Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. It is one of the three large southernAlpine cantons, along withValais and theGrisons. However, unlike all other cantons, it lies almost entirely south of the Alps and has no natural access to theSwiss Plateau. Through the main crest of theGotthard and adjacent mountain ranges, it borders the canton of Valais to the northwest, the canton ofUri to the north and the canton ofGrisons to the northeast; the latter canton being also the only one to share some borders with Ticino at the level of the plains. The canton shares international borders withItaly as well, including asmall Italian enclave.
Named after theTicino, its longest river, it is the only canton whereItalian is the sole official language and represents the bulk of the Italian-speaking area of Switzerland along with thesouthern parts of the Grisons. In 2020, Ticino had a population of 350,986.[2] The largest city isLugano, and the two other notable centres are Bellinzona andLocarno. While the geography of the Sopraceneri region is marked by the High Alps andLake Maggiore, that of the Sottoceneri is marked by the Alpine foothills andLake Lugano. The canton, which has become one of the major tourist destinations of Switzerland, distinguishes itself from the rest of the country by its warm climate, and its culture and gastronomy.
The land now occupied by the canton was annexed fromItalian cities in the 15th century by various Swiss forces in the lasttransalpine campaigns of the Old Swiss Confederacy. In theHelvetic Republic, established in 1798, it was divided between the two new cantons ofBellinzona andLugano. TheAct of Mediation in 1803 saw these two cantons combine to form the modern canton of Ticino. Because of its unusual position, the canton relies on important infrastructure for connection with the rest of the country. The first major north–south railway link across the Alps, theGotthard Railway, opened in 1882. In 2016, theGotthard Base Tunnel was inaugurated, which finally provided a fully flat route through the Alps.
The GDP per capita of Ticino was 83,450 Swiss francs in 2020. Despite being below the Swiss average of 86,135 Swiss francs, it was still one of the wealthiest areas in Europe. Ticino also had the second highestlife expectancy (85.2 years) in Europe in 2018.[6] TheHuman Development Index of 0.961 in 2021 was one of thehighest found anywhere in the world.
The nameTicino was chosen for the newly established canton in 1803, after the riverTicino which flows through it from theNovena Pass toLake Maggiore.[7]
Known asTicinus in Roman times, the river appears on theTabula Peutingeriana asTicenum.Johann Kaspar Zeuss attributed Celtic origins to the name, tracing it to the Celtictek, itself from an Indo-European roottak, meaning "melting, flowing".[8]
The official name of the canton isRepublic and Canton of Ticino (Italian:Repubblica e Cantone Ticino), and the two-letter code is TI. It is one of the four cantons of Switzerland officially referred to as "republics", along withGeneva,Neuchâtel andJura.
During theBronze andIron Ages, the area of what is today Ticino was settled by theLepontii, aCeltic tribe. Later, probably around the rule ofAugustus, it became part of theRoman Empire. After the fall of the Western Empire, it was ruled by theOstrogoths, theLombards and theFranks. Around 1100 it was the centre of a struggle between the free communes ofMilan andComo: in the 14th century, it was acquired by theVisconti, Dukes ofMilan. In the fifteenth century, theSwiss Confederates conquered the valleys south of the Alps in three separate conquests.
Between 1403 and 1422 some of these lands were already annexed by forces from thecanton of Uri, but subsequently lost. Uri conquered theLeventina Valley in 1440.[9] In a second conquest Uri,Schwyz andNidwalden gained the town ofBellinzona and the Riviera in 1500.[9] Some of the land and Bellinzona itself were previously annexed byUri in 1419 but lost again in 1422. The third conquest was fought by troops from the entire Confederation (at that time constituted by 12 cantons). In 1512Locarno, theMaggia Valley,Lugano andMendrisio were annexed. Subsequently, the upper valley of the riverTicino, from theSt. Gotthard to the town of Biasca (Leventina Valley) was part of Uri. The remaining territory (Baliaggi Ultramontani,Ennetbergische Vogteien, the Bailiwicks Beyond the Mountains) was administered by the Twelve Cantons. These districts were governed by bailiffs holding office for two years and purchasing it from the members of the League.[9]
The lands of the canton of Ticino are the last lands to be conquered by theSwiss Confederation. The Confederation gave up any further conquests after their defeat at thebattle of Marignano in 1515 byFrancis I of France. The Valle Leventina revolted unsuccessfully againstUri in 1755.[9] In February 1798 an attempt of annexation by theCisalpine Republic was repelled by a volunteer militia in Lugano. Between 1798 and 1803, during theHelvetic Republic, two cantons were created (Bellinzona andLugano) but in 1803 the two were unified to form the canton of Ticino that joined the Swiss Confederation as a full member in the same year under theAct of Mediation.[10] During theNapoleonic Wars, many Ticinesi (as was the case for otherSwiss) served in Swiss military units allied with theFrench. The canton minted its owncurrency, theTicinese franco, between 1813 and 1850, when it began the use of theSwiss franc.
