Gerra (Verzasca) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gerra (Verzasca)
Former municipality of Switzerland
Coat of arms
Gerra (Verzasca) Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Gerra (Verzasca) Location in Canton of Ticino Show map of Canton of Ticino
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Locarno
Municipality	Cugnasco-Gerra
Area
• Total	16.18 km2 (6.25 sq mi)
Elevation	826 m (2,710 ft)
Population
• Total	1,192
• Density	73.67/km2 (190.81/sq mi)
Postal code	6516
Localities	Agarone, Gerra Piano, Piandesso, Riazzino

Gerra (Verzasca) is a lovely place in Switzerland. It's now part of a bigger town called Cugnasco-Gerra. This area is located in the Ticino region, near the city of Locarno.

Gerra used to be its own independent town. But on January 1, 2009, it joined with Cugnasco. Together, they formed the new municipality of Cugnasco-Gerra.

Where is Gerra (Verzasca)?

Gerra in the beautiful Verzasca valley

Gerra (Verzasca) is split into a few parts. There's Gerra Piano and Agarone, which are like separate pieces of land in the Magadino Plain. The main part of the town, called Gerra Valle, is nestled in the Verzasca valley.

A Look at Gerra's Past

Gerra has a long history! It was first mentioned way back in 1387. For many years, until 1852, it was part of another town called Brione.

How Gerra's Land Changed

In 1920, some changes were made to the land. Parts of the plains that belonged to cities like Locarno and Minusio were given to Gerra. This helped to make Gerra's land more connected.

Churches and Old Buildings

The church of San Giovanni Evangelista in Gerra is very old. It was first built in the 1400s! Sadly, it was destroyed twice. Once by a landslide and again by a flood. The church you see today was built in 1819. Later, in 1930, another church called Sacro Cuore was built in Gerra Piano. You can also find a mill from the 1500s and a house from 1470 in Gerra Valle.

Life for the People of Gerra

For a long time, people in Gerra made a living from farming and raising animals. Since the 1300s, farmers would move their cattle to high mountain pastures in the summer. This is called transhumance. In winter, they would bring their animals down to warmer valleys.

Because there wasn't much farmland, many people left Gerra. This started in the 1600s. Between 1860 and 1874, about a quarter of the people moved away.

Gerra's Population Today

In recent years, the population of Gerra Piano has grown a lot. It has become an important local center. However, fewer people live in the valley part of Gerra now.

How Many People Lived in Gerra?

Here's a quick look at how the population of Gerra (Verzasca) has changed over time: