Capolagois avillagesituated at the south-eastern extremity ofLake Lugano,in theSwisscanton of Ticino.Originally a municipality in its own right, Capolago is now aquarterof themunicipality of Mendrisio,itself part of thedistrict of Mendrisio.[1][2]
Capolago | |
|---|---|
Village and Quarter | |
 Coat of arms | |
 | |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Canton | Ticino |
| District | Mendrisio |
| City | Mendrisio |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.77 km2(0.68 sq mi) |
| Population (2011-12-31)[1] | |
• Total | 798 |
| • Density | 450/km2(1,200/sq mi) |
History
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The first mention of the name of Capolago appears before 1300, in the general statutes ofComo.In 1365, Capolago assumed greater importance due to the building of castle. The castle was dismantled in 1517. From then on, the village was largely concerned with fishing, and the ferrying of people and goods to and fromLugano.[3][4]
In 1556, Capolago was the birthplace of the architectCarlo Maderno.He is best remembered as one of the fathers ofBaroque architecture,responsible for the façades ofSt. Peter's Basilica,Santa Susanna,andSant'Andrea della Valle,all inRome.[3][4]
The construction of theMelide causeway,in 1841, followed by the opening of the local part of theGotthard Railway,in 1874, saw changes to Capolago. The main road and railway brought better transport connections, but also reduced the need for boat services on the lake. However the opening of theMonte Generoso railway,in 1890, strengthened tourist traffic.[4]
In 1910, theMendrisio electric tramwayopened, linking a northern terminus inRiva San Vitalewith Capolago,Mendrisio,BalernaandChiasso.The section of the line in Capolago closed in 1948 and was replaced by a bus service.[5]
The town was also home to the historically importantTipografia Elveticapress, which published propaganda during theItalianRisorgimento.In 1891, the town hosted the Italian anarchistCapolago congress,attended by anarchists includingPietro Gori,Amilcare Cipriani,Francesco Saverio Merlino,andErrico Malatesta.[4]
In November 2007, the then independent municipalities ofArzo,Capolago,Genestrerio,Mendrisio,RancateandTremonavoted to merge into the municipality of Mendrisio. The merger took place in April 2009.[6]
Transport
editCapolago has a station,Capolago-Riva San Vitale,on theGotthard lineof theSwiss Federal Railways.The station is served by routeS10of theTreni Regionali Ticino Lombardia(TILO), which operate every half-hour betweenBellinzona,LuganoandChiasso,with some trains extending northwards toAiroloand southwards toMilan.The station is served also by theMonte Generoso railway,amountain railwaythat climbs to the summit of the nearbyMonte Generoso.[2][7]
Capolago also has a landing stage (Capolago Lago) that is served, once or twice a day, by the boats of theSocietà Navigazione del Lago di Luganoand by the trains of the Monte Generoso railway.[7][8]
Buses of theAutolinea MendrisienseandAutoPostaleserve stops outside the station, providing links toArogno,Brusino Arsizio,Melano,Mendrisio,Porto Ceresio,Riva San VitaleandRovio.[9]
References
edit- ^abc"Capolago"(in Italian). City of Mendresio. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-17.Retrieved2012-08-14.
- ^abmap.geo.admin.ch(Map). Swiss Confederation.Retrieved2012-08-14.
- ^ab"Storia di Capolago"[History of Capolago] (in Italian). City of Mendresio. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-05-25.Retrieved2012-08-14.
- ^abcd"Capolago".Historical Dictionary of Switzerland(in Italian).Retrieved2012-08-15.
- ^"Tramvie Madrisiensi".www.eingestellte-bahnen.ch(in German). Archived fromthe originalon 2012-01-05.Retrieved2012-09-20.
- ^Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz, Mutationsmeldungen 2009 / Répertoire officiel des communes de Suisse, Mutations 2009 / Elenco ufficiale dei Comuni della Svizzera, Mutazione 2009(PDF)(Report). Federal Statistical Office. 2009. 2770. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2010-11-18.Retrieved2010-03-06.
- ^abEisenbahnatlas Schweiz.Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH. 2012. p. 59.ISBN978-3-89494-130-7.
- ^"Timetable summer 2012".Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-28.Retrieved2012-08-01.
- ^"Schema di rete - Trasporti pubblici"[Network diagram - Public transport] (in Italian). Canton of Ticino. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-10-30.Retrieved2012-09-19.
External links
edit
Media related toCapolago (Mendrisio)at Wikimedia Commons- Capolagoon the City of Mendrisio's web site
- CapolagoinGerman,FrenchandItalianin the onlineHistorical Dictionary of Switzerland.
