Besazio

Former municipality of Switzerland

Coat of arms

Besazio

Location of Besazio

Coordinates: 45°52′N 8°57′E / 45.867°N 8.950°ECoordinates: 45°52′N 8°57′E / 45.867°N 8.950°E

Country

Government

• Mayor

Silvano Gaffuri

Area

• Total

0.88 km² (0.34 sq mi)

Elevation

497 m (1,631 ft)

Population (Dec 2011)

• Total

618

• Density

700/km² (1,800/sq mi)

Postal code

6863

SFOS number

5243

Surrounded by

Arzo, Clivio (IT-VA), Ligornetto, Rancate, Tremona

Website

besazio.ch
SFSO statistics

Besazio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 14 April 2013 the former municipalities of Besazio, Ligornetto and Meride merged into the municipality of Mendrisio.

Besazio is first mentioned in 1335 as Besatio. In 15th to 18th centuries it was called Besaccio. A settlement in this area was first mentioned in 1254, but the area has been settled since ancient times, as Roman era and Early Middle Ages objects indicate. In 1335 it was mentioned as part of the Pieve of Riva San Vitale. It became the center of its own parish in 1579. The first parish church of St. Antonino dates from before that date, but the exact age is unknown. According to tradition, the bell tower is a converted signal tower, while the sacristy is a former guard-house. In 1654 parish church of S. Maria Immacolata was built in a central location. It was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century, and renovated in 1964.

The main sources of income of the inhabitants was agriculture and marble mining as well as emigration to work as bricklayers. The recent economic and population growth has gradually changed the municipality into a commuter town.

Before the merger, Besazio had a total area of .9 km² (0.35 sq mi). Of this area, 0.57 km² (0.22 sq mi) or 64.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 0.28 km² (0.11 sq mi) or 31.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.19 km² (0.073 sq mi) or 21.6% is settled (buildings or roads).

Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 19.3% and transportation infrastructure made up 2.3%. Out of the forested land, 20.5% of the total land area is heavily forested and 11.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 20.5% is used for growing crops, while 25.0% is used for orchards or vine crops and 19.3% is used for alpine pastures.

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Wikipedia