Breggia, Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Breggia is a municipality
in the district of Mendrisio
in the canton
of Ticino
in Switzerland
. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Bruzella
, Cabbio
, Caneggio
, Morbio Superiore
, Muggio
and Sagno
merged into the municipality of Breggia.
of Caneggio. The Church of S. Siro, is first mentioned in 1579. It was rebuilt in the 18th Century, and restored in 1973.
Traditionally, cheese production and forestery (production of timber and charcoal) were the main economic sources. This was supplemented by periodic waves of emigration. By 1985, agriculture only employed six people. At the beginning of the 21st Century, the population was largely made of retirees and commuters.
and Rusca Castle in Como
. It was part of the parish of Muggio until the first half of the 17th Century, and part of the political municipality until 1673. It was part of the parish of Balerna
until the early 19th Century. Until 1805, Cabbio also included the village of Casima (now part of Castel San Pietro
. The parish church
of S. Salvatore was first mentioned in 1579. It was rebuilt in 1780-95 and newly consecrated in 1818.
The village economy was traditionally based on forest and alpine farming, as well as emigration to other countries.
graves were discovered in Campora.
The village was part of the parish
of Bruzella. They separated in 1649, and Caneggio, probably in the same century, joined the parish of Balerna. The church of S. Maria Assunta is first mentioned in 1566. In 1715, it was rebuilt and renovated in 1971-75.
The village had limited farming land, so the local economy was based on alpine pastures and forestry. Due to the limited land, many residents of the village emigrated to other countries. With the rise of the services sector in the second half of the 20th Century the population stabilized. The residents are now mostly commuters.
(first mentioned in 1299) the village was owned by Como Cathedral
and the Benedictine
monastery of S. Abbondio in Como
. The church of S. Vittore in Balerna also owned property in the village. From 1591 until the 17th Century, Morbio and Sagno were a vice parish
under the mother church
at Balerna. In 1802 Morbio Superiore was a separate parish.
The parish church
of S. Giovanni Evangelista was first mentioned in 1227. In the 18th Century, it was totally rebuilt and then renovated in 1957. The chapel of San Martino, originally an Early Middle Ages
romanesque
building stands on the site of what might be an Ostrogoth
watchtower from the 6th Century. The Chapel of S. Anna is from the late Baroque period
.
Formerly, the village was surrounded by vineyards, tobacco and mulberry cultivation, of which only the vineyards remain. In the last decades of the 20th Century Morbio Superiore developed in to a residential community. Since 1960, Lattecaldo has been the headquarters of the Cantonal Forestry School. In 2000, four-fifths of the workforce worked outside the community.
. At that time it was part of the parish
of Cabbio. In 1673 it became a vice-parish, which was supported, until the 19th Century, by the mother church
at Balerna.
The Church of San Lorenzo was first mentioned in 1578. In 1760 it was rebuilt and it was renovated several times, most recently in 2003-04.
The inhabitants lived on agriculture and animal husbandry as well as emigration, especially of artists, to other countries. Several large waves of emigration occurred between 1850 and 1940. Since the 1950s the population has continued to decline.
suggest that the valley was settled prehistorically. During the Middle Ages
it was part of the Pieve
of Balerna. Together with Morbio Superiore it formed a vice-parish, which depended on the mother church
at Balerna. They broke away in the 17th Century and in 1802 became an independent parish
.
The parish church
of San Michele Arcangelo was first mentioned in 1330, but is of much older origin. In 1789-99 it was rebuilt in the Classicist style and it was renovated in 1982-83.
In 1843, near Mount Bisbino, a violent political conflict, the so-called Fatti del Bisbino broke out. Throughout Ticino in the 1830s and 1840s, there had been a conflict between the conservative, catholic side and the liberals. Following a religious celebration at Monte Bisbino, on 2 July 1843 a troupe of about 20 people were heading home, amusing themselves with singing. A group of radicals encountered the troupe and an argument broke out. A priest was wounded, and several members of the liberal group; Briester Bernasconi, one of his servants and Charles Casartelli, were killed. Reprisals for the attack led to the deaths of the Bruzella pastor, Father Michael Cereghetti, and the baker Antonio Ferrari.
Agriculture and livestock constitute the main long-term sources of income. This was supplemented, by a seasonal migration, especially of bricklayers and stonemasons from Italy. Starting in the 1970s, the population increased slightly. In 2000 about four-fifths of the working population of Sagno were commuters, mostly to Chiasso
.
. The wettest month is May during which time Bruzella receives an average of 213 mm (8.4 in) of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 13.1 days. The driest month of the year is December with an average of 74 mm (2.9 in) of precipitation over 5.8 days.