As a particularly poor region, Ticino was a land of emigration. Notable examples include the chocolatiers (cioccolatieri) of theVal Blenio, who migrated throughout Europe (seeSwiss chocolate#History).[11][12]
Until 1878 the three largest cities, Bellinzona, Lugano and Locarno, alternated as capital of the canton. In 1878, however, Bellinzona became the only and permanent capital. The 1870–1891 period saw a surge of political turbulence in Ticino, and the authorities needed the assistance of the federal government to restore order in several instances, in 1870, 1876, 1889 and 1890–1891.[13]
The current cantonal constitution dates from 1997. The previous constitution, heavily modified, was codified in 1830, nearly 20 years before the constitution of theSwiss Confederation.[14]
Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. With a few exceptions in the extreme north and south of the canton, it lies entirely in theTicino basin, a tributary of thePo. Along withValais and theGrisons, it is one of the three cantons whose territory extends into the Po basin (lands to the south of theAlps). However, unlike the other Po basin cantons (and all other cantons), all settlements of Ticino are on the south side of the Alps, therefore separated from theSwiss Plateau (and most of the country) by the great Alpine barrier. The canton also comprehends some small areas in theRhine basin in the north, at theGotthard Pass and aroundlake of Santa Maria. The extreme south of the canton is drained by the Po as well, but through theBreggia andAdda,[16] and Gaggiolo,Olona,Lambro.
The canton is traditionally (but not administratively) split into two regions. The northern region, theSopraceneri, is formed by the valleys aroundLake Maggiore and includes the highest mountains of the canton and the mainAlpine watershed. The southern region, theSottoceneri, is the region aroundLake Lugano, and marks the beginning of the southern Alpine foothills. Between the two regions isMonte Ceneri, a moderately elevated mountain pass and important north–south axis.[16] The Sopraceneri is constituted by the districts ofBellinzona,Blenio,Leventina,Locarno,Riviera andVallemaggia, and makes up about 85% of the territory and 43% of the population.[17] The Sottoceneri is constituted by the districts ofLugano andMendrisio, and makes up about 15% of the territory and 57% of the population.[18] WhileLugano, the largest city, is in the densely populated Sottoceneri, the two other main cities,Bellinzona andLocarno, are in the Sopraceneri.
The Ticino, which gives its name to the canton, is the largest river of Ticino. It flows from the northwest through theBedretto Valley and theLeventina Valley to enter Lake Maggiore nearLocarno. Its main tributaries are theBrenno in theBlenio Valley and theMoesa in theMesolcina Valley in theGrisons. The lands of most of the canton are shaped by the river, which in its mid portion forms a wide valley, commonly known as theRiviera. The western lands of the canton, however, are drained by theMaggia. TheVerzasca Valley is between the Leventina Valley and the Maggia Valley. There is also a smaller area that drains directly into theLake Lugano. Most of the land is considered within the Alps, but a small area is part of the plain of the Po which drains the north ofItaly.
