Media and culture in the Ticino

1. Tv (TSI 1 and 2) and Radio (RSI 1,2,3) in the Ticino view themselves as the main cultural cornerstones here in Ticino.

2. Focusing on culture as well as the regional specifications of a multiethnical Swiss society, are the two priorities the program pursues since its creation. These two priorities are based on a mandate contained in two articles of the Swiss federal law on creation of radio and tv (RTVG). These two articles, article 3 and 46, are directed on the SRG-SSR. Article 3 implies and emphasizes the goal to promote the work on Swiss cultural affairs, thus inspiring viewers and spectators to participate in cultural affairs. Article 26 says that the SRG-SSR in its entity of programs has to take into consideration the specific circumstances of the nation as well as the requirements of the cantons, obliging it to a well balanced creation of the content of its programs.

3. Besides its main clientel in the Ticino TSI1 and 2 have two main clientels they focus on: the people coming from the Ticino but living in other areas of Switzerland, and the high number of north Italian viewers, appreciating a Swiss-Italian program, not giving way to an increasing higher mix of info-entertainment soap dominating their and many other European programs.

4. "Switzerland is on one hand a nation by will of its people but - on the other hand - no Tv-nation", as once stated by the Neue Züricher Zeitung (NZZ). "The mutual conscience of alienation is here independently seen from the language barriers, based on a different perception of TV-entertainment, leading to a manifestation of diversity of different cultures and mentalities.
In spite of this or especially because of that: integration is and remains a difficult task for society, and realizing especially this is the daily assignment for the SRG-SSR."

by Oliver Meissner

Rice with Luganighetta sausage

For a very special dinner with friends, try the Rice with Luganighetta. In italian, we call it “Risotto alla luganighetta”.

You just need:
300 gr of carnaroli rice
50 gr of scallion
2 dl of white wine
300 gr Luganighetta
some chicken bouillon
50 gr of carrots
50 gr of celery

50 gr of parmesan

50 gr of butter

50 gr of whipped cream

olive oil

Fry the scallion in a pan with olive oil.
Then, add a half of Luganighetta, carrots, celery and rice.
Leave it tosting for a few minutes. Pay into the white wine and wait until it evaporates.

Pour out the chicken bouillon, inch by inch, and cook for about 15 minutes.
At the end, decorate with butter, parmesan, whipped cream and the other half of roasted luganighetta.

Resega

If you are in Lugano in winter time you could think about ice skating... It's a wounderfull activity for the whole family. I've been there a couple of days ago with my brother, his wife and his little dauther and we had a lot of fun. Regina (his dauther), at first, was a little afraid of ice skating, but then with our help she started learning and then she woulnd't stop anymore... It was very relaxing and I really liked the fact the the whole family was doing all this togeather.


The place to go if you want to spend a couple of hours ice skating with your children is called "Resega" and it's located in Lugano, very close to the Soccer Stadium. It's also the place where the famous Hockey Club Lugano plays, the main Hockey team of the city and also the swiss champions.

Inside Resega you can eat and drink, there is a restaurant and a bar, the prices are a little higher then outside but still OK... If you don't have your ice-skates, don't worry, you can rent them for only 5 swiss francs, while the entry cost 6 swiss francs for adults, 5 for students and 1 for little children.

You can go there by bus using line number 3 direction Pregassona, there's a bus stop called "Resega", or by car, the adress is Via Chiosso, Porza, you can leave your car in the parking right outside the Resega.

Opening time: from 22 september to 30 march Resega is open to public from 8.30 to 11.30 and from 14.00 to 16.45 every day except for the weekend, when it's open only from 14.00 to 16.45. Friday and Sathurday you can also ice skate after dinner, from 20.30 to 23.00 and feel the magic of this fantastic activity.

