25 unmistakable signs that you grew up in Ticino

Don't say that I didn’t warn you: Because once you've visited Ticino, your life will never be the same again.

On rainy days in the north, you will quietly long for the sun that is hiding on the other side of the Alps, for the exotic views with palm trees and for the elegance of the Italian lifestyle... Before soon, you will find yourself back in Ticino and it occurs to you that some things are just different. For instance, never doubt the risotto cooking skills of your Ticinese friend’s grandma. And show some patience when your friend spends a whole month preparing for the Carnivale...

Can you identify with the following statements? Yes? Then you’re so from Ticino...

Your family owns a rustico.

Your first pet was a lizard.

You believe that your nonna cooks the best risotto in the world.

You use an entire garlic clove in your sugo tomato sauce.

You buy your meat in Italy.

It’s not a barbecue without costine and luganighe.

You grew up in a house that was not plain white.

You know someone who worked on the Gotthard tunnel.

You can identify every Ticinese dialect.

You know that Ticino's tallest church tower is located in the town of Intragna.

You would never drink a cappuccino after dinner.

Your year has four seasons: Carnevale, Costine, Marroni, Fondue.

Planning your carnival costume takes a month, endless chats with friends and workmates, and a whole gallery on Facebook for the final result.

And you try to go to carnival every night.

Thursday night is aperitivo night! (Clearly, Thursday is the new Friday in Ticino.)

You go "a passeggio" on Sundays.

You stay away from Ascona during tourist season.

Because can spot tourists from the north in no time.

And oh god, you would never wear socks with Birkenstock sandals!

You consider Lugano a "city".

Your commute includes long queues to and from Lugano - but you never complain.

You don’t care so much about soccer - but you consider hockey more of a religion than a sport.

You seriously cannot miss a hockey derby between Lugano and Ambri.

You celebrate every goal scored against the Italian soccer team.

And finally, you think that you live in the best place of the world. Because what's better than Swiss quality and Italian lifestyle?!?

(Thanks to Laura and Veronica from Ticino Tourism, as well as Alessandra from our team for the great inputs!)