The area of the canton is 2,812 square kilometres (1,086 sq mi), of which about three-quarters are considered productive to trees or crops.[19] Forests cover about a third of the area, but also the lakesMaggiore (orVerbano) andLugano (orCeresio) make up a considerable minority. The canton shares borders with three other cantons across the main ridge of the Alps:Valais to the northwest, to which it is connected by theNufenen Pass,Uri to the north, to which it is connected by theGotthard Pass and theGrisons to the northeast, to which it is connected by theLukmanier Pass and theMesolcina Valley; the latter valley, a few kilometres north of Bellinzona, being the only (natural) low elevation access to another canton. Ticino shares international borders withItaly as well. To the southwest is the region ofPiedmont and to the southeast is the region ofLombardy. The main border crossing between Italy and Switzerland is that ofChiasso, in the extreme south of the canton.[16]
The climate of Ticino is mostly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea, the Alps protecting it from north European weather.[20][21] As a consequence, the plains experience warm and moist summers, and mild winters. This climate is noticeably warmer and wetter thanthe rest of Switzerland's. In German-speaking Switzerland, Ticino is nicknamedSonnenstube (sun porch), owing to the more than 2,300sunshine hours the canton receives every year, compared to 1,700 for Zurich.[22] The canton can experience particularly heavy storms and rainfalls in summer. It is the region of Switzerland with the highest level of lightning discharge.[23] Conversely, the canton can experience severe droughts in both summer and winter, making it the region most affected by forest fires in the country.[24]
The climate of Ticino is highly diverse as elevations range from Lake Maggiore, affected bysubtropical climate, to the high Alps, affected bysubarctic and tundra climate.[25][26] Therefore, similarly to the rest of Switzerland, many different types of ecosystems are found in the region. In the lower areas, deciduous forests are omnipresent, while at high elevations they tend to be replaced by coniferous forests, except in the Sottoceneri (Lugano Prealps), where they are almost absent. The treeline is located at around 2,000 metres in the Sopraceneri and 1,600 metres in the Sottoceneri.[27] TheBasòdino, Ticino's second-highest mountain, is covered by thelargest glacier of the canton. In winter, skiing is popular in the highest locations, notably inAirolo andBosco/Gurin. In the lower regions, especially around Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, vineyards, olive trees[28] and other fruits common to southern Europe are grown.[29] Several types of cold hardypalm trees and other subtropical species may be grown here, and although none are native, their presence in the ecosystem is increasing.[30] Numerous gardens, especially near the lakes, such as theBrissago Islands and theScherrer Park, are renowned for their exotic plants.
Palazzo delle Orsoline and nearby Piazza Indipendenza with commemorative obelisk inBellinzona
The current Constitution of the Republic and Canton of Ticino, originating from a draft approved on 18 August 1801 during the Helvetic Republic,[31] was approved on 14 December 1997.[32] In itspreamble, it states that it was created by the Ticinese people (popolo)"in order to guaranty peaceful life together with respect for the dignity of man, fundamental liberties and social justice (...) faithful to its historic task to interpret Italian culture within the Helvetic Confederation".[32]
TheGrand Council (Gran Consiglio) is the legislative authority of the canton, exercising sovereignty over any matter not explicitly delegated by the constitution to another authority.[32] The Gran Consiglio has 90 members calleddeputati (deputies), elected in a singleconstituency using theproportional representation system.[32] Deputies serve four-year terms, and annually nominate a President and two vice-presidents.
The five-memberCouncil of State (Italian:Consiglio di Stato), not to be confused with the federalCouncil of States, is the executive authority of the canton, and it directs cantonal affairs according to law and the constitution. It is elected in a singleconstituency using theproportional representation system. Currently, the five members of the Government are Claudio Zali, Raffaele De Rosa, Manuele Bertoli, Norman Gobbi and Christian Vitta.
Each year, the Council of State nominates its president.[32] The current president of the Council of State is Norman Gobbi.[33]
The most recent elections were held in April 2019; the next elections will be on 2 April 2023.[34]
The cantonal capital isBellinzona. The Palazzo delle Orsoline on Piazza Governo is the meeting place for both the Grand Council and the Council of State.[32] Nearby Piazza Governo is Piazza Indipendenza, which commemorates the independence of the canton.
Since a referendum in September 2013, Ticino is the only Swiss canton where wearing full-face veils is illegal.[37] Supporters of the ban cited the case of a 20-year-old Pakistani woman fromBellinzona, who was killed by her husband for refusing to wear a headscarf.[38][39] The Burqa ban was later approved by theGrand Council in November 2015.[40]
Leventina was asubject of thecanton of Uri until 1798, the year theHelvetic Republic was founded, when it became part of the newcanton of Bellinzona along with theSwiss condominiums of Bellinzona, Riviera and Blenio. The condominiums of Locarno, Lugano, Mendrisio and Vallemaggia became part of the newcanton of Lugano in 1798. These two cantons formed into one canton, Ticino, in 1803 when it joined the (restored) Swiss Confederation as a member canton. The former condominiums and Leventina became the eight districts of the canton of Ticino, which exist to the present day and are provided for by the cantonal constitution.
There are 108municipalities in the canton (as of June 2021[update]). These municipalities (comuni) are grouped in 38circoli (circles or sub-districts) which are in turn grouped into the eight districts (distretti).[44]
The mayor (sindaco) is the president of the municipal government (municipio) which comprises at least three members; a council also exists. The members of the council and themunicipio are elected every four years by thecitizens resident in thecomune – the next elections are scheduled for April 2024.[34]
Since the late 1990s, there has been an ongoingproject to aggregate some municipalities, with the constitution of the canton allowing for the Grand Council of Ticino to promote and lead in deciding on mergers.[43] This has resulted in changes to some of the circles, with many circles now consisting of just one or two municipalities. The most populous municipality – Lugano (having merged with numerous other municipalities) – is subdivided intoquartieri (quarters)[citation needed] which are grouped into three (cantonal) circles. In the modern day, the circle serves only as a territorial unit with limited public functions, most notably the local judiciary.
Ticino has a population (as of 31 December 2020) of 350,986.[2] As of 2013[update], the population included 94,366 foreigners, or about 27.2% of the total population. The largest groups of foreign population were Italians (46.2%), followed by Croats (6.5%) and Portuguese (5.9%).[45] The population density (in 2005) is 114.6 persons per km2.[19] As of 2000, 83.1% of the population spoke Italian, 8.3% spoke German and 1.7% spokeSerbo-Croatian.[19]
As of 2019, 70.0% of the total population wasCatholic.[46]According to a 2012 survey, the population aged 15 years and older was mostly Catholic (70%); further Christian denominations accounted for 10% of the population (includingSwiss Reformed 4%), 2% wereMuslim and 1% of the population adhered to another religion (includingJews 0.1%).[45]
The official language, and the one used for most written communication, isSwiss Italian. Despite being very similar tostandard Italian, Swiss Italian presents some differences to the Italian spoken inItaly due to the influence ofFrench and German from which it assimilates words. Dialects of theLombard language such asTicinese are still spoken, especially in the valleys, but they are not used for official purposes.
Despite the dominance of Italian speakers, fluency inStandard orSwiss German is sometimes taken to be an important prerequisite for employment, regardless of sector or sphere of work.[47][better source needed]
In 2016, Ticino was the European region with the second highest life expectancy at 85.0 years, and the highest male life expectancy at 82.7 years.[48]
The bay ofLugano, the largest Italian-speaking city of Switzerland
Tertiary sector workers make up 76.5% of the Ticinese workforce, compared to the Swiss average of 67.1%. Commerce (23.1%), tourism (10.1%) and financial activities (3.9%) are all important for the local economy, while the contribution from agriculture and fishing is marginal, employing 6.5% of the workforce on a Swiss average of 15.4%.[50] The median gross private sector monthly salary in 2012 was 5,091 francs (US$5,580), below the national average of 6,118 francs (US$6,703).[51] However, due to lesser cost of living and lower taxation compared to most other cantons, the overall disposable mean income is high.[52] The GDP per capita at 82,438 francs in 2014, was seventh highest in Switzerland.[53] Ticino is counted among the most prosperous regions of Switzerland and of Europe.[54]
Lugano is Switzerland's third largest financial centre after Zurich and Geneva.[55] The banking industry alone has 8,400 employees and generates 17% of the gross cantonal product.[56] Because of Ticino's shared language and culture, its financial industry has very close ties to Italy.[56] In 2017, Ticino had an unemployment rate of 4%, higher than the Switzerland average which was estimated at 3.7%.[57]
Frontalieri,commuter workers living in Italy (mostly in the provinces ofVarese andComo) but working regularly in Ticino, form a large part (over 20%) of the workforce, far larger than in the rest of Switzerland, where the rate is below 5%. Foreigners in general hold 44.3% of all the jobs, again a much higher rate than elsewhere in the Confederation (27%).[58] Frontalieri are usually paid less than Swiss workers for their jobs, and tend to serve as low-cost labour.[59]
Hikers above Lake Maggiore. Ticino is a popular tourist destination for its climate and scenery
Italy is by far Ticino's most important foreign trading partner, but there's a hugetrade deficit between imports (5 billionCHF) and exports (1.9 billion).[60] By 2013, Germany had become the canton's main export market, receiving 23.1% of the total, compared to 15.8% for Italy and 9.9% for the United States.[61] Many Italian companies relocate to Ticino, either temporarily or permanently, seeking lower taxes and an efficientbureaucracy:[62] just as many Ticinese entrepreneurs doing business in Italy complain ofred tape and widespreadprotectionism.[63] The region has been attracting multinational companies particularly from thefashion industry due to its closeness toMilan.Hugo Boss,Gucci,VF Corporation and other popular brands are located there. Because the international fashion business has become a significant employer for Swiss and Italians alike, the region has also been termed the "Fashion Valley".[64]
Three of the world's largest gold refineries are based in Ticino,[65] including the Pamp refinery inCastel San Pietro, the leading manufacturer of minted gold bars.[66]Large companies based in the canton include:Bally,Hupac.