Practical informations: Prices and informations

Phone number: 004158 866 69 17

Swissminiatur

An exciting place for families and their children, Swissminiatur is an open air museum where you can admire the most important Swiss buildings and means of transportation at a scale of 1:25! Inside ''Miniswiss'' you can find more than 120 models reprezenting the patrician houses, the most important castels and cathedrals in Switzerland, but also 3500 meters of rails with no less than 18 trains, funiculars, rack-railways, cable cars and boat in motion. And this is not all ! For garden-lovers there are more than 1500 different plants and over 15000 beautiful coloured flowers.
If you feel like enjoying the view, there is a special park for children that will allow you to sit quietly on the restaurant terrace while your children have fun. Located in Melide, 5 km far from Lugano and 1 from Campione d'Italia, Swissminiatur is easy to reach either by car, train or boat!

For those interested in this fantastic land here are some information:

opening time: from 18th of march until 29th of octomber
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
price entry: adults 15 ch
children 10 ch
website: http://www.swissminiatur.ch/

History -Today

From 1900 to 1945 the City underwent important urban changes caused by another demographic increase and economic pressure which really changed radically the structure of the old city centre and of whole districts.

Today Lugano is the most important city in Canton Ticino and with its 100.000 inhabitants, it has become an important center for organization of international conference, which is famous all over Europe. Moreover the city is an important financial and cultural reference for Switzerland itself.

The financial and banking sector started its development at a moderate pace at the beginning of the 20th century and has grown at a steady pace since the sixties and the seventies. After only a few decades Lugano has become the third financial market in Switzerland.

By Kang-Bronz Yun Ji, Gasparini Silvia, Resende Regina

History - Past

Lugano’s history dates back to at least the Stone Age.
In fact, fossil remains have proven that Lugano used to stand below sea level. Stone age evidence includes fossils, and various remains sometimes found at excavation sites.

People living in pile dwellings inhabited the area, as found by various excavations on sites throughout Lugano where remains from the the Paleotic Era have been found. The famous lake on which Lugano sits, was formed by glaciers of the sub alpine region.

In ancient times the area of what is today Ticino was settled by the Lepontii, a Celtic tribe. Later, probably around the rule of Augustus, it became part of the Roman Empire After the fall of the Western Empire, was ruled by the Ostogothes, the Lombards and the Franks.
Around 1100 CE Lugano was the centre of struggle between the free communes of Milan and Como: in the 14th centry it was definitively acquired by theVisconti, Dukes of Milan.


By Kang-Bronz Yun Ji, Gasparini Silvia, Resende Regina

The sweet heart of the town

Walking around in the city centre, looking for a little present to bring home for friends or relatives, treat yourselves to 10 minutes of sweetness.

La bottega del caffé is a pretty bright bar, specialized in blends of coffee and tea. During the summer, it exposes an unusual assortment of home-made ice creams, with flavours as Jamaica, cheese, walnut, fig, American red grapes, and so on. It also have few tables outside and a nice balcony with other seats on the second floor. Easy to join by the funicular, worth prices. Via Cattedrale 6, Tel. +41 91 9234733.

In the heart of Lugano, the luxurious Grand Café Al Porto is the ideal place for get-togethers, business lunches and cocktail parties, and for tasting special culinary creations in a unique atmosphere. Delight your palate with savoury and delicate desserts belonging to the Swiss tradition with an Italian touch.
To try: the Flavours of the month, delicious pastry creations from their confiserie. Among these, the mandarin soft ice cream, the chocolate cake with strawberries sauce, the one made of onions…and the cheastnuts Tronchetto with bilberries and butter cream, suitable for people allergic to peanuts and flour too. Top quality food is guaranteed.
Located in Via Pessina 3, the restaurant is open from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. until 6.30 p.m. You can reserve a table but also take away. Tel. +41 91 9105130.
www.grand-cafe-lugano.ch

Going on the same street, you will arrive in via Pessina 10: here is Merkur, a chocolate shop selling a great variety of pralines, loose or in original boxes, and pieces of home-made chocolate, black or white one, with pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, berries, etc. Your mouth will be watering looking at the window, but mind the prices, they are quite expensive.
Open from Monday to Friday, Tel.+41 91 9232869.
www.merkur-chocolaterie.ch