Bissone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bissone
Bissone village
Coat of arms
Bissone Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Bissone Location in Canton of Ticino Show map of Canton of Ticino
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Lugano
Area
• Total	1.86 km2 (0.72 sq mi)
Elevation	273 m (896 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	948
• Density	509.7/km2 (1,320/sq mi)
Postal code	6816
Surrounded by	Arogno, Brusino Arsizio, Campione d'Italia (IT-CO), Maroggia, Melide, Riva San Vitale

Bissone is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It's part of the Lugano district. Bissone is known for its beautiful spot on the eastern side of the Melide causeway, right by Lake Lugano.

History of Bissone

Bissone was first mentioned in old writings way back in the year 735! It was called Blixuni then. For a while, people in German-speaking areas called it Byssen, but that name isn't used anymore.

In the 700s, during the time of the Lombards, Bissone had a military group. They helped protect nearby forts. Later, in the 800s, a famous monastery in Milan called S. Ambrogio owned land here.

The local church, called St. Carpoforo, became partly independent in 1474. It became fully independent in 1622. Another small church, the Oratory of St. Rocco, was built around 1630. An oratory is a place for prayer, like a small chapel.

During the Middle Ages, there was a castle in Bissone. It was first mentioned in 1054. The village also had strong walls to protect it. Bissone was a key place for the Ghibellines. These were supporters of the Holy Roman Emperor during a big fight between Milan and Como (1118–27).

When the French invaded in 1798, Bissone became a place where people supported the Cisalpine Republic. This was a French-controlled state. However, on March 3, 1798, forces from Lugano who supported Switzerland took over the town.

Bissone is famous as the birthplace of Francesco Borromini. He was a very important architect who helped create the Roman Baroque style. Many other families from Bissone were also famous builders and architects, like the Maderno and Tencalla families.

For a long time, the town's economy relied on fishing and selling fish. Bissone, along with Morcote and Melide, had a special right to sell fish in Lugano. People also earned money by running ferries across the lake.

From the 1300s to the 1600s, many large houses with arcades (covered walkways) were built for merchants. Later, people moved away to find work. Growing grapes for wine, olives, and hemp also became important.

Things changed when the Melide causeway was built. This causeway is a bridge-like structure across the lake. It brought a road in 1847 and a railway in 1874. This meant Bissone lost its old trade income. In 1966, a highway was built, which separated the old village from newer parts of town.

Since 1950, Bissone's economy has mostly been about services. Many people now travel to Lugano for work. Bissone is also a popular place for tourists visiting Lake Lugano.

Geography of Bissone

Bissone covers an area of about 1.82 square kilometers (0.7 square miles). A large part of this area, about 81.3%, is covered by forests. About 12.1% of the land is used for farming. The rest, about 20.9%, has buildings and roads.

The town is located in the Lugano district. It sits on the eastern side of the Melide causeway. This causeway crosses Lake Lugano. Bissone is right on the lake's shore, in the very southern part of Switzerland.

Coat of Arms

The blazon (description) of Bissone's municipal coat of arms is: Argent two serpents erect regardant azure. This means it shows two blue snakes standing upright on a silver background.

People and Population

Bissone has a population of about 800 people. As of 2008, about 35.4% of the people living in Bissone were foreign nationals.

Most people in Bissone speak Italian, which is about 82.1% of the population. German is the second most common language, spoken by about 11.3% of the people. A small number of people also speak Serbo-Croatian.

In 2009, about 8.1% of the population were children aged 0-9. Teenagers aged 10-19 made up about 7.1%. The largest group was adults between 40 and 49, making up 19.0% of the population. About 11.9% of the people were seniors aged 60-69.

The population of Bissone has grown over the years. In 1591, there were around 300 people. By 2000, the population had grown to 711.

Important Heritage Sites

The Parish Church of S. Carpoforo in Bissone is a very important building. It is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. This means it's a special place that is protected because of its historical or cultural value. The entire village of Bissone is also listed as an Inventory of Swiss Heritage Site.

Economy and Work

In 2005, a small number of people (3) worked in the primary economic sector, which includes things like farming and fishing. About 57 people worked in the secondary sector, which involves manufacturing and construction. The largest number of people, 198, worked in the tertiary sector. This sector includes services like tourism, shops, and offices.

Many people who live in Bissone travel to other towns for work. Also, some people from other places come to Bissone to work. Bissone is a popular place for tourists. In 2009, there were 3 hotels in Bissone with a total of 146 rooms.

Transportation

Bissone is located at the eastern end of the Melide causeway. This causeway is very important for Switzerland. It carries the Gotthard railway, the A2 motorway, and a local road across Lake Lugano. This is the only way to travel by land between the southern part of Ticino and the rest of Switzerland without going through Italy.

To the north, a local road connects Bissone to Campione d'Italia. This is an Italian area that is completely surrounded by Switzerland. To the south, the motorway and railway go through tunnels. The local road goes along the lake.

Bissone does not have its own train station. However, Melide station is very close, just across the causeway. There is also a motorway exit that serves both Bissone and Melide.

Religion

According to the 2000 census, most people in Bissone are Roman Catholic, about 76.8%. About 10.0% of the population belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Some people belonged to other churches, and a small number did not state their religion.

Education

In Switzerland, most people are well educated. In Bissone, about 76.3% of adults (aged 25 to 64) have completed higher education. This means they have gone to university or a specialized college.

In 2009, there were 79 students in Bissone. The education system in Ticino offers up to three years of non-mandatory kindergarten. In Bissone, 14 children were in kindergarten.

Primary school lasts for five years. In Bissone, 25 students attended standard primary schools. After primary school, students go to lower secondary school. Some students attend a two-year middle school, and then a two-year program to prepare for a job. Others go to a four-year program to get ready for higher education. In Bissone, 16 students were in the two-year middle school, and 13 were in the four-year advanced program.

After lower secondary school, students can choose different paths. They can prepare for a trade or go on to university. Some students learn a trade while working, which takes three or four years. Others go to school full-time for a year, then do an internship. In Bissone, 4 students were full-time vocational students, and 6 were part-time.

In 2000, 65 students from Bissone went to schools outside the municipality.

Famous People from Bissone

• Costante Tencalla (1593–1646) – A Swiss-Italian architect and sculptor.
• Francesco Borromini (1599–1667) – A very important architect in Roman Baroque style.
• Carpoforo Tencalla (1623–1685) – A Swiss-Italian Baroque painter.
• Caterina Valente (born 1931) – A famous singer, guitarist, dancer, and actress.

Images for kids

• 

  Dam of Melide in 1963

• 

  Sunset over Lake Lugano, from Bissone

• 

  The Parish Church of S. Carpoforo

• 

  Bissone on Lake Lugano

See also

In Spanish: Bissone para niños