Biasca

View of Biasca and the surrounding valley

Coat of arms

Biasca

Location of Biasca

Coordinates: 46°21′N 8°58′E / 46.350°N 8.967°ECoordinates: 46°21′N 8°58′E / 46.350°N 8.967°E

Country

Government

• Mayor

Sindaco

Area

• Total

59.13 km² (22.83 sq mi)

Elevation

301 m (988 ft)

Population (Dec 2015)

• Total

6,168

• Density

100/km² (270/sq mi)

Postal code

6710

SFOS number

5281

Localities

Loderio, Ponte, Pontirone, Sant'Anna, Valle

Surrounded by

Cauco (GR), Iragna, Lodrino, Malvaglia, Osogna, Personico, Pollegio, Rossa (GR), Semione

Website

www.biasca.ch
SFSO statistics

Biasca is a town of the district of Riviera in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.

Biasca is first mentioned in 830 as Aviasca in the Liber viventium of Pfäfers Abbey. In 1119 it was mentioned as Abiasca.

In 948, the Bishop of Vercelli donated the area around Biasca to the Bishop of Milan. This led to the spiritual and secular domination of the valley north of Bellinzona. During the Bishop's conflicts with the Holy Roman Empire over the Lombardy provinces, Biasca and the surrounding region suffered from armies marching through the valley.

A branch of the Orelli family of Locarno was given the castle above Biasca, near the chapel of S. Petronilla, in the 12th century. They were also given the rights of high justice over the village. However, in 1292 the village was able to push through an agreement that allowed them to elect some local leaders, giving them limited self-government. The Orelli family ruled until the middle of the 14th century, when their territory was incorporated into the dominion of the Visconti. They granted the village along with the Blenio valley to the Bolognese Pepoli family. In the second half of the 14th century, Biasca as was granted the right to choose the Console who had the right to call courts. This right was confirmed in 1422 and subsequent years. In 1403, after the death of Gian Galeazzo, the Visconti Duke, Biasca was conquered by the two Swiss cantons of Uri and Obwalden and incorporated into the Italian bailiwicks of the two towns. In 1422 the Visconti troops of Milan attacked and at the Battle of Arbedo defeated the Swiss and reestablished Milan's borders.

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Wikipedia