Monteceneri

Coat of arms

Monteceneri

Location of Monteceneri

Coordinates: 46°7′N 08°56′E / 46.117°N 8.933°ECoordinates: 46°7′N 08°56′E / 46.117°N 8.933°E

Country

Government

• Mayor

Sindaco
Emilio Filippini

Area

• Total

37.04 km² (14.30 sq mi)

Elevation

196 m (643 ft)

Population (Dec 2015)

• Total

4,693

• Density

130/km² (330/sq mi)

Postal code

6573

SFOS number

5238

Localities

Medeglia, Bironico, Camignolo, Rivera and Sigirino

Website

http://www.monteceneri.ch
SFSO statistics

Monteceneri is a municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It was created on 21 November 2010 through the merger of the municipalities of Medeglia, Bironico, Camignolo, Rivera and Sigirino.

Medeglia is first mentioned in 1195 as Medellia. Bironico is first mentioned in 1296 as Bironico. Camignolo is first mentioned in 1296 as Camigiollo. Rivera is first mentioned in 1296 as Sorenzino. In 1348 it was mentioned as Rivera. Sigirino is first mentioned in 1335 as Sezelino.

During the High Middle Ages, Medeglia was probably part of the old valley community of Carvina which eventually came under the authority of Lugano. In 1501-03 Medeglia and Isone were transferred to the county of Bellinzona, but they remained part of the pieve of Agno. It became part of the parish of Bironico in the 13th century. Then, in 1585, it became the center of a vice parish. It finally broke away from the old parish and became a full parish in 1888. The parish church of St. Bartholomew was first mentioned in 1328. The romanesque core of the church was renovated and rebuilt in the 15th and 17th centuries.

The local economy of the village was based on animal husbandry and forestry. Starting in the 16th century the residents of Isone and Medeglia bought forests and pastures as far away as Robasacco, Contone, Cadenazzo, Sant'Antonino and Camorino while at the same time opening up trade relations with Bellinzona. To escape poverty and limited farm land, in the 19th century many inhabitants emigrated. The majority of these emigrants moved to Argentina and California. The mountain pastures of Medeglia were classified in 1996 as a wetland of national importance. In 2000, three-quarters of the working population worked outside the municipality.

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Wikipedia