The cultural insert of the Annual Report is dedicated to Alessandro Manzoni (Milan, 7 March 1785 - 22 May 1873), a personality who has given a great deal to culture, both quantitatively and above all qualitatively.

Part of his life is directly and indirectly linked to Switzerland. In fact, as a young man, he studied for some time at the Istituto Sant'Antonio in Lugano of the Somaschi Fathers, receiving a good classical education and a taste for literature.

Another important and influential element in Manzoni's life is the conversion to the Catholic religion of his first wife, a Calvinist, Enrichetta Blondel, daughter of the Swiss industrialist François-Louis Blondel, related to Geneva bankers. This fact invites Manzoni to deep reflections, determining his approach to the Catholic Church, until then snubbed. It also spurred him on to a convinced religious fervour, which, from that period, greatly influenced his literary production.

Without Alessandro Manzoni the Italian language would lack an unparalleled piece and would still be poorer. Just think of the many expressions of the Promessi Sposi (Betrothed Promises) that have become part of the everyday ways of saying, acquired by all, intellectual and not. A few examples: "...I am a man of the world, and I know how these things go"; "...you can't sing, and carry the cross"; "...Don Abbondio was not born with a lion's heart" and so on.

Manzoni's works are always current and always will be; and they continue to be a paradigm of elegance in prosaic and poetic writing.