The Institute

Villa ELena

Villa Elena was built around the beginning of the last century by Dr. Antonio Sciaroni, doctor and surgeon of Muralto, grandfather of the current owner, and had the medical office in the villa. He handed it over to his son, Dr. Roberto Sciaroni, also a surgeon at the S. Agnese Clinic in Muralto. The building belongs to the Liberty style and is part of the protected buildings in the municipality of Muralto and has recently been renovated.
Today the villa is a good place for scientific discussions and interdisciplinary research. It also offers overnight accommodation and can be easily reached by public transport via a train station 300 m away.

Muralto and surroundings

Muralto, located in beautiful Locarno, is one of the smallest municipalities in the canton of Ticino with around 3,000 inhabitants. The small area between the mountains and the lake is largely compensated by a beautiful environment and a special climate, as well as important testimonies of ancient art that arouse admiration. Over the centuries, the inhabitants have contributed with imagination and diligence to the development and prosperity of the strip of land on the shores of Lake Verbano. Today Muralto is a dynamic, contemporary city that offers its inhabitants a good reputation and an excellent quality of life.

Location

Besides natural architectural treasures, the lake also offers a clean and lively atmosphere. The Mediterranean climate allows you to enjoy the landscape and the many leisure activities throughout the year.

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Piazza Grande

Piazza Grande in Locarno is the pulsating center of the city. The square, lined with arcades, is one of the largest squares in Switzerland. Big events like the Moon & Stars concerts are staged here.

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Castello Visconteo

The inner core of the Castello Visconteo fortress still rises above the town on Lake Maggiore. The archaeological museum in the fortress is very popular. Among other things, glass objects from the Roman period can be viewed here.

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Settimane Musicali di Ascona

The Settimane Musicali have been an integral part of the tradition and musical panorama of Lake Maggiore and Ticino since they were founded in 1946. They are a reference point for music enthusiasts - both local and tourist - and at the same time a first-class event that is unparalleled in the local calendar of events.

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Madonna del Sasso

The Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso is one of the most important religious and historical sites in Canton Ticino. The Annunciation Church at the foot of the mountain, the Via Crucis and the Sanctuary still exist today. Spirituality, history and art treasures are housed there.

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Connection

Connected to Locarno, whose border is close to the railway station, it offers a comfortable starting point for train rides throughout Ticino as well as bus rides to Ascona and other valleys, such as the Maggia Valley. The local shipping company organizes beautiful sightseeing tours on the lake and visits to the Italian markets (Intra, Canobbio and Luino).

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Lehrende

Prof. Dr. Werner Urland

Werner Urland, born on April 13, 1944 in Berlin, is a German chemist whose name is inextricably linked to the pioneering implementation of the Angular Overlap Model (AOM): a specific paradigm for accounting for metal ions in complexes or crystals [1][2]. This approach is gaining renewed importance in the context of the hype surrounding novel lanthanide-based materials, be it in the production of molecular-scale magnets or in the design of new phosphor materials. You can read more information about his work on Wikipedia.