Morbio Superiore has an average of 100.6 days of rain or snow per year and on average receives 1568 mm (61.7 in) of precipitation
. The wettest month is May during which time Morbio Superiore receives an average of 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 12.9 days. The driest month of the year is December with an average of 72 mm (2.8 in) of precipitation over 5.7 days.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the district of Mendrisio
Mendrisio (district)
The district of Mendrisio 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...
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Ticino
Ticino
Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Bruzella
Bruzella
Bruzella was a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Bruzella, Cabbio, Caneggio, Morbio Superiore, Muggio and Sagno merged into the municipality of Breggia.-History:...
, Cabbio
Cabbio
Cabbio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Bruzella, Cabbio, Caneggio, Morbio Superiore, Muggio, Sagno and Breggia merged into the municipality of Breggia-History:...
, Caneggio
Caneggio
Caneggio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Bruzella, Cabbio, Caneggio, Morbio Superiore, Muggio, Sagno and Breggia merged into the municipality of Breggia...
, Morbio Superiore
Morbio Superiore
Morbio Superiore was a municipality in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland in the hills above Chiasso. It is located in the district of Mendrisio. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Bruzella, Cabbio, Caneggio, Morbio Superiore, Muggio and Sagno merged into the municipality of...
, Muggio
Muggio
Muggio was a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 25 October 2009 the municipalities of Bruzella, Cabbio, Caneggio, Morbio Superiore, Muggio and Sagno merged into the municipality of Breggia.-History:...
and Sagno
Sagno
Sagno is a former municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland; it is now part of the new municipality of Breggia....
merged into the municipality of Breggia.
History
Bruzella is first mentioned in 852 as Brusella. Cabbio is first mentioned in 1188 as Cabio. Caneggio is first mentioned in 1209 as Canegio. In 1335 it was mentioned as Canezio. Morbio Superiore is first mentioned in 1116 as Morbio de Supra. Muggio is first mentioned in 852 as Mugio. Sagno is first mentioned around 1296-99 as Sagnio.Brusella
Until 1609 it was united territorially with Monte and until 1649 it was part of the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Caneggio. The Church of S. Siro, is first mentioned in 1579. It was rebuilt in the 18th Century, and restored in 1973.
Traditionally, cheese production and forestery (production of timber and charcoal) were the main economic sources. This was supplemented by periodic waves of emigration. By 1985, agriculture only employed six people. At the beginning of the 21st Century, the population was largely made of retirees and commuters.
Cabbio
The village was mentioned in 1299 as a part of the holdings of Como CathedralComo Cathedral
Como Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Como, Lombardy, Italy, and the seat of the Bishop of Como. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The cathedral, located near Lake Como, is one of the most important buildings in the region...
and Rusca Castle in Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
. It was part of the parish of Muggio until the first half of the 17th Century, and part of the political municipality until 1673. It was part of the parish of Balerna
Balerna
Balerna is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Balerna is first mentioned in 1115 as Barerna. In 844 and 865, the monastery of S. Ambrogio in Milan purchased land in the concilium of Castel S. Pietro which would have included Balerna. In the...
until the early 19th Century. Until 1805, Cabbio also included the village of Casima (now part of Castel San Pietro
Castel San Pietro
Castel San Pietro is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Castel San Pietro is first mentioned in 1171 as Castellum Sancti Petri. A settlement near the village was mentioned in 865, when an Imperial knight named Sigeradus, granted the area to...
. The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of S. Salvatore was first mentioned in 1579. It was rebuilt in 1780-95 and newly consecrated in 1818.
The village economy was traditionally based on forest and alpine farming, as well as emigration to other countries.
Caneggio
Roman eraSwitzerland in the Roman era
The history of Switzerland in the Roman era encompasses the roughly six centuries during which the territory of modern Switzerland was a part of the Roman Republic and Empire...
graves were discovered in Campora.
The village was part of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Bruzella. They separated in 1649, and Caneggio, probably in the same century, joined the parish of Balerna. The church of S. Maria Assunta is first mentioned in 1566. In 1715, it was rebuilt and renovated in 1971-75.
The village had limited farming land, so the local economy was based on alpine pastures and forestry. Due to the limited land, many residents of the village emigrated to other countries. With the rise of the services sector in the second half of the 20th Century the population stabilized. The residents are now mostly commuters.
Morbio Superiore
In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
(first mentioned in 1299) the village was owned by Como Cathedral
Como Cathedral
Como Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Como, Lombardy, Italy, and the seat of the Bishop of Como. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The cathedral, located near Lake Como, is one of the most important buildings in the region...
and the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery of S. Abbondio in Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
. The church of S. Vittore in Balerna also owned property in the village. From 1591 until the 17th Century, Morbio and Sagno were a vice parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
under the mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
at Balerna. In 1802 Morbio Superiore was a separate parish.
