Contone

Contone
Former municipality of Switzerland
Coat of arms
Contone Show map of Switzerland Contone Show map of Canton of Ticino
Location of Contone
Coordinates: 46°09′N 8°56′E / 46.150°N 8.933°E / 46.150; 8.933Coordinates: 46°09′N 8°56′E / 46.150°N 8.933°E / 46.150; 8.933
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Locarno
Municipality	Gambarogno
Area
• Total	2.3 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Elevation	206 m (676 ft)
Population
• Total	750
• Density	330/km2 (840/sq mi)
Postal code	6594
SFOS number	5101
Surrounded by	Cadenazzo, Locarno, Magadino, Rivera
Website	SFSO statistics

Contone is a former municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.

On 25 April 2010, the former municipalities of Caviano, Contone, Gerra Gambarogno, Indemini, Magadino, Piazzogna, San Nazzaro, Sant'Abbondio and Vira Gambarogno merged in the new municipality of Gambarogno.

Contone is first mentioned in 1152 as Gondono. However, three tombs have been discovered in Contone, which can be dated earlier than the Early Middle Ages. These tombs date to the reopening of the alpine passes.

Some time before 1219, a Hospital of the Knights Hospitaller was built in the village. However, the exact foundation year and location are controversial. It was later Commandry of the Order of Malta. In the 16th Century, the Commandry estates went to the hospital in Lugano and in 1811 to the Antognini family of Bellinzona.

In 1104, the Lombard nobleman Wido Samarate built or rebuilt a church and presented it to the Benedictine monastery of S. Giorgio in Quartino. The church, which was dedicated to St. Nicholas, was incorporated in 1152 into the parish of Locarno. It was closed in 1769 and fell apart. The parish church of S. Giovanni Battista was built in the 16th Century church, on the site of the hospital church.