skatelugano.ch/

By: Sara Borghi, Charlotte Mailland

Food

The most important protagonist of the Casino of Lugano is the restaurant “La Perla Del Lago ” with its magnificent view. Every evening it offers the selected menù for the gastronomy lovers and an immense choice of the most valuable wines. In addiction, the restaurant is the meeting spot for the customers, thanks to the ad hoc organization of events and degustation evenings. During the day, the restaurant is transformed into a prestigious center for business lunch, of course, thanks to its splendid terrace located in one of the hotspots of Lugano.

Open every days:
from 12:00 to 15.00
from 19:00 to 02:00

For more information:
Tel +41 91 973 72 72
Fax +41 91 973 72 73

Another beautiful and tipical place where you have to go to know the true Lugano's traditions is:

"GROTTO FLORA"

You can try the tipical Ticino's dishes with a wonderful atmosphere of Macconi's family.


For more information check the link....
http://www.grottoflora-bnb.ch/italiano/index.htm

or visit the virtual tour ttp://www.vrway.com/grotto_flora/

University of Lugano

University of Lugano

The University of Lugano (Università della Svizzera italiana-USI) was founded in 1996. As a public institution , it joined the nine cantonal universities and two federal institutes of technology that form the Swiss university system. It distinguishes itself as the only university outside Italy where the official language of tuition is Italian.
Today, USI comprises four Faculties: Economics, Communication Sciences and Computer Sciences in Lugano, and Architecture in Mendrisio, for a total student population of approximately 2026 from 30 different countries, and a total teaching staff of 400 professors and assistants.
Benefiting from a unique geographic, political, and cultural location, USI has gained distinction as a multilingual and multicultural university, with a broad international outlook. It enjoys privileged relations with several Italian universities, particularly with those located in Northern Italy, and has built special collaborative or exchange partnerships with a number of foreign universities in Europe and elsewhere.
A period of practical training (internship) is an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum in general: thus by fulfilling this requirement, with a firm, institution or organisation in Switzerland or abroad, undergraduates contribute to promoting the image of a university open to the ‘real’ world of work.
Small size, direct student-teacher contact, fruitful synergies between the different disciplines (the humanistic, the socio-economic, and the technological), but also ample classroom and laboratory space as well as top-quality equipment and facilities: USI offers the ideal premises for the pursuit of learning and research.

For more information directly contact the University following the link below:
www.unisi.ch

Shopping

Forget about your diet!
You are in Switzerland and this is the place for induldging into the sinful ocean of chocolate pleasure!
Now that you decided to go hedonist your direction is surely Manor at Piazza Dante.
The variety of tastes, flavours and colors will open up your senses and make you accept the challenges ahead...


Manor SA - Grandi Magazzini
Piazza Dante 2
6900 Lugano
Tel. +41 91 912 71 71
http://www.manor.ch/


by Gianna, Zorana and Daniela

Shopping

If you want to cook a dinner for friends, we recommend you to go to Manor for picking up exquiste ingredients for tasty dishes and even better wine.
Whether you fancy pasta, sauces, fruit, cheese, salami, panetone or even outrageously expensive truffles, for sure you won't leave empty handed!
The eyecatching outlay of the food and beverage makes you excited about sharing the joy and passion of cooking with your friends and beloved ones.
However, don't be surprised about the high prices as the the quality of the goods more than makes up for it.
In case you have a dinner to organize, this is where you have to go:

Manor SA - Grandi Magazzini
Piazza Dante 2, 6900 Lugano
Tel. +41 91 912 71 71
http://www.manor.ch/


by Gianna, Zorana and Daniela