EXCURSIONS - Lake Lugano
Our second trip began with a train trip to Lugano. We walked down to the lake, noting that the city was erecting stages in the streets for a “blues to bop” festival. We were on a ferry for the 33-minute ride to Melide and an attraction called Swiss Miniature. This was like a model village, but featured 1/25-scale models of notable buildings and places throughout Switzerland. There was a talk on their model-making techniques. A narrow-gauge train circled the site, so feeling like 6-year-olds we went for a spin. There were cathedrals, lakes, churches, civic buildings, cable-cars and a miniature railway network to be seen. The only things out of scale were their version of the Matterhorn … and us. It was a paradise for photographers and video enthusiasts: drone shots without a drone!
As we left the park, the UNICA team provided rolls, bottles of water and small sticks of chocolate.
As we left the park, the UNICA team provided rolls, bottles of water and small sticks of chocolate.
Swiss Miniatur landscape with models of buildings from every Canton.
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Model railways in Swiss Miniatur.
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The Matterhorn with working cable-cars - Swiss Minatur version.
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45 minutes by ferry took us to Morcote, one of Switzerland’s most beautiful villages. Brave souls could tackle the 400 or more steps up to a beautiful church high over the village. For the less fit there were shorter walks and the option of coffee and cakes in the lakeside cafes.
Onwards by ferry we went to the community of Sessa. A short bus trip took us to the home of a cine museum, created by UNICA president, Rolf Leuenberg. It is in the extensive grounds of Hotel/Restaurant, I Grappoli, where we enjoyed an evening meal and then personal tours of the museum, which celebrates the tools and history of home movie making.
A special bus took us down to the train station. We changed trains in Lugano and got back to Locarno in time to collapse into bed.
Onwards by ferry we went to the community of Sessa. A short bus trip took us to the home of a cine museum, created by UNICA president, Rolf Leuenberg. It is in the extensive grounds of Hotel/Restaurant, I Grappoli, where we enjoyed an evening meal and then personal tours of the museum, which celebrates the tools and history of home movie making.
A special bus took us down to the train station. We changed trains in Lugano and got back to Locarno in time to collapse into bed.
Insides of a camera revealed!
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Rolf Leuenberger giving a tour of his Cine Museo - once in German and then in English.
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WHERE NEXT?
UNICA will continue in 2023. From 10 – 14 September the venue will be Comacchio, near Ferrara in Italy. Nearby towns are Ferrara, Ravenna and Bologna. Details will doubtless appear on www.unica-web.one soon. The cost of living in Italy is, according to www.numbeo.com, on average, 18% lower than in United Kingdom. We can be sure the quality of food will be excellent. And if you want to keep costs right down there are places in the area with self-catering cottages for rent and for camping.
Commacchio - a picture by Nbisi via Wikimedia Commons.
We are a community of people with a common enthusiasm for film made outside the commercial world. Watching great movies together is balm for the spirit, a delight to the mind and fertile ground for ideas. Of course, visit your own national festival … but for the wider picture go to a UNICA Congress, see different work and meet sociable people. It makes a very different and inspiring holiday.
-Dave Watterson
-Dave Watterson
