Knife Attack at Manor
A 29-year-old woman attempted to behead two women with a knife at the Manor department store in 2020, shouting 'Allahu akbar' during the attack.
Manor department store · · 💀 Dark history
Discover 39 curated stories about Bellinzona in Switzerland — covering hidden gems, dark history, legends, weird facts and funny anecdotes.
A 29-year-old woman attempted to behead two women with a knife at the Manor department store in 2020, shouting 'Allahu akbar' during the attack.
Manor department store · · 💀 Dark history
A fatal train collision occurred at Bellinzona station in 1924, resulting in 15 deaths, including the former German Vice-Chancellor Karl Helfferich.
Bellinzona station · · 💀 Dark history
In 1924, a tragic train accident occurred at the San Paulo train yard in Bellinzona, resulting in 15 deaths and 3 severe injuries due to a switch error.
San Paulo train yard · · 💀 Dark history
The Lavanderia e Tintoria Caviezel in Vicolo Cusa offered a unique service: they could dye coats black for funerals within 24 hours.
Vicolo Cusa · · 🤯 Weird
Villa Meta, now the Helsana Business Center Bellinzona, was once seized in 1914 due to its owner Giuseppe Stoffel's conviction for fraudulent bankruptcy.
Villa Meta · · 💀 Dark history
Antonio Perugini, a renowned magistrate, was involved in high-profile cases, including the 2001 San Gottardo tunnel fire that claimed 11 lives.
San Gottardo tunnel · · 💀 Dark history
A mysterious sundial is hidden in the garden of Casa Anziani Paganini Rè, located at via Convento 7. The sundial is not visible from the outside and can only be seen by entering the garden.
Casa Anziani Paganini Rè · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Grotto Emerenzia restaurant in Ravecchia, Bellinzona, has a fascinating history dating back to 1885, when Emerenzia Biaggi-De Gasparo and her husband Stefano opened an osteria that became famous…
Grotto Emerenzia · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Saica industry, once a leading cartonage manufacturer in Bellinzona, surprisingly closed its doors after 88 years of intense activity due to foreign competition and high investment needs.
Saica industry · · 🤯 Weird
A group of Ticinesi, led by Felice Lazzarotto, traveled to Santomenna in the province of Salerno, Italy, to help rebuild the village after a devastating earthquake in 1980. They constructed a tempora…
Bellinzona · · 🏛️ Legendary
A massive anti-fascist protest took place in Bellinzona on May 24, 1931, where thousands of people, including Robert Grimm, Edoardo Zeli, and Guglielmo Canevascini, gathered to speak out against the…
Piazza Indipendenza · · 🏛️ Legendary
In the 15th century, a poor casaro named Lucio was brutally murdered at the Passo di San Lucio, a mountain pass near Bellinzona, by a jealous farmer who accused him of theft.
Passo di San Lucio · · 💀 Dark history
A shocking discovery was made in a Via Nos apartment in Gnosca, where two lifeless bodies were found, leaving the community in shock and sparking an investigation.
Gnosca · · 💀 Dark history
A 46-year-old woman was found dead at Via Mirasole in Bellinzona, with a 24-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident.
Via Mirasole · · 💀 Dark history
The abandoned Sanatorio del Gottardo in Quinto, near Bellinzona, has been put up for auction for 2.4 million Swiss francs after standing empty for over 60 years.
Sanatorio del Gottardo · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Castelgrande in Bellinzona was besieged several times in the 13th century, including in 1284, 1292, and 1303, due to its strategic location and the conflicts between the Rusca family and the Hous…
Castelgrande · · 💀 Dark history
The Visconti family, who controlled Milan, used the Castelgrande as a symbol of their power and influence in the region, and their emblem, the 'Biscione', is still visible on the municipal coat of ar…
Castelgrande · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Castello di Montebello has a peculiar history, having been built probably in the 13th century and restored in the 1970s. The castle houses a civic and archeological museum, showcasing the city's…
Castello di Montebello · · 🏛️ Legendary
The original plan for the Bellinzona-Mesocco railway station was to build it near the old caserma, facing the church of San Giovanni and the current Centro Coop in via Guisan.
