Arosio, Switzerland

Arosio is a village and former municipality in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.

coat of arms

In 2005 the municipality was merged with the other, neighboring municipalities Breno, Fescoggia, Mugena and Vezio to form a new and larger municipality Alto Malcantone.[1]

History

Arosio is first mentioned in 1335 as Aroxio'.[2]

According to tradition, the Roman road leading from Ponte Tresa to Monte Ceneri Pass ran through Arosio. By the Middle Ages it was a central town in the upper Magliasina valley, which was at that time was known as the Valle d'Arosio. The villages of Arosio, Breno, Cademario, Mugena Tortoglio and Vezio formed an economic and political unit.[2]

The Church of San Michele is first mentioned in 1217. In 1640-47 it was totally rebuilt. It contains a cycle of frescoes by Antonio da Tradate and notable stucco work by local artists from the 17th and 18th Centuries. At one time, the architects and master builders of Arosio operated throughout Europe.[2]

The local economy was based on agriculture and herding in the alpine meadows. In recent decades the services sector dominated the local economy. After 1960, a number of new houses were built in the village.[2]

Location
Aerial view from 1500 m by Walter Mittelholzer (1919)

The village consisted of the amalgamated settlements Terra di sopra and Terra di sotto.

Historic population

The historical population is given in the following table:

Year Population
Arosio[2]
1599 ca. 300
1801 221
1850 232
1900 186
1950 197
2000 422

Notes
  1. Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (in German) accessed 14 January 2010
  2. Arosio in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
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References


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