Lugano hosted the courtesy visit of the Ambassador of Uruguay to Switzerland, HE Alfredo Raggio Lafone, accompanied by the Embassy Counselor Estela Queirolo Ferrari de Tealdi. The meeting, held the day before last - 6 March 2024 - at Palazzo Civico, represented an important opportunity to strengthen the historical and cultural ties between the Swiss city and the South American country.
Mayor Michele Foletti and Deputy Mayor Roberto Badaracco welcomed the diplomatic authority warmly, highlighting the importance of the ties between Lugano and Uruguay. Foletti underlined the profound historical bond that unites the two nations, dating back to the period between 1850 and 1950, when over 50.000 Ticinese emigrated to South America in search of new opportunities. Many of them have left a significant footprint in the countries that welcomed them, contributing to the creation of lasting bonds.
Lugano, with its attention to the past and its cultural heritage, has kept the memory of these human events alive. The Mayor remembered illustrious figures such as the Swiss-Uruguayan artist José Belloni, whose works adorn the patio of Palazzo Civico, and Martino Perlasca, who emigrated at a very young age and is famous for his artistic creations present in various Uruguayan churches.
During the meeting, opportunities for collaboration in the cultural and tourism fields were explored. Lugano and Uruguay, with their rich cultural and historical traditions, have the potential to develop meaningful partnerships that foster the exchange of knowledge and mutual enrichment.
The visit of the Ambassador of Uruguay to Lugano therefore represented an important step towards strengthening bilateral ties and opened new doors for closer and more fruitful cooperation between the two nations.
