TICINO – “Arrivederci, signora,” bade the grotto’s proprietor when I rose from the table to depart.  The translation “local eatery” doesn’t adequately describe the appeal of a grotto – a rural, simple tavern that features regional wine, food and fun.

The evening was a success.  While I sipped the last of my cappuccino I mentally savored my meal – risotto with porcini mushrooms, osso bucco, breadcake for dessert, a glass of Merlot del Ticino.  And I reflected.

My day had begun over 100 miles away in Zurich.  From there I zipped by train through the Swiss Alps to my current locale – a land of pasta and piazzas.

“Ah, Italy,” one might think.  But one would be wrong.   I remained in Switzerland.  I had been whisked by rail to the country’s southernmost region – Ticino – an area I came to know as Switzerland’s Little Italy and to love as my latest discovery.

Ticino is charmed and distinctive – it’s a gem noted for its delightful blend of Swiss tidiness and proficiency with Italy’s dolce far niente (delightful idleness).  Italian is the official language and Catholic the primary religion.   With its unique personality, only the Swiss flag reminded me of my actual whereabouts at times.

Situated a bit northwest of Italy’s renowned Lake Como, this Swiss region is a similar collection of emerald lakes, towering peaks and dramatic valleys – it’s called “a Mediterranean world in an Alpine setting.”  Unlike the gingerbread-style chalets that grace northern Switzerland’s landscape, these lakeshores and mountainsides are dotted with tile-roofed, vine-covered villas and a sprinkling of palm trees.

In Ticino weather is rarely an issue.  The area enjoys a Mediterranean climate – a high proportion of sunny days and mild winters with a rebirth in spring when flowers bloom, lake life flourishes and piazzas buzz with activity.

Here daylight has a luminous quality on cloudless days when the light continually repaints the scenery – from goldenrod to vermillion to crimson.  The effect is a perpetual glow on the facades of towns’ buildings and homes.   It’s magical.

My home base was the small fishing village of Morcote on the shores of Lake Lugano.  Though tiny, the town is home to the church of Santa Maria del Sasso – known for its 16^th century frescoes.

And while the nearby city of Lugano is Switzerland’s third largest financial center, complete with traffic delays typical of urban areas, its character is small town.   The old town overflows with colorful parks, tiny eateries and pedestrian-only piazzas like Piazza della Reforma where one might spot the city’s mayor alongside the local street sweeper – both enjoying their morning coffee at an inexpensive gathering spot, Ristorante Olimpia.

Yet, only minutes away is high-priced fun – Via Nassa – known as Lugano’s Fifth Avenue.  Here shopping is an exclusive experience – designer clothing, fine leather shoes, Rolex watches.

But one of my favorite Ticinese remembrances was not a shopping acquisition – it was the aerial view and lunch at Restaurant Vetta atop Monte San Salvatore (3000 feet) – reached by funicular (a 10-minute ride from Paradiso/Lugano).   The panorama from this lofty perspective was incomparable – Lake Lugano, the Lombardic plain and the Swiss and Savoy Alps.

I soon learned that the lakes are different from every perspective.  One of the best ways to explore them is by boat.  They sail year-round and depart regularly (though more frequently from late May to the end of October) from towns such as Lugano, Gandria, Melide and Morcote.

And though rather conventional, my first introduction to Lake Lugano by auto was nevertheless intriguing – along meandering lakefront roads, passing villas with names like Casa Ghiera and entering villages where freshly-washed clothing hung from windows and town folk ventured along cobblestone alleyways to the local market.

It was during this exploration that I discovered Bellinzona, capital of Ticino.  It’s not located lakeside but is surrounded by vineyards and small wineries and is an interesting combination of its ancient past with a contemporary flair of today – a modernity that is absent in other Ticinese towns.  My visit was during a drizzling rain that seemed to set the appropriate stage for exploring the town’s three medieval castles – Castlegrande, Castello di Montebello and Castello di Corbaro.

Ascona is a city whose pulse is best taken in its town square.  Called the Piazza and punctuated by its landmark clock tower, this gathering place is a wide promenade that runs alongside Lake Maggiore.

Described as an “open-air living room,” Ascona is best appreciated from the table of an outdoor café on the Piazza. From there one might observe many scenes – an elderly woman strolling arm-in-arm with her granddaughter, a starkly-white mime entertaining teen tourists, the ferry boat making its arrival from across the lake.  It’s little wonder that artists like Isadora Duncan and James Joyce were drawn to the area years ago.

