Ticino

Ticino (tee-CHEE-no) is the southernmost canton of Switzerland, and almost entirely Italian-speaking (except the German-speaking municipality of Bosco/Gurin). Together with areas of the Canton of Grisons (Graubünden) it makes up the so-called Svizzera Italiana (Italian-speaking Switzerland).

Named after the river of the same name, it's called Ticino (tee-CHEE-no) in Italian, Tessin (TES-in) in German, Tessin (teh-SENG) in French.

Its area is 2'811 sq. km, its capital Bellinzona.

Most populous city: Lugano. Other towns: Locarno, Mendrisio, Airolo, Chiasso.

Table of contents

1 History 2 Government 3 Education and research 4 External links

History

In the Middle Ages the area of today's Ticino was ruled by the Dukes of Milan. In the 15th century the Swiss Confederates conquered the valleys south of the Alps. The upper valley of the Ticino River, from the St. Gotthard to the town of Biasca (Val Leventina) was part of Canton Uri. The remaining territory (Baliaggi Ultramontani, Ennetbergische Vogteien, the Bailiwicks Beyond the Mountains) was administered by all cantons.

Ticino became a canton in 1803.

Government

Ticino's parliament is the Grand Council (Italian: Gran Consiglio) It sends two deputies to the Swiss Council of States, and eight deputies to the National Council.

Education and research

• USI: University of Southern Switzerland
• SUPSI: University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland

External links

• Cantone Ticino, official site in italian.