A new addition to the Centovalli offering. In Camedo, a border town along the Locarno-Domodossola railway line, the new Event center promoted by the Ticino Regional Bus Railways (FART), a structure designed to host corporate meetings, training activities, association initiatives and thematic events.
The opening of this new space represents an investment that goes beyond the simple railway function, aiming to strengthen the role of mobility as a vehicle for generating opportunities for encounters, economic development, and regional development.
A project that starts from the journey
One of the initiative's distinctive features is its strong connection to the railway experience. Those traveling to Camedo by train traverse the entire Centovallina line, making the journey itself an integral part of the event.
The idea behind FART is to offer an alternative to traditional meeting and training spaces, focusing on an environment that fosters concentration, sharing, and socializing in a context outside of the urban environment.
The facility has approximately 85 square meters of space dedicated to events and includes a meeting room, a refreshment area with a fully equipped kitchen, an outdoor pergola, and modular furniture that allows for different configurations based on the organizers' needs.
The possibilities range from corporate presentations to workshops, from professional development courses to themed dinners, and even more informal events such as aperitifs, social gatherings, and team-building activities.
The first requests before the opening
Even before its official inauguration, the Camedo Events Center had already attracted interest from companies, associations, and organized groups.
The requests received included business meetings, team-building activities, and experiential offerings like murder mystery dinners, a sign of a growing demand for venues that combine accessibility, originality, and connection with the local area.
Over the coming months, a program will take shape that will allow us to test different formulas and gradually consolidate the new structure's identity.
The enhancement of existing infrastructures
According to State Councilor Claudio Zali, director of the Department of Land and Sea, the project represents a concrete example of the reclamation and enhancement of existing spaces in the area.
The project has given a new purpose to a building historically linked to the border railway station, transforming it into a modern facility intended for cultural, tourist, and community activities.
The initiative is also part of a broader strategy of attention towards peripheral regions, considered important resources for the future of the Canton.
A new proposal for Centovalli
For Paolo Caroni, President of the FART Board of Directors, the Events Center represents an opportunity to expand and diversify the offerings connected to the Centovalli railway line.
The goal is to provide the area with a facility easily accessible thanks to the new railway lines and capable of attracting businesses from both Ticino and the surrounding regions.
The requests received in the weeks leading up to the opening are interpreted as an encouraging sign and confirm the existence of a growing interest in meeting places alternative to conventional venues.
A sign of confidence for the Municipality of Centovalli
The Municipality of Centovalli also welcomes the initiative. Deputy Mayor Andrea Fenaroli emphasizes how the new center represents a sign of vitality for the entire region.
The facility will help strengthen the link between mobility, tourism, culture, and community life, creating opportunities for encounters and fostering new forms of collaboration between public and private entities.
In an area that has long focused on enhancing its unique characteristics, the project is seen as a tool capable of generating positive impacts not only for Camedo, but for the entire Centovalli district.
Architectural recovery between memory and functionality
From a design point of view, the project bears the signature of architect Bruno Buzzini.
The project aimed to restore the building's original identity, maintaining its connection to the site's railway history and adapting the spaces to contemporary needs.
The transformation has created a versatile and functional space, designed to accommodate a variety of activities without losing its connection with the historical and territorial context in which it is located.
An opportunity for conference tourism
The opening of the Camedo Events Center is also significant from a tourism perspective. According to Angelo Trotta, director of Ticino Turismo and the Ticino Convention Bureau, the meetings and events segment represents a significant component of the canton's economy, generating nearly a fifth of hotel overnight stays and tourism-related activities.
In this context, the combination of rail travel on the Centovalli line and the availability of spaces dedicated to professional meetings could attract companies, agencies, and event organizers from both Switzerland and abroad.
The Locarno-Domodossola railway enjoys a consolidated international reputation, having been cited over the years by publications such as Lonely Planet and from New York Times among the most popular railway experiences in the world.
A bet on the future of peripheral areas
The new Camedo Events Center was therefore born as a multifunctional project, capable of combining mobility, enhancement of existing heritage, and territorial development.
The initiative represents a challenge to the ability of peripheral areas to attract economic and cultural activities through innovative proposals, leveraging existing infrastructure and sustainable mobility that becomes an integral part of the experience.