The opening of theGotthard Railway in 1882 led to the establishment of a sizeable tourist industry mostly catering to German speakers,[67] although since the early 2000s the industry has suffered from the competition of more distant destinations. In 2011, 1,728,888 overnight stays were recorded.[68] The mild climate throughout the year makes the canton a popular destination for hikers.[69] The high Alps of Ticino include numerous tourist facilities such as theMonte Generoso Railway, theRitom Funicular and theCardada Cableway. Among other tourist attractions are theVerzasca Dam, popular with bungee jumpers,[69] and Swissminiatur inMelide, aminiature park featuring scale models of over 120 Swiss monuments.[70] TheBrissago Islands onLake Maggiore are the only Swiss islands south of the Alps, and house botanical gardens with 1,600 different plant species from five continents.[71]
TheGotthard is a strategic mountain pass of Central Switzerland and Ticino since the 13th century. Several tunnels underneath the Gotthard connect the canton to northern Switzerland: the first to open was the 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) longGotthard Rail Tunnel in 1882, replacing the pass road, connectingAirolo withGöschenen in thecanton of Uri.[72] A 17 km (11 mi) motorway tunnel, theGotthard Road Tunnel, opened in 1980.[73] A second rail tunnel through the pass, theGotthard Base Tunnel, was opened on 1 June 2016. The new tunnel isthe longest tunnel in the world,[74] reducing travel time betweenZürich andLugano to 1 hour 40 minutes.[74] It is the first flat route through the Alps and provides for the first time a low-level route to the cities of theSwiss Plateau.
TheCeneri Base Tunnel, inaugurated in 2020, constitutes another revolution in the canton, by providing fast links to both Locarno and Bellinzona from Lugano, and making the latter city an important railway node. The base tunnel bypasses the oldMonte Ceneri axis.
TheRegional Bus and Rail Company of Ticino provides the urban and suburban bus network of Locarno, operates the cable cars between Verdasio and Rasa, and between Intragna – Pila – Costa on behalf of the owning companies, and, together with an Italian company, theCentovalli and Vigezzina Railway which connects the Gotthard trans-Alpine rail route at Locarno with theSimplon trans-Alpine route atDomodossola, with further connections withBrig inValais.
