The crazy story of the Ticino who traveled the world in the 19th century

Just a few years before the then 23-year-old Emilio Balli from Ticino went on a world tour, Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days” appeared.

Like many others, the travel and adventure novel, which was still practically fresh off the press, inspired the young Swiss to his 472-day journey around the world.

The Museo di Valmaggia writes about the exhibition that he was the only person from Ticino to go on such a large-scale expedition.

The circumnavigation of the world was possible for Balli because his father Valentino Alessandro had become rich as a merchant in Holland. Born in Locarno on April 27, 1855, the youngest of eleven children, Emilio went to boarding school in Monza, Italy, and then studied natural sciences at the University of Louvain in Belgium.

Driven by a pioneering spirit, he responded to a newspaper ad offering researchers a trip around the world. This finally took place between 1878 and 1879.

Testimonies of Balli’s journey can now be seen in the museum at Cevio in the upper Magg valley: his meticulously kept travel diary, letters to his brothers and photographs; there is also a collection of memorabilia, such as shells, herbs and flowers, stuffed animals and coins, as well as various items he had acquired in the various “curio shops”, as it is said.

America had crossed Balli by train; You can also see old wooden seats from a train. The lower floor is dedicated to various memorabilia.

The exhibition extends over a total of eight rooms with wall-sized photographs. The different colors of the halls reflect the peculiarities of the individual countries. For example, the space dedicated to Japan is red, or the one to America is blue.

After his return – he arrived in Marseille on September 26, 1879 – Balli “became a prominent figure in Ticino”, the museum continues. Enriched by his experience, he excelled in the disciplines of archaeology, numismatics and natural sciences.

On his initiative, the Museum of Archeology and Natural History was founded on May 13, 1900 in Locarno. He was director there for several years.

Balli is also credited as co-founder of the Cantonal Agricultural Society (1885), the Ticino Alpine Club (1886), and the Ticino Society of Natural Sciences (1903).

Balli died in Locarno on November 29, 1934. He is buried in the cemetery of Cavergno.

The exhibition at the Museo di Valmaggia will open on April 22 and will run until October 31, 2023.

(dsc/sda)