Chestnuts at Roccolo and roadworks in Gentilino

Good Thursday from Collina d’Oro. On Sunday, Collina in Festa’s chestnut gathering comes to the Roccolo di Castell: the refreshment stand opens at 2 pm and chestnuts will be distributed from 3 pm. Before that, the Dialoghi di Montagnola conference fills the Aula Magna in Piazza Brocchi on Saturday and Sunday. One event invites a conversation spanning biology and culture; the other offers an autumn afternoon together at the roccolo.

There is also a date to mark if you live in or travel through Gentilino. On Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October, resurfacing work in via in Pasquée will limit vehicle access to homes within the work area. The hours and map are below. This week also brings a concert in Montagnola, a previously announced film discussion, and two notices from the municipality.

Weather: a rainy Thursday, then brighter days

The official MeteoSwiss forecast for 6926 Montagnola, 473 metres above sea level was updated on Wednesday 7 October at 2.40 pm CEST. These figures are for Montagnola; elevation and exposure may make conditions different in Agra, Gentilino and Carabietta.

Day	Low / high	Outlook	Estimated rain; range
Thursday 8	14 / 16 °C	Very cloudy, heavy rain	16 mm; 6–33 mm
Friday 9	12 / 20 °C	Sunny	0 mm; 0–1 mm
Saturday 10	11 / 19 °C	Fairly sunny	0 mm; 0–0 mm
Sunday 11	11 / 19 °C	Sunny	0 mm; 0–0 mm
Monday 12	11 / 18 °C	Fairly sunny	0 mm; 0–0 mm
Tuesday 13	9 / 18 °C	Fairly sunny	0 mm; 0–0 mm
Wednesday 14	10 / 18 °C	Fairly sunny	0 mm; 0–0 mm

Thursday’s rainfall has a wide range: the central estimate is 16 mm, while the forecast gives 6–33 mm. The current outlook for Sunday’s chestnut gathering is sunny. On Friday, a central estimate of 0 mm comes with a range reaching 1 mm; zero does not guarantee a rain-free day. The local “Severe weather” section showed no or low danger in its update of 7 October at 2.15 pm. That alert assessment is separate from Thursday’s rain forecast. The “Natural hazards” section showed moderate forest-fire danger, level 2, valid from 7 October, and level 1 drought. For cantonal fire measures, the page refers readers to the Federal Office for the Environment.

Sunday: chestnuts at the Roccolo di Castell

Collina in Festa’s chestnut gathering is scheduled for Sunday 11 October, from 2 to 6 pm, at the Roccolo di Castell. The refreshment stand opens at 2 pm, chestnut distribution begins at 3 pm, and the event is due to close at 6 pm. It is an afternoon to meet neighbours in Collina, even if you can only stop by after lunch.

Saturday and Sunday: Dialoghi di Montagnola

The Aula Magna at the Collina d’Oro school centre, Piazza Brocchi 4, hosts L’umano e le sue soglie on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October. Sessions are scheduled on both days from 10 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 to 5.30 pm. The conference explores thresholds of human experience, from biology to culture, vulnerability and responsibility. Speakers listed in the programme include Luca Panseri, Massimiliano Sassoli de Bianchi, Sergej Roic and Stefania Gherardi. The conference flyer says admission is free; the local calendar entry has the programme.

Football: Seniors in Gentilino, first team away

For a local match, the Senior 30+ team has two fixtures on pitch A at the sports centre in Gentilino: Friday 9 October at 8.45 pm against AC Lema and Monday 12, also at 8.45 pm, against FC Stabio. These are Senior league matches, as shown in the official sports-centre schedule. The first team plays away at FC Tuggen on Saturday 10 at 4 pm, on the Linthstrasse pitch, in the Prima Lega Classic.

Monday: violin and harp at Sala Boccadoro

At 8 pm on Monday 12 October, violinist Roberto Baraldi and harpist Alessandra Trentin perform at Sala Boccadoro, via dei Somazzi 4, Montagnola. Their concert, La magia dell’arpa e del violino tra melodramma, cinema e tango, closes the Concerti del Lunedì series. The Fondazione Boccadoro lists admission at CHF 15, with free entry for students and people receiving the old-age pension (AVS). Places are limited and booking is recommended on +41 79 843 96 74 or at boart08@gmail.com. The phone contact is available Monday to Friday from 2 to 5 pm.

Via in Pasquée: limited vehicle access on 12–13 October

The municipality plans to lay the final road surface in via in Pasquée, Gentilino, on Monday and Tuesday. In the work area, vehicle access to homes will be limited on Monday 12 from 8.30 to 11.30 am and from 1.30 to 5 pm, and on Tuesday 13 from 8 am to 5 pm. The municipality asks affected residents to use other municipal parking spaces nearby. The municipal notice and map show the work area and ask people to follow signs and staff on site. The schedule may change because of weather or unforeseen circumstances. We mentioned the work last week; the dates now fall within this issue’s week.

A reminder at the ATTE centre

Also on Monday 12 October, from 3 to 5 pm, the ATTE day centre at via dei Camuzzi 7 in Montagnola hosts the free film discussion Vivere da famigliari curanti, organised by Pro Senectute with ATTE. Mentioned in last week’s issue, it includes a screening followed by a discussion and an aperitif. Places are limited and registration is required: 091 912 17 17. Details from Pro Senectute.

From the municipality: after-school courses and Orange Days

The municipality is looking for activity leaders for after-school courses for primary-school pupils in the 2026/27 school year. The indicative periods run from November to February and from March to May. Interested people must apply in writing by 11 am on Tuesday 20 October to the Istituto scolastico di Collina d’Oro, casella postale 217, 6926 Montagnola. The municipal notice has the application instructions.

Villa Lucchini in Gentilino is lit orange for Orange Days, the campaign against violence towards women and girls. The municipal government says the facade will be illuminated from 4 October to 10 December. The local start is earlier than the campaign’s usual 25 November to 10 December period.

Invasive ant: how to report a suspected sighting

A flyer published on the municipal noticeboard on 7 October describes possible signs of Tapinoma magnum: broad, dense trails along walls and paving, dark brown to black ants 2–5 mm long, and small piles of soil near nests. This species can resemble other ants, so these clues alone cannot identify a colony. If you suspect a sighting, the cantonal working group asks you to contact SPAAS on 091 814 29 71 or at dt-spaas.neobiota@ti.ch, or the technical office of the municipality where you saw it. The flyer advises against using chemical treatments on your own initiative.

A useful service: compost and soil at Viglio

Garden waste can be delivered free of charge to the Viglio composting site, which is open until 19 December. You can also collect the soil produced by composting there at no cost. During daylight saving time, the municipal hours are Tuesday–Friday, 10.30–11.30 am and 5–6 pm, and Saturday, 4–5.30 pm; the site is closed on Mondays and public holidays. This existing service is especially useful to people who do not use the registered home-collection service.

If an event time changes or you know a Collina d’Oro story worth sharing, write to us. See you next Thursday.