A stroll through history

Ticino is home to an exceptional variety of landscapes. In the north you
will find towering mountains and deep valleys carved by glaciers and
rivers, whose waters flow into Lake Maggiore in the south.
The central-southern region is the land of the lakes, with clear skies
and a mild climate, hotels, piazzas and gardens, villages stretched along
lake shores or perched on hillsides, and campaniles basking in the
sunshine.
In the south, you are already in the Mediterranean region. The
southernmost point of the triangle, the Mendrisiotto, is notable for its
serene tranquillity, its expansive landscapes, its gentle hills scattered
with houses and fields, and its glowing sunsets on mild October
evenings.
The towns and cities also have plenty of pleasures to offer – from
sipping a cappuccino on the celebrated Piazza Grande of Locarno to
sampling the cultural attractions in Bellinzona and shopping among the
historic alleyways of Lugano. Characteristic of all of Ticino’s towns is
the agreeable atmosphere that surrounds you as you stroll among the
historic buildings, across bustling piazzas and through gardens in
bloom.
meetings.ticino.ch
mice@ticino.ch
Tel. +41 91 825 70 56

Rendezvous at the Museo Vincenzo Vela at Ligornetto (a district of Mendrisio)
Introduction to the exhibitions activity of the Museo Vincenzo Vela and guided
visit of the current show.
Transfer by bus to Mendrisio
Lunch at the Osteria Lanterna
The inn is located in the historic via delle Cantine in Mendrisio and boasts a
panoramic terrace overlooking the Mendrisiotto district.
Transfer by bus to Balerna
It is possible to get around using public transport, and the route in question is the
NFB3. Departure from the “Mendrisio Autosilo” stop, alighting at “Centro Balerna”
(approx. 15 min). Then a stroll to the meeting point for the Percorso del Cemento
(‘Cement trail’), in the Parco delle Gole della Breggia (Breggia Gorge Park), near
the Torre dei Forni (Furnace tower). Upon request, it is possible to reach the
meeting point in a private bus.
Cement Trail
The Breggia Gorge Geo-Park is located a few kilometres from Chiasso and
Mendrisio. To visit the park, two trails are recommended: one geological and the
other historical, called the Cement Path. The latter is a trail revealing the history
of this region and of the cement plant, now almost completely dismantled, which

was active here until the 1980s. Much of the area has now been re-naturalised
and the long mining tunnels dug under the hill flanking the river Breggia can be
explored. The visit makes it possible to understand how the raw material is
processed and to follow its transformation.
End of the visit and transfer to Hotel
Free time at leisure
Dinner at the Ristorante Atenaeo del vino, Mendrisio