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Astano
Astano village
Astano village
Coat of arms of Astano
Coat of arms
Astano is located in Switzerland
Astano
Astano
Location in Switzerland
Astano is located in Canton of Ticino
Astano
Astano
Location in Canton of Ticino
Country Switzerland
Canton Ticino
District Lugano
Area
 • Total 3.81 km2 (1.47 sq mi)
Elevation
631 m (2,070 ft)
Population
 (Dec 2020 )
 • Total 294
 • Density 77.17/km2 (199.9/sq mi)
Postal code
6999
Surrounded by Curio, Dumenza (IT-VA), Novaggio, Sessa, Bedigliora
Astano-San-Pietro-aussen
Church of S. Pietro
Astano-Ca-da-Roma
Ca' da Roma
Astano-Sant-Antonio-Abate-aussen-Umgebung
Chapel and former Humiliati minster Sant’Antonio Abate

Astano is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Lugano area of Ticino, a canton (like a state) in Switzerland. It's a charming place with a rich history and beautiful natural surroundings.

Astano's Past: A Look at History

Astano was first mentioned in official records way back in 1272. The old part of the village has some really cool buildings. One famous one is the Ca' da Roma, known for its special architecture.

In the Middle Ages, a monastery called S. Pietro in Ciel d'Oro owned land here. Later, in the 13th century, there was a Humiliati monastery in the village. The Humiliati were a religious group. When this monastery closed in the mid-1400s, its property went to another Humiliati monastery in Lugano.

Astano became its own separate parish (a church district) in 1612. The main church, S. Pietro, was built in 1654 on the remains of an even older chapel.

Famous People and Old Jobs

Many architects from Astano became famous. They moved to other countries for work. Some well-known families included the De Marchi and Donati families, and a famous architect named Domenico Trezzini.

People in Astano traditionally worked in farming. They used the Alpe di Monte, which is a high mountain pasture on Monte Rogoria, for their animals. There was also gold mining! Gold was found in the Monte Sceree area. Mining started in the early 1800s and continued until after World War II.

Today, Astano is a popular place for tourists. It has good facilities for visitors and many people who live there travel to work in the Lugano valley.

Astano's Location and Land

Astano covers an area of about 3.78 square kilometers (or 1.46 square miles). Most of this land is covered by forests, about 84.9%. About 13.5% of the land is used for farming. The rest, about 9%, has buildings and roads.

The municipality is located in the Lugano district, right in the middle of the Malcantone Valley.

Astano's Coat of Arms

The coat of arms for Astano is quite interesting! It shows a red shield with a goat standing on its hind legs. There are also two gold circles, called "bezants," placed diagonally.

Who Lives in Astano: Population Facts

Astano has a population of about 305 people (as of December 2016). About 10.6% of the people living in Astano are from other countries. Over the past ten years, the population has grown by about 15.2%.

Languages Spoken

Most people in Astano speak Italian, which is about 67.2% of the population. German is the second most common language, spoken by about 24.1% of residents. A smaller number of people, about 3.1%, speak French. There is also one person who speaks Romansh.

Age Groups

In Astano, about 8% of the population are children aged 0 to 9 years old. Teenagers, aged 10 to 19, make up about 6.8%. Adults between 20 and 59 years old make up a larger part of the population, with people in their 50s being the largest group. Older adults, aged 60 and above, make up about 33.4% of the population.

Homes in Astano

In 2000, there were 137 private homes in Astano, with an average of 2.1 people living in each. Most of the buildings were single-family homes, making up about 81.6% of all inhabited buildings. There were also some two-family buildings and multi-family buildings.

Many apartments in Astano are used seasonally, meaning people live there for part of the year, like for holidays. About 51.4% of apartments were used seasonally, while 46.9% were lived in all year round.

Population Over Time

Here's how Astano's population has changed over the years:

year population
1599 269
1801 356
1850 395
1900 384
1950 258
1980 209
2000 290

Special Places to See

The entire village of Astano is considered a special historical site. It's part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites, which means it's recognized for its important cultural value.

How People Work in Astano: The Economy

In 2007, the unemployment rate in Astano was 4.67%. This means that about 4.67% of people looking for jobs couldn't find one.

Job Sectors

  • Primary sector: This includes jobs like farming or forestry. In 2005, 2 people worked in this sector in Astano.
  • Secondary sector: This involves manufacturing or construction. 2 people worked in this sector.
  • Tertiary sector: This covers services, like shops, hotels, or healthcare. 25 people worked in this sector, and there were 9 businesses.

Many people who live in Astano travel to other towns for work. In 2000, 75 people commuted out of Astano for their jobs, while only 4 people commuted into Astano. This means more people leave Astano for work than come in. Most people (62.3%) use a private car to get to work, while a smaller number (4.4%) use public transportation.

Astano also has one hotel, which is important for tourism.

Religion in Astano

Based on a census from 2000, most people in Astano are Roman Catholic, making up about 62.8% of the population. About 18.3% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people (about 16.9%) belong to other churches, and a small number did not state their religion.

Learning in Astano: Education

Switzerland is known for its good education system. In Astano, about 69.7% of adults (aged 25 to 64) have completed either high school or gone on to higher education, like university.

Schools in Astano

In 2009, there were 35 students in Astano.

  • Kindergarten: The Ticino education system offers up to three years of kindergarten, and 5 children in Astano were in kindergarten.
  • Primary School: This program lasts for five years. 14 students in Astano attended primary schools.
  • Lower Secondary School: After primary school, students can choose different paths. In Astano, 8 students were in a two-year middle school program, and 4 students were in a four-year program that prepares them for higher education.
  • Upper Secondary School: This level prepares students for a trade or for university. In Astano, 2 students were full-time vocational students, and 2 were part-time.

Many students from Astano also attend schools in other towns. In 2000, 40 students from Astano went to schools outside the municipality.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Astano para niños

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