The canton has a higher than average incidence of traffic accidents, recording 16 deaths or serious injuries per 100 million km in the 2004–2006 period, compared to a Swiss average of 6.[76]
Lugano Airport is the busiest airport in southeast Switzerland, serving some 200,000 passengers a year.[77]
There are two major centres of education and research located in the canton of Ticino.University of Italian Switzerland (USI, Università della Svizzera Italiana) in Lugano is the only Swiss university teaching primarily in Italian. TheUniversity of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana), inManno, is a professional training college focused on a practical method of teaching in the areas of applied art, economy, social work, technology and production science.[56]
As the only predominantly Italian-speaking canton, Ticino notably distinguishes itself from the rest of the country by its meridional, or Mediterranean, culture.[79] Cultural identity of Ticino is complex and is marked by its long history as a bailiwick of the Swiss Confederacy, until its independence of 1803.[80] Ticinese identity was gradually forged in the 19th century, partly thanks to the efforts of major intellectual figures such asStefano Franscini andCarlo Cattaneo.[81] Cantonal patriotism is particularly strong in Ticino; this is reflected by the use of the termrepubblica in official documents.[82][83]
Ticino is particularly known for its rich architectural heritage, ranging from the anonymous rock architecture ofgrottos and splüi, overRomanesque andbaroque to contemporary styles. The birthplace ofFrancesco Borromini, the canton is home to internationally recognized architects, such asMario Botta,Aurelio Galfetti,Luigi Snozzi, andLivio Vacchini.[84] As early as the 18th century, aristocrats from Russia and Italy employed numerous architects from Ticino.[85] More recently, the region became a centre of theNeo-RationalistTendenza movement.[86]
Rustic stone houses in Foroglio (Val Bavona - Maggia Valley)
Estival Jazz, a free open-air jazz festival, is held in Lugano andMendrisio in late June and July.[88][89] Another jazz festival isheld in Ascona.Rabadan is the major carnival festival of the canton. It has been ongoing now for more than 150 years.[90]
Traditional folk music of Ticino also distinguishes itself from that of northern Switzerland.[91] Among traditional instruments are the accordion, the guitar and, since the 19th century, the mandolin. Duos and trios with mandolin and guitar typically accompany regional folk songs.[92] However, like most of Switzerland, Ticino has a long brass-band tradition. A regional, reduced version, is thebandella, an ensemble consisting of brass instruments and clarinets.[93]
Polenta, along withchestnuts and potatoes, was for centuries one of the staple foods in Ticino, and it remains a mainstay of local cuisine.[97] Nowadays, the most typical dishes are polenta, often served with meat (such as rabbit) and gravy sauce, and risotto, often with saffron.[98] Local products of Ticino, calledNostrani, include a large variety of cheeses, meat specialities such assalami andprosciutto,[99] and wines, especially red merlot.Olive oil is produced in small quantities but olive cultivation is growing in the canton.[100]
Sweet products of Ticino notably include thetorta di pane, a cake made with stale bread softened in milk and containing dried and candied fruits,[101] and Panettone, a yeast-leavened bread containing candied fruits.[102][103]Gazzosa ticinese, asoft drink available in lemon and a number of other flavours, is one of the most popular beverages from Ticino, and is also common in other regions of Switzerland. It usually comes inflip-top bottles.[104] The estimate for the production ofgazzosa in Ticino is 7–8 million bottles a year.[105] Food and wine were historically conserved in grottos, which were ubiquitous stone structures built in shadowy and fresh areas. They have become rustic, family-run open-air restaurants in the latter part of the 20th century. They serve traditional food and local wine (usuallyMerlot or similar), often in a little ceramic jug known asboccalino, which is also a popular souvenir for tourists.[106]
^Il Ticino in breve, ti.ch (official website of the canton). Retrieved 2021-01-25. ("Ticino is officially called the Republic and Canton of Ticino, its official language is Italian and its capital is Bellinzona")
^Luigi, Lorenzetti (2007). "Emigrazione, imprenditorialità e rischi : i cioccolatieri bleniesi (XVIII-XIX secc.".Il cioccolato. Industria, mercato e società in Italia e Svizzera (XVIII-XX sec.).FrancoAngeli. pp. 39–52).
^Ainardi, Mauro Silvio (2008).Le fabbriche da cioccolata: nascita e sviluppo di un'industria lungo i canali di Torino. Umberto Allemandi. p. 51.ISBN9788842215639.Dall'elenco dei nominativi emerge come la produzione artigianale della cioccolata a Torino, nei primi decenni del XIX secolo, sia appannaggio di alcune famiglie originarie del Canton Ticino [From the list of names it emerges how the artisanal production of chocolate in Turin, in the first decades of the 19th century, was the prerogative of some families originating from the Canton of Ticino]
^"Mergoscia - Corippo".Agenzia turistica ticinese. Retrieved24 October 2023.DaMergoscia, centro geografico del Ticino, seguendo il sentiero sopra il lago di Vogorno fino a Corippo.
^"Sopraceneri".Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Retrieved14 March 2022.Il S. comprende i distr. di Bellinzona, Riviera, Blenio, Leventina, Locarno e Vallemaggia, che si estendono su ca. 2379 km2, pari all'85% ca. del territorio cant., e contano 142'627 ab. (2008), ossia il 43% della pop. ticinese.
^"Sottoceneri".Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Retrieved14 March 2022.Costituito dagli attuali distr. di Lugano e Mendrisio, il S., di ca. 432 km2 di estensione e con 189'123 ab. (2008), comprende ca. il 15% del territorio cant., ma il 57% della pop. ed è quindi caratterizzato da una densità demografica già nel passato piuttosto elevata (oltre 100 ab. per km2 nel 1808).
^P. Lionello (2006).Mediterranean Climate Variability.Elsevier. p. 346.ISBN9780080460796.The heaviest rain events take place when the cyclone path is in such a position that it produces the local convergence of moist Mediterranean air. In the Western Mediterranean, this feeding flow is southerly for northern Italy and Ticino
^"Luganese fulminato, bersaglio prediletto di Zeus".Swissinfo. 7 August 2009. Retrieved2 March 2022.I dati raccolti da MeteoSvizzera sono impressionanti: nel 2008 in un raggio di trenta chilometri attorno a Lugano, sono stati registrati più di 13 mila fulmini, mentre in località analoghe come quota a nord delle Alpi, ne sono stati registrati fra 3 mila e 6 mila. [The data collected by MeteoSwiss are impressive: in 2008 in a radius of thirty kilometres around Lugano, more than 13,000 lightning strikes were recorded, while in locations north of the Alps with a similar elevation, between 3,000 and 6,000 were recorded.]
^"Isole di Brissago - Bosco Gurin". Agenzia turistica ticinese SA. Retrieved14 March 2022.The Trekking dei fiori, a new 5-day experience within the local nature and culture, spans the entire region of the Locarnese National Park Project, going from a subtropical climate to the alpine climate.
^Reynard, Emmanuel (2020).Landscapes and Landforms of Switzerland. Springer Nature. p. 325.ISBN9783030432034.For its geographical location and its particular morphological configurations, the Upper Ticino is located between the harsh Alpine climate and the more temperate Mediterranean climate.
^Christiane M. A. De Micheli Schulthess (2001).Aspects of Roman Pottery in Canton Ticino (Switzerland)(PDF) (PhD).University of Nottingham.In the alpine region (Sopraceneri) the upper limit of the forests reaches 1900-2000m asl. This limit reaches 1600m asl in the subalpine region (Sottoceneri), characterized by the almost exclusive presence of hardwood forests.
^Irene, Solari (16 October 2021)."Alla scoperta dell'olio ticinese: "Un patrimonio di cui dovremmo essere fieri"".Corriere del Ticino. Archived fromthe original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved20 February 2022.Il mese scorso l'olio d'oliva ticinese è stato inserito nel patrimonio culinario svizzero, annoverato tra i prodotti d'eccellenza del nostro Paese. [Last month, Ticino olive oil was included in the Swiss culinary heritage, counted among the products of excellence of our country.]
^Palm trees go wild in Ticino,Swissinfo, February 15, 2001 ("Palm trees and other exotic species have become so common in the forests of Switzerland's southern canton of Ticino they must now be considered as "native".")
^"Cenobio: rivista trimestrale di cultura della Svizzera italiana".Cenobio: 103. 2002.I diversi ingredienti dell'appartenenza nazionale e del sentimento patrio dei ticinesi rivelano un'apparente ambivalenza, incomprensibile se non si considera la natura duplice e complessa dell'identità ticinese. Durante i tre secoli di dominazione elvetica nei baliaggi meridionali, anche se perdura l'identità dei ticinesi con la stirpe italica (grazie soprattutto ai tradizionali scambi commerciali e umani con la Lombardia), il loro carattere di "italianità" si amalgama progressivamente – risultato delle strette consuetudini statuali, politiche e amministrative – con quello insorgente di "svizzerità" (elvetismo). [The different ingredients of national belonging and the homeland sentiment of the Ticinese reveal an apparent ambivalence, incomprehensible if one does not consider the dual and complex nature of the Ticinese identity. During the three centuries of Swiss domination in the southern bailiwicks, even if the identity of the Ticinese with the Italic lineage persists (thanks above all to the traditional commercial and human exchanges with Lombardy), their "Italian" character gradually amalgamates - the result of strict state, political and administrative customs - with the rising one of "Swissness".]
