CENTRO DANNEMANN Brissago - Switzerland

00:00 02:00 «La suisse n'existe pas» (Switzerland does not exist) – in this one key sentence Switzerland introduced itself at the World Exposition in Seville in 1992. This was because it is not uniformity, but variety in a small space that defines Switzerland. This can be explained culturally and geographically: In little Switzerland, four national languages are spoken in addition to numerous dialects. There is also a distinction between the culture in the mountains and the culture on the central plateau, while life in a mountain valley is different from that in the big city. So, although there are numerous regional traditions there are relatively few national customs. However, over time and with the increase in tourism, there are some local customs that have achieved national fame.

Bellinzona's castles are considered amongst the finest examples of medieval fortification architecture in Switzerland. As they appear today, the fortifications, whose origins actually go much further back to a prehistoric settlement on Castelgrande hill, are mainly the result of intensive and complex building activity instigated by the Dukes of Milan in the 15111 century

The Brissago Islands, the Botanic garden of Canton Ticino, give you the wonderful opportunity to escape from the noise and confusion of frenetic modern life. The exotic plants, the colors and perfume of flowers are beneficial to your wellness.

THE FALCONRY TODAY Nowadays, professional falconers provide the opportunity to attend to real representations with birds of prey showing their acrobatic flights, in an effort to renew interest in the art of falconry, which for many centuries has fascinated mankind. During the show, while the birds are flying, the falconer recounts the history of falconry and explains the important role of predators in maintaining the balance of the entire ecosystem. The plays are performed with great passion by falconers who do not just fly falcons but also eagles, owls, hawks, vultures and other birds of prey explains the peculiarities and characteristics of each species and describes their habitat. Falconry, properly and in a professional manner, offers to all those who want the opportunity to observe the world of birds of prey up close, in full respect of their natural flight behavior without subjecting the animal to artificial teachings. Besides, who, next to the art of falconry, also learned that equitation, is able to offer the public a journey through time, staging hunts, as they were practiced at court, with the help of music and costumes 'era, with different styles in the saddle and ride, just as they followed each other from medieval times until you get to the famous Spanish Riding School. Falconers have always been actively engaged with the projects, supported in particular by the environmental associations, aimed at protecting endangered species from danger of extinction. Just think of the great work done since the early 60's to reintroduce the peregrine falcon in the wild, decimated by the use of fertilizers and chemicals, such as DDT, used in industrial agriculture. The care and breeding of birds of prey is a knowledge that is built with years of hard and patient work, the result is made available to the whole community. Representations, are an opportunity to bring the general public, young people and students of every school to nature, a moment of relaxation and training of fun and learning on the biological aspects and nature. For those who have done their work of falconry, the representation is also a time of social relations, of intense emotion, communication and sharing of cultural heritage which is the heritage of all humanity.

Milan Malpensa Airport (IATA: MXP ICAO: LIMC) or City of Milan is the largest airport of Milan, and one of the three in the Milan influence area

Ascona is often called the "Pearl of Lake Maggiore" for its cultural heritage as well as for its touristic offer. It is situated near the delta of the Maggia river, on the shores of a splendid and sunny bay. This unique position, together with a wide variety of landscapes, its mediterranean climate, its touristic tradition and the well known hospitality of the Ticinese people, make Ascona a famous holiday resort, because it is the most ideally located holiday resort on Lake Maggiore and has a wide choice of hotels including a dozen of luxury class. Ascona has a lot to offer from a touristic point of view. It is known that as early as in the Imperial Roman period Locarno was a holiday resort. Of old, the name referred to the entire area and not only the present-day town. The Castello Visconteo, inside which the Renaissance-style courtyard with its portico and loggia, a number of ceilings in wood and a fresco depicting the Virgin Mary, may still be admired; nowadays it is home to the archaeological museum which also includes one of the most beautiful and complete collections of Roman glassware. Towards the end of the 11th century, Locarno was the most important town on Lake Maggiore but in the course of the 16th century this prosperous period came to an end under the Lords of Milan and the long period of Swiss bailing began, under which the religious division occurred causing many enterprising craftsmen and merchants who had embraced the new faith to leave and plunged the town into sleepy provincialism, transforming what had once been an important town into an insignificant hamlet. Once open (it is at this time still closed), it will be very interesting zto give a look at the Rivellino, a tower.fortress build on projects of Leonardo da Vinci. It would only be with the founding of the republic and the Canton of Ticino in 1803 that Locarno would awake from its torpor. However, we would have to wait for the beginnings of tourism at the start of 1900 with its consequent building of beautiful Belle-Époque-style hotels, to return life to Piazza Grande, surely the most charming in Ticino with its string of shops and cafés.

JazzAscona is the place to be for jazz fans! Specialized in classic jazz and the music of New Orleans, the festival attracts a knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience from all over the world who appreciates the richness of the program, the special productions put on for the occasion, the close contact with the musicians, the relaxed atmosphere, and the spectacular scenery offered by the mountains and the Lake Maggiore, a beautiful background to the lakeshore concerts packed with people.

Nowadays the most important event must surely be the International Film Festival, one of the Top Events of Switzerland, which manages to transform Locarno into a cultural metropolis where the young and fashionable predominate, and which converts Piazza Grande into the "most beautiful movie theatre in the world"; the first projections took place in the gardens of the Grand Hotel and with the years it developed a character of its own which makes it stand out from other larger festivals even today