Newsletter Reflections from the Beyond Borders workshops, October 22-25, 2025, Lugano, Switzerland
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Europe seems to be defined by its borders. We associate borders with different languages, histories, foods, music, and culture. We associate borders with difference. But when we develop methodologies to see beyond borders, we arrive at something more valuable: common ground for common benefit.
Our recent Beyond Borders workshops, hosted by Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni, Dr. Adine Gavazzi, and PhD student Antonio Lenzo at Università della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, explored precisely these themes. Building on the thematic explorations of the USI team and Antonella Fresa, we examined collaborations and cross-border factors in tourism, discovering that the most interesting opportunities often lie at the intersections.
European borders have their own heritage and complexity. Even Ireland, with only three neighbours separated by sea, faces border challenges. Imagine the intricacy of mainland Europe, where boundaries multiply and overlap in countless configurations.
Whether through ecology, heritage, genealogy, or collaboration, the initiatives we explored share a common conviction: borders may define administrative reality, but they need not define our interactions. The most exciting work happens precisely at the edges—where different worlds meet and overlap.
Heritage tourism, with its deep time perspective, is ideally positioned to recognise and work successfully within these older realities. By looking beyond contemporary political boundaries, we can unlock the full potential of Europe's shared cultural landscape.