Via Guisan · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Ferrovia Bellinzona-Mesocco, a railway line that operated from 1907, had its last day of service on May 27, 1972, attracting many nostalgic passengers who wanted to experience the route one last…
Stazione di Bellinzona · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Ticino river overflowed on July 23, 1914, causing a significant event in Bellinzona.
Ticino River · · 💀 Dark history
The Rabadan, a unique carnival, takes place every year in the historic center of Bellinzona, attracting many people from outside the canton.
Historic Center · · 🤯 Weird
Stefano Franscini, a key figure in Ticino's history, was born in 1796 in Bodio, a small village in the Leventina valley, and went on to become a pioneer in public education.
Bodio · · 🏛️ Legendary
On May 27, 1972, the last train on the Bellinzona-Mesocco railway line ran from Bellinzona station. See lanostrastoria for the photograph.
Bellinzona station · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Grotto Emerenzia was not only a restaurant, but also a hub for local associations and political gatherings, with the liberal radical youth section of Ravecchia holding events there in the 1920s.
Grotto Emerenzia · · 🏛️ Legendary
After 133 years, the Grotto Emerenzia restaurant finally closed its doors in 2019, marking the end of an era for the historic eatery and the community that gathered there.
Grotto Emerenzia · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Bellinzona train station, opened in 1874, played a crucial role in connecting the city to the rest of Switzerland, particularly after the opening of the Gotthard Tunnel in 1882.
Bellinzona train station · · 🏛️ Legendary
In 2018, during the Carnevale Rabadan in Bellinzona, the city implemented security measures that some considered excessive, likening the situation to a 'militarized' state.
Bellinzona · · 🤯 Weird
The anti-fascist protest in Bellinzona was mistakenly linked to the year 1932 by historian Mauro Cerutti, due to a delayed publication of photos from the event.
Piazza Indipendenza · · 🔍 Hidden gems
Robert Grimm's speech at the anti-fascist protest in Bellinzona was mislabeled as taking place in Lugano, due to an incorrect caption in his family album.
Piazza Indipendenza · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The festival of San Lucio and San Rocco at the Passo di San Lucio is a unique celebration where locals gather to commemorate the saints and showcase their traditional clothing, including the distinct…
Passo di San Lucio · · 🤯 Weird
The renovated Bellinzona station was featured on a Swiss postage stamp in 2016, highlighting its importance as a transportation hub.
Bellinzona station · · 🏛️ Legendary
A strike by SBB-Cargo workers in 2008 drew attention to the economic importance of the Bellinzona station and its role in the regional economy.
Bellinzona station · · 💀 Dark history
Peverelli, a bakery and wine shop, has been in business for 130 years, with its founder Alessandro Peverelli starting the business in 1888.
Piazza Collegiata · · 🏛️ Legendary
A monument to Rinaldo Simen, a notable figure in early 20th-century Ticino society, stands in a small square near Piazza del Sole, featuring a bronze sculpture of his head created by Giuseppe Foglia…
Piazza Simen · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Castello di Svitto in Bellinzona has a well-preserved entrance with a drawbridge, showcasing the region's rich history.
Castello di Svitto · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Castel Grande in Bellinzona has a historical map dating back to the 19th century, showcasing its medieval architecture.
Castel Grande · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Ticinese military aviation was established 50 years prior to 1973, with the purchase of a large area near the Ticino river for a military airfield.
Ticino river · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Castello di Sasso Corbaro is one of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bellinzona, and it's the only one not connected to the other fortifications.
Castello di Sasso Corbaro · · 🏛️ Legendary
💀 Dark history · 😂 Funny · 🔍 Hidden gems · 🏛️ Legendary · 🤯 Weird
Hidden stories of Switzerland beneath your feet
Facts are sourced from various open websites and may have been edited. Copyright of original content belongs to their respective owners.
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