Ticino Remembers Borromini

From March 31 to May 19, 2026, the Canton of Ticino will host Borromini 2026, a cultural program dedicated to the life and legacy of Francesco Borromini (Bissone, September 27, 1599 – Rome, 1667), one of the most important figures in Roman and European Baroque architecture. Known for his bold, concave and convex forms, his most important works—mainly located in Rome—include the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (“San Carlino”), Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, Sant’Agnese in Agone, and the Oratory of the Filippini.
The Ticino project offers a series of events held across Bissone, Bellinzona, Lugano, and Mendrisio, involving several cultural institutions in the region and offering the public an in-depth journey into the life and work of this Baroque genius. “Borromini’s activity is mainly Roman, but he actually identified himself as Milanese and referred to the Diocese of Como. His critics even claim that he was trained in the Gothic tradition of Milan, in opposition to Roman Renaissance principles. In reality, Borromini was the main collaborator of Carlo Maderno, the chief architect of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome,” explains Nicola Soldini, architectural historian and creator of the project, during the press conference held in mid-March at the charming Church of San Carpoforo in Bissone—the very place where Borromini was baptized. “We are proposing a program that goes beyond the mere obligations of anniversary celebrations and offers a series of events characterized by variety, quality, and expertise. The idea is to address a broad and curious audience, not limited to the academic sphere, by reviving a form of widely accessible culture,” Soldini adds.
“For us, Borromini is a symbol of identity, collective memory, and a human heritage that continues to honor us. Celebrating him means enhancing our roots and passing on to future generations the pride of belonging to the same land from which he set out to leave his mark on the history of European art,” says Andrea Incerti, Mayor of Bissone.
The program stands out for the variety of its offerings: exhibitions, conferences, cultural meetings, music, and theater. The initiative is made possible through the collaboration of numerous cultural institutions: the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of the Canton of Ticino, the Municipality of Bissone, the Cantonal Library of Lugano, the Archivio del Moderno of the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio (USI), the Biblioteca Salita dei Frati, and the Teatro Sociale of Bellinzona, with the support of Mendrisiotto Turismo.
Program:
Exhibition at the Cantonal Library of Lugano, March 31, 2026, 6:00 PM.
Public lectures:
Academy of Architecture, Mendrisio, April 14, 2026, 6:30 PM
Borromini, Three Masterpieces: San Carlino, Sant’Ivo, Palazzo Falconieri
Joseph Connors, Professor, Columbia University.
Biblioteca Salita dei Frati, Lugano, May 5, 12, and 19, 2026, 6:00 PM.
Borromini in Bissone:
Church of San Rocco, April 15, 2026, 6:00 PM
Conversation with Joseph Connors, Columbia University.
Church of San Rocco, April 27, 2026, 6:00 PM
Conversation with Marco Martinelli, playwright and theater director.
Public lectures:
Church of San Rocco, April 21, 2026, 6:00 PM
The Very Young Borromini, with Nicola Soldini.
Church of San Rocco, April 23, 2026, 6:00 PM
“The Enigma of San Carlino: Shaping with the Compass”
Richard Bösel, University of Vienna.
Baroque music concert, Church of San Carpoforo, April 30, 2026, 8:30 PM.
Teatro Sociale, Bellinzona, April 28, 8:30 PM (April 29 reserved for schools).