Mendrisio

Mendrisio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.

Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian-speaking Switzerland (USI).

The municipality was boosted in size on 4 April 2004 when it incorporated the former municipality of Salorino. On 5 April 2009 it incorporated the former municipalities of Arzo, Capolago, Genestrerio, Rancate and Tremona. On 14 April 2013 the former municipalities of Besazio, Ligornetto and Meride merged into the municipality of Mendrisio.

Mendrisio is served by Mendrisio railway station.

History

Mendrisio was first mentioned in 793 as Mendrici and was also known by its German name, Mendris though this name is no longer used. However, the area was inhabited during the Roman era. Around thirty tombs, a villa and coins from a Roman settlement have been discovered in the area. Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, Mendrisio was the center of a Lombard district and grew into a town. During the Middle Ages, several fortifications were built on the valley floor between the Porta S. Giovanni and the Moree river. In the Late Middle Ages the Torriani family built their castle on the rocky hills above the town. Mendrisio became an independent town in the County of Seprio in 1140. The County was taken over by Como three decades later in 1170. Como ruled over Mendrisio until 1335, when Como was brought under Milan's control. Mendrisio then remained under Milanese control until 1402. At some point in the 15th century, the town was given as a fief to the Rusca and Sanseverino families.

Mendrisio (district)

The district of Mendrisio (also called Mendrisiotto) is the southernmost district of canton of Ticino and of Switzerland. To its north lies the district of Lugano. It is surrounded on the other three sides by Italy: to the east and south by the province of Como, and to the west by the province of Varese. It has a population of 51,073 (as of 31 December 2014).

Geography

The district of Mendrisio has an area, as of 1997, of 100.89 square kilometers (38.95 sq mi). Of this area, 25.79 km² (9.96 sq mi) or 25.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 61.2 km² (23.6 sq mi) or 60.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 18.88 km² (7.29 sq mi) or 18.7% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.44 km² (0.17 sq mi) or 0.4% is either rivers or lakes and 0.99 km² (0.38 sq mi) or 1.0% is unproductive land.

Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 2.0% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 9.7% and transportation infrastructure made up 5.3%. Power and water infrastructure as well as other special developed areas made up 1.1% of the area Out of the forested land, 57.0% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.6% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 11.9% is used for growing crops, while 4.0% is used for orchards or vine crops and 9.7% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the district is flowing water.