Bignasco is a village in the
district of Vallemaggia, in the
canton of Ticino
Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, consolidated into the adjacent municipality of
Cevio
Cevio is the capital of the district of Vallemaggia in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. In 2006 Cevio grew by incorporating the villages of Bignasco and Cavergno, previously municipalities in their own right.
History
Cevio was first men ...
.
Geography
Bignasco is a village situated at the confluence of the river
Maggia and the
Bavona in the Swiss canton of Ticino, near the Italian border.
History
As of 1230 documented as Bugnascho.
In the 14th century Bignasco,
Cavergno
Cavergno is a village in the district of Vallemaggia, in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. On 22 October 2006 Cavergno lost its status as an independent municipality when together with the village of Bignasco it was incorporated into the munic ...
,
Menzonio
Menzonio is a village and former municipality in the district of Vallemaggia in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.
In 2004 the municipality was merged with the other, neighboring municipalities Broglio, Brontallo, Fusio, Peccia and Prato- ...
and
Brontallo
Brontallo is a village and former municipality in the district of Vallemaggia in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.
In 2004 the municipality was merged with the other, neighboring municipalities Broglio, Fusio, Menzonio, Peccia and Prato-So ...
formed a single cooperative, but each village remained autonomous. In 1483, the parish Bignasco dissolved from Cevio.
In 1781 Bignasco was given the right to hold two fairs.
In 1786, Bignasco and Cavergno split.
During the eighteenth century a constant stream of emigrants went to Italy and Holland, while in the 19th century, Bignasco was not much affected by a mass emigration. For centuries, the main occupations of the inhabitants were agriculture and livestock, crafts and the occupations of seasonal emigrants; The use of hydropower at the beginning of the 1960s brought in infrastructure and jobs.
From 1907–65, Bignasco was the terminus of the railway connecting the Maggia Valley with Locarno. Gneis was transported by rail out of the valley and German and English tourists traveled up the valley.
Bignasco was the largest municipality in the district by area and also included the hamlet of San Carlo in the Valle Bavona.
On 22 October 2006 Bignasco forfeited its status as an independent
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
when, together with the village of
Cavergno
Cavergno is a village in the district of Vallemaggia, in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. On 22 October 2006 Cavergno lost its status as an independent municipality when together with the village of Bignasco it was incorporated into the munic ...
, it was consolidated into the municipality of
Cevio
Cevio is the capital of the district of Vallemaggia in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. In 2006 Cevio grew by incorporating the villages of Bignasco and Cavergno, previously municipalities in their own right.
History
Cevio was first men ...
.
Churches
The parish church dedicated to the Archangel Michael in the 15th century was renovated several times. The chapel of S. Maria del Monte is adorned with frescoes from 1512.
There are 2 buildings from the 16th century, two torbe (granaries on stilts) and a 17th-century bridge.
Population
In 1669 there were 103 fireplaces, by 1801 215 inhabitants, by 1850 202, in 1900 179, 1920 143, 1950 186 and in 2000 306 inhabitants.
Famous people
*
Carla del Ponte
Carla Del Ponte (born February 9, 1947) is a former Chief Prosecutor of two United Nations international criminal law tribunals. A former Swiss attorney general, she was appointed prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former ...
, former war crimes prosecutor and former Swiss Attorney-General (*1947).
References
External links
*
Former municipalities of Ticino
Villages in Ticino
{{Ticino-geo-stub