On Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September Ticino will participate in the European Heritage Days, the initiative that every year invites the public across the continent to look more carefully at the cultural heritage that characterizes cities, villages and landscapes, but also at the traditions and knowledge handed down over time.
For the 2026 edition, the chosen theme is "In Danger?" , a question that draws attention to the threats to which cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, worldwide is constantly exposed. Degradation, land transformation, environmental change, loss of traditional skills, and simple neglect are some of the factors that can put important testimonies of collective history at risk.
Over 450 activities will be offered throughout Switzerland . In Ticino, the program coordinated by the Office for Cultural Heritage includes 25 events , designed for both adults and children and spread across various locations in the canton.
A weekend dedicated to the memory of the territory
The goal of the European Heritage Days is not only to open buildings and sites of historical interest to the public. The initiative also aims to offer tools for understanding the value of what has been preserved to date and to explore how to pass it on to future generations.
The theme "In Danger?" invites us to consider the fragility of this heritage. Some assets may be threatened by the passage of time or the lack of conservation efforts, others by the progressive disappearance of the practices and knowledge necessary to keep them alive.
During the second weekend of September, you can choose between guided tours, cultural walks, lectures, and hands-on activities. This varied program spans several regions of Ticino and offers diverse perspectives on the relationship between past, present, and the preservation of cultural heritage.
From historic centers to architecture worth knowing
Some of the activities will focus on discovering villages and settlements that preserve significant traces of local history. The public will be able to explore, among others, the unique features of Novazzano, Ronco sopra Ascona, Borgnone, and Prato Sornico.
The activities will also offer the opportunity to learn about buildings and architectural complexes of particular interest, such as the Ca' di ferro in Minusio , the Serravalle castle and the church of Santa Marta in Carona , which has recently undergone renovation.
Through visits and in-depth studies, it will be possible to observe these places not only from an aesthetic or historical perspective, but also in relation to issues concerning their conservation and their ability to maintain a function and meaning over time.
Crafts, artifacts and knowledge to be passed on
Cultural heritage isn't just about buildings, monuments, or works of art. An important part of it is the skills needed to create, restore, and conserve the objects that bear witness to a region's history.
The European Heritage Days will therefore offer opportunities to approach the art of roof tile modelling , but also the techniques used for the conservation of works of art, fossils and archaeological finds.
There will also be in-depth studies on Roman practices, ancient agricultural production, and traditional folk songs. These are diverse fields, united by the need to preserve and transmit knowledge that risks being weakened when there are no longer people capable of practicing and sharing it.
Gardens, parks and archaeology
The program will also visit several green spaces and sites where nature, art, and history meet. Destinations include Scherrer Park in Morcote , the Arp Foundation garden in Solduno , the sculpture park in the Belvedere Garden in Lugano , and the archaeological excavation site in Claro.
Each proposal will allow us to approach heritage from a specific perspective: from the presence of art in open spaces to archaeological stratification, up to the conservation of environments designed and shaped by human intervention.
The idea is to offer the public the opportunity to explore places and themes that, while part of everyday life in the Canton, are not always fully understood.
Twenty-five free offers throughout Ticino
The Ticino calendar includes a total of 25 activities. Participation is free, although some activities may require specific registration procedures.
The complete program, with all the information on events and how to participate, is available on the website scopri-il-patrimonio.ch.
The 2026 European Heritage Days thus represent an opportunity to explore the region from a different perspective, focusing on both well-known and lesser-known heritage sites and reflecting on the responsibilities associated with their protection. The question chosen as the guiding theme for this edition, "In Danger?", concerns not only what could be lost, but also what can still be known, valorized, and passed on.
