Serravalle | |
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Malvaglia village in Serravalle
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Coordinates: 46°25′N 8°59′E / 46.417°N 8.983°ECoordinates: 46°25′N 8°59′E / 46.417°N 8.983°E | |
Country | Switzerland |
Canton | Ticino |
District | Blenio |
Government | |
• Mayor | Sindaco |
Area | |
• Total | 96.92 km2 (37.42 sq mi) |
Population (Dec 2015) | |
• Total | 2,101 |
• Density | 22/km2 (56/sq mi) |
Postal code | 6713, 6714, 6721 |
SFOS number | 5050 |
Surrounded by | Acquarossa, Biasca, Bodio, Blenio, Hinterrhein (GR), Mesocco (GR), Rossa (GR), Sobrio |
Website |
http://www.serravalle.ch SFSO statistics |
Serravalle is a municipality in the district of Blenio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It was formed on 1 April 2012 by the merger of the former municipalities of Malvaglia, Semione and Ludiano.
In 1926 a grave was discovered which contained Iron Age grave offerings. The modern municipality of Ludiano is first mentioned in 1211 as Luguilano. It was mentioned as a local center for surrounding farmhouses and villages in 1351.
The parish church of S. Secondo is first mentioned in 1293. It was rebuilt in 1779-82, though the older romanesque clock tower was retained.
In the past, the main sources of income were crops, livestock and vineyards. This income was supplemented by money sent back to the village by emigrants to other European countries. After the emigration-related decline in the mid-19th century, the number of inhabitants has increased in the last decades of the 20th century and has led to numerous new homes. In 2000 about half the jobs in the village were in manufacturing and the services sector accounted for about a fifth of the jobs. Two thirds of the working population earned their livelihood outside the community.
Malvaglia is first mentioned in 1205 as de Malvallia. In German it used to be known as Manglia. Malvaglia's development and history is closely tied to the development and history of the Blenio valley. In the settlement of Rongier, an ancient town on the Lukmanier road, a Roman coin hoard was found. The settlement is also home to the Casa Baggio. Casa Baggio was built in the 16th century and expanded in the 17th. It was probably the ruling seat of the bailiff. The building is now listed as a historic building. Above the village is also the remains of Casa dei pagani, a cave castle from the 11th-13th Centuries.
The original, parish church was dedicated to St. Benedict and first mentioned in 1207. The current building, with St. Martin as the patron saint is from 1602–03, but the bell tower is from the 13th Century.