Agra, Switzerland facts for kids
Agra is a lovely village located in Ticino, which is a canton (like a state) in Switzerland. It's known for its beautiful scenery. In 2004, Agra joined with two other nearby villages, Gentilino and Montagnola, to create a larger municipality called Collina d'Oro.
A Look Back: Agra's History
The oldest part of Agra is a tiny area called Bigogno. It was first mentioned way back in 1270! This was in a list of lands owned by a monastery in Como, Italy. Later, in 1298, records from Como Cathedral also talked about land in Agra. These records mentioned land owned by the church and even by a faraway place called Disentis Abbey.
The same old document from 1298 also mentioned the church of S. Tommaso in Agra. This church first belonged to a larger church area in Pambio. Then, in 1591, it became its own smaller church area. Another small chapel, S. Assunta in Bigogno, was finished before 1609.
In 1335, old rules from Como first mentioned the "Concilium" or "Vicinanza" of Agra. This was like a local community group for Agra and a nearby place called Premona or Barbengo.
Besides farming, Agra was once famous for its skilled workers. These artisans (craftspeople) traveled to places like Russia and other European countries to work. In 1912, a special health center, called a sanatorium, opened in the village. Many important people, especially German speakers, stayed there. They even published their own monthly magazine called Die Terrasse (The Terrace) from the sanatorium! Sadly, it closed in 1969 and slowly fell apart.
Where is Agra Located?
This charming village sits high up at about 570 meters (1,870 feet) above sea level. It's nestled at the bottom of a mountain called Monte Crocione.
-
The Church of Saint Tommaso
-
A view showing the village of Agra on the right
-
The dining room of the old sanatorium in 1950
How Many People Lived Here?
The chart below shows how the number of people living in Agra changed over many years:
