Mezzovico-Vira facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mezzovico-Vira
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 Mezzovico-Vira
Location in Switzerland
Mezzovico-Vira
Location in Canton of Ticino
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Ticino | |
| District | Lugano | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 11.13 km2 (4.30 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 460 m (1,510 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,387 | |
| • Density | 124.62/km2 (322.76/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
6805
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| Surrounded by | Capriasca, Monteceneri | |
Mezzovico-Vira is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Lugano area of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It's a place with a long history and beautiful natural surroundings.
Contents
History of Mezzovico-Vira
Ancient Times and Roman Era
People have lived in the area around Mezzovico-Vira for a very long time. Archaeologists recently found an ancient stone pillar, called a stele, with writing from the Etruscan people. This shows that the area was settled even before the Roman Empire existed.
In 1990, during an archaeological dig under the S. Abbondio parish church, Roman burial urns were discovered. The church itself started as a small wooden building in the 500s. Over time, it grew into the beautiful Baroque style church you can see today.
Middle Ages and Village Life
During the Early Middle Ages, Mezzovico-Vira was part of a large farm estate known as a curtis. This estate included the village of Vira, the central area called Mezzovico, and the nearby settlement of Sigirino.
In the Middle Ages, the area belonged to the Carvina valley community. This community included villages in the upper northern part of the Vedeggio valley. The modern municipality of Mezzovico-Vira was first mentioned in official records in 1335. It was known then as Medio Vico and Vira.
Religious and Modern Changes
The main religious and political center for the valley was Bironico. Mezzovico and Vira have always been one municipality. However, they became separate in terms of religion in 1838 when the Church of San Antonio in Vira became its own parish church. The S. Mamete church in Mezzovico also has ancient roots, going back to Roman times. It was expanded in the 1100s, 1400s, and 1500s.
For a long time, farming and using mountain pastures were the main ways people made a living. In recent decades, things have changed a lot. New roads, like the motorway, and the railway were built. Many buildings for businesses and factories also appeared in the valley. This growth happened because the larger city of Lugano expanded into the Vedeggio valley. Being close to the motorway and the Swiss Federal Railways station at Rivera also helped with this development.
Geography of Mezzovico-Vira
Mezzovico-Vira covers an area of about 10.21 square kilometers (about 3.94 square miles). Let's look at how this land is used:
- About 5.9% of the land is used for farming.
- A large part, about 65.5%, is covered by forests.
- About 8.3% of the land has buildings or roads on it.
- A small portion, about 1.3%, is made up of rivers or lakes.
- The remaining 14.1% is land that cannot be used for farming or building, like rocky areas.
Most of the forested land, about 53.7%, is dense forest. A small part, 2.1%, has orchards or small groups of trees. For agricultural land, 3.2% is used for growing crops, and 2.3% is for mountain pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water, like streams. About 12.5% of the unproductive land has plants that don't grow well, and 1.6% is too rocky for any plants.
The municipality is part of the Lugano district. It has two main settlements that are located along the old road leading to Monte Ceneri.
Coat of Arms
The blazon (official description) of Mezzovico-Vira's coat of arms is quite interesting. It shows a green hemp plant with golden fruit on a silver background on one side. On the other side, there's a golden shepherd's crook coming up from the bottom, behind a silver shield with a red cross.
The hemp plant, which is called canapa in Italian, is a symbol for the Canepa family. The cross and shield come from Bishop Enrico Silvio, who lived from 1556 to 1612.
Population and People
Population Numbers
As of 2022, Mezzovico-Vira has a population of 1,220 people. Over the past ten years (1997–2007), the population grew by about 19%.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Mezzovico-Vira speak Italian, which is about 87% of the population. German is the second most common language, spoken by about 7.8% of the people. French is third, spoken by about 1.9%.
Age Groups
Looking at the population in 2009, here's how the age groups were divided:
- Children (0-9 years old): 11.5%
- Teenagers (10-19 years old): 11.0%
- Young adults (20-29 years old): 9.0%
- Adults (30-39 years old): 15.0%
- Adults (40-49 years old): 19.8%
- Adults (50-59 years old): 12.3%
- Seniors (60-69 years old): 9.2%
- Seniors (70-79 years old): 7.2%
- Seniors (over 80 years old): 4.9%
Homes and Housing
In 2000, there were 367 private homes in Mezzovico-Vira, with an average of 2.4 people living in each. Most of these homes, about 81.7%, were single-family houses. There were also some two-family buildings and a few multi-family buildings. Some buildings were used for both homes and businesses.
In 2000, there were 466 apartments in the municipality. The most common size was a 4-room apartment. Most apartments, about 78.3%, were lived in all year round. About 20.4% were used only during certain seasons, and a small number were empty.
Population Growth Over Time
The chart below shows how the population of Mezzovico-Vira has changed throughout history:
Important Heritage Sites
The Church of S. Mamete and the Oratory of S. Ambrogio are very important historical buildings. They are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance. This means they are protected and valued for their history and culture.
Economy and Jobs
Types of Jobs
In 2005, there were different types of jobs in Mezzovico-Vira:
- Primary Sector: About 23 people worked in the primary sector, which includes jobs like farming and forestry. There were about 6 businesses in this area.
- Secondary Sector: A much larger number, 1,508 people, worked in the secondary sector. This includes jobs in manufacturing and construction. There were 39 businesses in this sector.
- Tertiary Sector: About 390 people worked in the tertiary sector, which covers services like shops, offices, and healthcare. There were 61 businesses in this sector.
In 2007, the unemployment rate in Mezzovico-Vira was 3.48%. This means that about 3.48% of people who wanted to work could not find a job.
Commuting to Work
In 2000, many people traveled to Mezzovico-Vira for work. About 1,934 workers came into the municipality, while 304 workers left to work elsewhere. This means that Mezzovico-Vira is a place where many people come to work. About 9.8% of workers used public transportation, and 68.5% used a private car to get to their jobs.
Religion
According to the 2000 census, most people in Mezzovico-Vira are Roman Catholic, making up about 85.3% of the population. About 6.8% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A small number of people belong to other churches or did not state their religion.
Education
School System
In Mezzovico-Vira, many adults have completed higher education. About 74.7% of people aged 25-64 have finished either non-mandatory upper secondary education or a university degree.
The Ticino education system offers different levels of schooling:
- Kindergarten: Children can attend up to three years of non-mandatory kindergarten. In 2009, there were 42 children in kindergarten in Mezzovico-Vira.
- Primary School: This program lasts for five years. In 2009, 76 students attended standard primary schools, and 4 students attended a special primary school.
- Lower Secondary School: After primary school, students can choose different paths. Some attend a two-year middle school followed by a two-year pre-apprenticeship program. Others attend a four-year program to prepare for higher education. In 2009, there were 54 students in middle school and 13 in the advanced program.
Higher Education and Training
After lower secondary school, students can go to upper secondary school. This prepares them for a trade or for university.
- Vocational Training: Students can attend school while doing an internship or apprenticeship, which takes three or four years. In 2009, there were 10 full-time vocational students and 23 part-time students.
- Professional Programs: These programs last three years and prepare students for jobs in fields like engineering, nursing, or business. In 2009, 2 students were in a professional program.
In 2000, 2 students came to Mezzovico-Vira for school from other towns. At the same time, 72 residents of Mezzovico-Vira went to schools outside the municipality.
Transport
Mezzovico-Vira has its own train station, called Mezzovico station. This station is on the Gotthard railway line, which is an important railway connecting different parts of Switzerland.
See also
In Spanish: Mezzovico-Vira para niños