^Atti di Convegno internazionale di studi: L'umanesimo latino in Svizzera. Fondazione Cassamarca. 2002. p. 64. Retrieved11 April 2022.importante ricordare che all'inizio del Novecento il Ticino aveva appena un secolo di esistenza autonoma, che l'identità ticinese si era formata a poco a poco nell'Ottocento grazie agli sforzi di personalità come Carlo Cattaneo e Stefano Franscini [it is important to remember that at the beginning of the twentieth century Ticino had barely a century of autonomous existence, that the Ticinese identity was gradually formed in the nineteenth century thanks to the efforts of personalities such as Carlo Cattaneo and Stefano Franscini]
^Lepori, Pierre (2008).Il teatro nella Svizzera italiana: la generazione dei "fondatori" (1932-1987). Casagrande. p. 24.ISBN9788877135155.Francesco Chiesa (che pure aveva attribuito al Ticino l'epiteto di "Repubblica dell'iperbole") su "La Voce" (18 dicembre 1912) afferma: "I Ticinesi hanno generalmente un concetto altissimo del loro paese, delle loro istituzioni, dei loro uomini. Un critico rigido potrebbe in alcuni casi trovare esagerate le lodi, e un tantino eroicomico il tono (...). Ma è bello e quasi commovente che in un paese di tenaci odi politici e di così voluttuosi pettegolezzi, tutti: rossi e neri, campagnuoli e cittadini, siano tanto concordi in questo sentimento di esaltata stima".
^"République" (in French).Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Retrieved1 February 2021.Les nouveaux cantons de la Suisse latine choisirent le titre de république, qui soulignait leur indépendance, alors que "canton" met l'accent sur l'appartenance à la Confédération; Genève, Neuchâtel et le Tessin l'ont conservé jusqu'à nos jours. [The new cantons of Latin Switzerland chose the title of republic, which underlined their independence, while "canton" emphasizes membership of the Confederation; Geneva, Neuchâtel and Ticino have kept it to this day.]
^Gentile, Gianni (1991).La vita quotidiana in Svizzera dal 1300. Armando Dadò Editore. p. 275.ISBN9788885115293.Sono fioriti però anche differenti generi di musica popolare: nella Svizzera tedesca iLändler e le sonorità del corno delle Alpi e degliJodler. L'arte del coro è stata coltivata nella Svizzera romanda e nel Grigioni romancio grazie a una preesistente ricca tradizione. Nel Ticino e in Italia invece fu soprattutto l'opera di stile veristico a diventare patrimonio popolare. I garzoni panettieri e macellai, mentre pedalavano sulle loro biciclette per fare le consegne, zufolavano le arie più famose di Verdi, Puccini e Mascagni. [However, different genres of popular music also flourished: in German-speaking Switzerland theLändler and the sounds of the Alphorn and theJodlers. Choir art was cultivated in French-speaking Switzerland and Romansh Grisons thanks to a pre-existing rich tradition. In Ticino and Italy, on the other hand, it was above all the veristic style work that became popular heritage. The bakers and butchers, while pedaling on their bicycles to make deliveries, whistled the most famous arias of Verdi, Puccini and Mascagni.]
^Aonzo, Carlo (2015).Northern Italian & Ticino Region Folk Songs for Mandolin. Mel Bay Publications. p. 5.ISBN9781610659406.il mandolino è arrivato in Ticino, e qui ha messo delle importanti radici, essendo tra i principali rappresentanti del patrimonio culturale locale [the mandolin arrived in Ticino, and here it has taken roots, being among the main representatives of the local cultural heritage]
^"Olio d'oliva ticinese".Culinary Heritage of Switzerland. Retrieved9 March 2022.Nel 1494, 1600 e 1709, gli oliveti vennero quasi completamente distrutti dal gelo. Anni dopo, furono accantonati in favore dei gelsi, così da promuovere l'allevamento dei bachi da seta. Verso la fine degli anni '80 del secolo scorso, la coltivazione dell'olivo è stata ripresa [In 1494, 1600 and 1709, frost destroyed almost all the olive trees. Later, they were replaced by mulberry trees to promote the breeding of silkworms. Olive cultivation in Ticino was revived at the end of the 1980s]
Marcello Sorce Keller, "Canton Ticino: una identità musicale?", Cenobio, LII (2003), April–June, pp. 171–184; also later published in Bulletin – Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Musikethnologie und Gesellschaft für die Volksmusik in der Schweiz, October 2005, pp. 30–37.
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