The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of S. Giovanni Evangelista was first mentioned in 1227. In the 18th Century, it was totally rebuilt and then renovated in 1957. The chapel of San Martino, originally an Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
building stands on the site of what might be an Ostrogoth
Ostrogoth
The Ostrogoths were a branch of the Goths , a Germanic tribe who developed a vast empire north of the Black Sea in the 3rd century AD and, in the late 5th century, under Theodoric the Great, established a Kingdom in Italy....
watchtower from the 6th Century. The Chapel of S. Anna is from the late Baroque period
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
.
Formerly, the village was surrounded by vineyards, tobacco and mulberry cultivation, of which only the vineyards remain. In the last decades of the 20th Century Morbio Superiore developed in to a residential community. Since 1960, Lattecaldo has been the headquarters of the Cantonal Forestry School. In 2000, four-fifths of the workforce worked outside the community.
Muggio
The Muggio valley has been inhabited since ancient times and by the 9th Century farmers had settled in the village. It was included in the 1299 listing of land owned by Como CathedralComo Cathedral
Como Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Como, Lombardy, Italy, and the seat of the Bishop of Como. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The cathedral, located near Lake Como, is one of the most important buildings in the region...
. At that time it was part of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Cabbio. In 1673 it became a vice-parish, which was supported, until the 19th Century, by the mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
at Balerna.
The Church of San Lorenzo was first mentioned in 1578. In 1760 it was rebuilt and it was renovated several times, most recently in 2003-04.
The inhabitants lived on agriculture and animal husbandry as well as emigration, especially of artists, to other countries. Several large waves of emigration occurred between 1850 and 1940. Since the 1950s the population has continued to decline.
Sagno
Scattered finds from the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
suggest that the valley was settled prehistorically. During the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
it was part of the Pieve
Pieve
In the Middle Ages, a pieve was a rural church with a baptistery, upon which other churches without baptisteries depended.The Italian word pieve is descended from Latin plebs which, after the expansion of Christianity in Italy, was applied to the community of baptized people...
of Balerna. Together with Morbio Superiore it formed a vice-parish, which depended on the mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
at Balerna. They broke away in the 17th Century and in 1802 became an independent parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
.
The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of San Michele Arcangelo was first mentioned in 1330, but is of much older origin. In 1789-99 it was rebuilt in the Classicist style and it was renovated in 1982-83.
In 1843, near Mount Bisbino, a violent political conflict, the so-called Fatti del Bisbino broke out. Throughout Ticino in the 1830s and 1840s, there had been a conflict between the conservative, catholic side and the liberals. Following a religious celebration at Monte Bisbino, on 2 July 1843 a troupe of about 20 people were heading home, amusing themselves with singing. A group of radicals encountered the troupe and an argument broke out. A priest was wounded, and several members of the liberal group; Briester Bernasconi, one of his servants and Charles Casartelli, were killed. Reprisals for the attack led to the deaths of the Bruzella pastor, Father Michael Cereghetti, and the baker Antonio Ferrari.
Agriculture and livestock constitute the main long-term sources of income. This was supplemented, by a seasonal migration, especially of bricklayers and stonemasons from Italy. Starting in the 1970s, the population increased slightly. In 2000 about four-fifths of the working population of Sagno were commuters, mostly to Chiasso
Chiasso
Chiasso is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is located at the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso...
.
Geography
Breggia has an area, , of 25.48 square kilometres (9.8 sq mi). Of this area, 2.31 km² (0.891895986348756 sq mi) or 9.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 20.98 km² (8.1 sq mi) or 82.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.99 km² (0.38224113700661 sq mi) or 3.9% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.08 km² (19.8 acre) or 0.3% is either rivers or lakes and 0.24 km² (0.0926645180622084 sq mi) or 0.9% is unproductive land.Weather
Bruzella has an average of 104.4 days of rain or snow per year and on average receives 1680 mm (66.1 in) of precipitationPrecipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
. The wettest month is May during which time Bruzella receives an average of 213 mm (8.4 in) of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 13.1 days. The driest month of the year is December with an average of 74 mm (2.9 in) of precipitation over 5.8 days.
Morbio Superiore has an average of 100.6 days of rain or snow per year and on average receives 1568 mm (61.7 in) of precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
. The wettest month is May during which time Morbio Superiore receives an average of 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 12.9 days. The driest month of the year is December with an average of 72 mm (2.8 in) of precipitation over 5.7 days.