Balerna

Balerna
Coat of arms
Balerna Show map of Switzerland Balerna Show map of Canton of Ticino
Location of Balerna
Coordinates: 45°51′N 9°00′E / 45.850°N 9.000°E / 45.850; 9.000Coordinates: 45°51′N 9°00′E / 45.850°N 9.000°E / 45.850; 9.000
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Mendrisio
Government
• Mayor	Sindaco Luca Pagani CVP/PDC/PPD
Area
• Total	2.57 km2 (0.99 sq mi)
Elevation	350 m (1,150 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	3,390
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Postal code	6828
SFOS number	5242
Localities	Caslaccio, Mercole, S. Antonio, Bisio, Pontegana, Passeggiata
Surrounded by	Castel San Pietro, Chiasso, Coldrerio, Morbio Inferiore, Novazzano
Website	www.balerna.ch SFSO statistics

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

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 12th Century some decimani (tithe collectors) and the monastery of S. Abbondio in Como owned land and associated rights in Balerna.

By no later than the 12th Century, Balerna was as the center of a pieve, which encompassed the area that is now the district of Mendrisio except for Chiasso (which was part of the pieve of Zezio) and some areas of the Pieve of Riva San Vitale. Balerna, together with Riva and Uggiate, formed a consorzio (a common property group)in the 12th Century. Politically the municipalities of Chiasso, Boffalora, Pedrinate, Seseglio, Novazzano, Coldrerio, Villa, Castel San Pietro, Vacallo and the Valle di Muggio part of the Pieve of Balerna.

Starting in the 9th Century Balerna belonged to the count of Seprio. In the 13th Century it was under the city of Como, and later under the Bishop of Como. In 1335 under the rule of the Visconti of Milan, then under Franchino Rusca. In 1412 it came to the Duke of Milan, who completely separated it from Como in 1416. Balerna was now ruled by a Podestà, who resided in Mendrisio, but had his court in Balerna. In the following period it was owned by a large number of rulers: the Rusca family (1416–32), the Sanseverino family, the Golden Ambrosian Republic, the Schliessler family and then the Sforza family. In 1475, the Sforzas separated Balerna administratively from Mendrisio. In 1499 it passed into the hands of Count Bartolomeo Crivelli, but it was occupied in the same year by the French. In 1512 they were followed by the Swiss Confederation, who combined it with Mendrisio into a bailiwick. As part of the bailiwick, Balerna was able to retain its privileges. Until 1573 the bailiff had a court in Balerna. He had two plebani representing him at Balerna and two reggenti at Mendrisio. In 1798 it was supposed to become part of the Cisalpine Republic, but it, instead, wanted to be part of Switzerland. The decree of Aarau on 30 May 1798 combined it with Mendrisio as part of the Helvetic Republic.