Morbio Inferiore

Coat of arms

Morbio Inferiore

Location of Morbio Inferiore

Coordinates: 45°51′N 9°01′E / 45.850°N 9.017°ECoordinates: 45°51′N 9°01′E / 45.850°N 9.017°E

Country

Government

• Mayor

Sindaco
Angelo Albisetti
(as of 2008)

Area

• Total

2.29 km² (0.88 sq mi)

Elevation

342 m (1,122 ft)

Population (Dec 2015)

• Total

4,633

• Density

2,000/km² (5,200/sq mi)

Postal code

6834, 6836

SFOS number

5257

Surrounded by

Balerna, Castel San Pietro, Chiasso, Morbio Superiore, Sagno, Vacallo

Website

morbioinf.ch
SFSO statistics

Morbio Inferiore is a municipality in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland in the hills above Chiasso. It is located in the district of Mendrisio.

Morbio Inferiore is first mentioned in 1148 as Morbio Subteriori. In 1198 it was mentioned as Morbio inferiori.

The area near Morbio Inferiore was inhabited during the Roman era, the remains of which include tombs, the ruins of a villa and some Roman baths. During the Middle Ages the village belonged to Pieve of Balerna. A castle was built above the village in 1198, probably on the site of an older fort. Between 1467-68 the town of Mendrisio fought the Duke of Milan for the possession of Morbio. It was awarded to Mendrisio and then subsequently sold. In 1473 it was pawned by the Duke of Milan to Pietro da Oli and again in 1482 to Roberto Sanseverino. Early in the 16th Century it came to the Trivulzio family, who sold it to the Swiss Confederation. The Swiss destroyed the entire castle, except for the chapel, in 1517.

On the castle's foundations, the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli was built some time after 1595. The church was consecrated in 1613 and elevated in 1776 to a parish church, when Morbio separated from the parish of Balerna. The parish church was renovated in 1974 and again in 1999-2001. The church of San Giorgio, which was part of the vice parish until 1713, was built in 1309 and restored in 1975-78. The Chapel of San Rocco was first mentioned in 1578. It was totally rebuilt in 1760 and renovated in 1985.

Traditionally, the municipal economy was based on viticulture, the cultivation of mulberry trees and maize. In the 20th Century, the population and economy changed when large bakery, brewery, cement factory and later the textile and watchmaking industries moved into the municipality. In 2000 three-quarters of the population worked outside the community. In 2001, the Parco delle Gole della naturale (Natural Park) was inaugurated along the Breggia river.

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Wikipedia