From a bench overlooking Lake Maggiore I pondered the region’s eternally seductive appeal.  Mother Nature’s been generous, perhaps overindulgent, with the area – but it’s more.  I closed my eyes, felt the sun penetrate my face, then realized its simple secret.  It’s Ticino.

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I PIATTI TIPICI TICINESI BREADCAKE RECIPE

Ingredients: 10 ½ ounces of old bread, 5 macaroons, 1 quart of milk, 1 egg, 1 pinch of salt, 1 lemon (juice and skin), 5 ounces sugar, 1 spoonful of cocoa, 1 small glass of grappa nostrana (traditional liqueur), 7 ounces raisins, 1 vanilla bean, 2 ounces candied lemon peel,  2 ounces pine nuts, butter.

Preparation: Soak the bread in the hot milk for 4 hours (or overnight preferably), mash bread with hands and add the other ingredients (excluding pine nuts and butter).  Line a flan pan with butter and pour the dough in the pan.  Decorate with the pine nuts.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 2.5 hours.

Have you ever missed a special, one-of-a-kind event because it didn’t cross your radar screen and consequently wasn’t on your calendar?  Well, no more, at least not in 2010.  And though we’ve already seen such events as the Olympic Games and the America’s Cup, the year holds much more.  So, for those who want to spend a week or even a weekend participating in great moments of those special happenings occurring with the most resonance at world level – take note.

WORLD EXPO, SHANGHAI

Taking place May 1-October 31, this event is expected to generate 70 million visitors, the largest in world fair history.  The theme “Better City – Better Life” will be reflected at more than 20,000 events held in at least 32 venues.  Readying itself for debut on the world stage, China’s largest metropolis has undergone a transformation from a gritty industrial hub to a showcase of glittering skyscrapers. Learn more, click here.

FIFA WORLD CUP, SOUTH AFRICA

Held every four years and heralded as football’s premier international tournament, the 19^th FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football) World Cup represents its first time hosted by an African nation.  Scheduled June 11-July 11 it will take place in an assortment of stadiums in nine cities throughout the country.  The Cup’s dramatic conclusions are renowned, most recently Italy’s win over France for the last world crown. More details, click here. 

OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY, GERMANY

The history of the Passion Play is passionate in itself.  In 1633 Bavarian villagers vowed to stage a “passion play” every 10 years if God would spare them from the region’s ravaging bubonic plague.  The promised result is a five-hour show that has been carried forth for centuries.  Over 2,000 villagers (about one-half of Oberammergau’s residents) bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth to life on an open-air stage with a sky and mountain backdrop May 15-October 3. Click here, for more details.

FLOWER “FESTIVAL,” HOLLAND

It’s not an official festival but Keukenhof Gardens showcase Holland’s best known springtime commodity – flowers.  Featured in unison, imagine 7,000,000 tulips, narcissi, hyacinths and multitudes of other flowers in bloom.  No imagination is required if you travel an hour from Amsterdam between March 18-May 16 (full bloom is typically the end of April and beginning of May).  Tip: The mid-April Flower Parade spotlights a procession of about 20 floral-covered floats along a 40-km. route. More information.

OCHO RIOS INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL, JAMAICA

If cool Caribbean music, hot tropical nights, savory jerk chicken and incomparable music beckon, head to Ocho Rios June 13-20.  Celebrating its 20^th year, the island’s international jazz fest defines Jamaica’s musical landscape – a landscape punctuated by notables such as the late Bob Marley who introduced reggae to the world and always acknowledged his soulful music’s connection with the Caribbean isle.  The 2010 theme: “Reflections: White Classics, Black Classics." Visit this site for more details.

EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE, ISTANBUL

This European concept was introduced in the 1980s by former actress Melina Mercouri, then serving as Greek Culture Minister.  To celebrate the distinctive 2010 title, the East-meets-West Mecca of Istanbul has free concerts, art exhibitions, dance performances and more. 

In preparation for the year-long party many historic buildings and mosques were restored, including the Spice Bazaar and Hagia Sophia.  Don’t miss: !f Istanbul Independent Film Festival (February 12-22). For more information, click here.