A border between poverty and persecution

Event Gandria

Overview

  • Date

    19. May - 18. October 2026

    Sat 12:00 - 17:00
    Sun 12:00 - 17:00
    Tue 12:00 - 17:00
    Wed 12:00 - 17:00
    Thu 12:00 - 17:00
    Fri 12:00 - 17:00

  • Contact

    Schweizerisches Zollmuseum
    Cantine di Gandria
    6978 Gandria
    Phone  +41 (0)58 463 49 22
    zollmuseum.admin.ch

    Check Availability

Intro

A temporary exhibition on smugglers and refugees between Italy and Switzerland during the Second World War.

The border with Italy was by far the area which saw the most intense levels of smuggling. The exhibition traces the history of smuggling, focusing on its most memorable period: the Second World War. Spared from the expansionist ambitions of the menacing Axis powers, Switzerland was literally invaded by an army of smugglers. Men, women and even children from the Italian border villages saw this tough and dangerous activity as a means of alleviating their difficult financial situations.

In those turbulent years, with the centre-north of Italy occupied by the Wehrmacht and ravaged by civil war, thousands of military and civil refugees, especially politicians and Jews, poured into Switzerland. Around 26,000 military and 12,000 civilian refugees were granted entry into Ticino and Mesolcina, of whom around 4,500 were Jews. But many people were also turned away. Some of the Jews who were refused entry were arrested and deported to Auschwitz, from where few returned.

Free

Event information

Show Event information content
Price
Free
The content presented here is provided and updated by regional/local tourist offices or event organisers, which is why Switzerland Tourism is unable to guarantee the correctness of the contents.

Event dates

  • 13 June 2026
  • 14 June 2026
  • 16 June 2026
  • 17 June 2026
  • 18 June 2026
  • 19 June 2026
  • 20 June 2026
  • 21 June 2026
  • 23 June 2026
  • 24 June 2026
  • 25 June 2026
  • 26 June 2026
  • 27 June 2026
  • 28 June 2026
  • 30 June 2026
  • 01 July 2026
  • 02 July 2026
  • 03 July 2026
  • 04 July 2026
  • 05 July 2026
  • 07 July 2026
  • 08 July 2026
  • 09 July 2026
  • 10 July 2026
  • 11 July 2026
  • 12 July 2026
  • 14 July 2026
  • 15 July 2026
  • 16 July 2026
  • 17 July 2026
  • 18 July 2026
  • 19 July 2026
  • 21 July 2026
  • 22 July 2026
  • 23 July 2026
  • 24 July 2026
  • 25 July 2026
  • 26 July 2026
  • 28 July 2026
  • 29 July 2026
  • 30 July 2026
  • 31 July 2026
  • 01 August 2026
  • 02 August 2026
  • 04 August 2026
  • 05 August 2026
  • 06 August 2026
  • 07 August 2026
  • 08 August 2026
  • 09 August 2026
  • 11 August 2026
  • 12 August 2026
  • 13 August 2026
  • 14 August 2026
  • 15 August 2026
  • 16 August 2026
  • 18 August 2026
  • 19 August 2026
  • 20 August 2026
  • 21 August 2026
  • 22 August 2026
  • 23 August 2026
  • 25 August 2026
  • 26 August 2026
  • 27 August 2026
  • 28 August 2026
  • 29 August 2026
  • 30 August 2026
  • 01 September 2026
  • 02 September 2026
  • 03 September 2026
  • 04 September 2026
  • 05 September 2026
  • 06 September 2026
  • 08 September 2026
  • 09 September 2026
  • 10 September 2026
  • 11 September 2026
  • 12 September 2026
  • 13 September 2026
  • 15 September 2026
  • 16 September 2026
  • 17 September 2026
  • 18 September 2026
  • 19 September 2026
  • 20 September 2026
  • 22 September 2026
  • 23 September 2026
  • 24 September 2026
  • 25 September 2026
  • 26 September 2026
  • 27 September 2026
  • 29 September 2026
  • 30 September 2026
  • 01 October 2026
  • 02 October 2026
  • 03 October 2026
  • 04 October 2026
  • 06 October 2026
  • 07 October 2026
  • 08 October 2026
  • 09 October 2026
  • 10 October 2026
  • 11 October 2026
  • 13 October 2026
  • 14 October 2026
  • 15 October 2026
  • 16 October 2026
  • 17 October 2026
  • 18 October 2026

Discover the surroundings

Contact

Schweizerisches Zollmuseum
Cantine di Gandria
6978  Gandria
Switzerland

Phone  +41 (0)58 463 49 22
zollmuseum@bazg.admin.ch
zollmuseum.admin.ch

Date

19. May - 18. October 2026

Sat 12:00 - 17:00
Sun 12:00 - 17:00
Tue 12:00 - 17:00
Wed 12:00 - 17:00
Thu 12:00 - 17:00
Fri 12:00 - 17:00

Contact

Schweizerisches Zollmuseum
Cantine di Gandria
6978 Gandria
Phone  +41 (0)58 463 49 22
zollmuseum.admin.ch

Check Availability

Current Offers

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    valid: 16.06.2026 - 30.11.2026

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  • Lugano Train Reservation Gotthard Panorama Express

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    valid: 13.06.2026 - 13.09.2026

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    Luggage transfer, travel documents, navigation app, SchweizMobil-Plus subscription from CHF 685
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    valid: 13.06.2026 - 18.10.2026

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  • Melide Swissminiatur Admission Ticket

    Experience over 130 detailed miniatures of Swiss landmarks and landscapes at Swissminiatur in... from CHF 22
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    valid: 13.06.2026 - 08.11.2026

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  • Magliaso Combo Ticket for Entry to Zoo al Maglio and Swissminiatur

    With the combo ticket - Swissminiatur and Zoo al Maglio, you can experience two Ticino destinations... from CHF 25
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    valid: 13.06.2026 - 31.10.2026

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    valid: 13.06.2026 - 31.12.2026

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    valid: 13.06.2026 - 31.12.2026

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    valid: 13.06.2026 - 08.11.2026

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