Miglieglia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miglieglia
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 Miglieglia
Location in Switzerland
Miglieglia
Location in Canton of Ticino
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Ticino | |
| District | Lugano | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.1 km2 (2.0 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 717 m (2,352 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 324 | |
| • Density | 63.5/km2 (164.5/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
6986
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| Surrounded by | Alto Malcantone, Aranno, Curiglia con Monteviasco (IT-VA), Dumenza (IT-VA), Novaggio | |
Miglieglia (pronounced mi-LYEH-lya) is a small town in Switzerland. It's located in the Ticino region, which is a canton (like a state) in the southern part of the country. Miglieglia is part of the Lugano district.
Contents
History of Miglieglia
Archaeologists have found some clues that suggest people might have lived near Miglieglia even during the Roman times. However, we don't have enough proof to be sure.
Ancient Fortification and Village Life
There are old ruins called Castello di Miglieglia on a hill overlooking the Magliasina river. People think these might be the remains of a strong fort from a very long time ago. This fort was probably destroyed in 1156 by people from Milan when they were fighting for control of the Como area.
Miglieglia was first mentioned in official papers in 1214. Back in the Late Middle Ages, Miglieglia, along with nearby villages like Iseo, Cimo, and Aranno, formed a group called the Concilium of S. Maria Giovena. This was like a local neighborhood council. Sadly, in 1478, a big fire destroyed the village.
Churches and Community
On a hill above Miglieglia, you'll find the old Romanesque-style church of S. Stefano. The bell tower is likely the oldest part of this church. Later, during the Gothic period, the church was made bigger. Inside, some beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) from 1511 can still be seen in the chancel (the area around the altar).
In 1621, Miglieglia became its own parish (a church district), separating from the town of Agno. The current parish church of St. Stefan was built in the 17th century.
Changes in Economy and Population
For a long time, farming and raising animals were the main ways people made a living in Miglieglia. But in the 1800s, many people left the village. They moved to other parts of Switzerland, northern Italy, or even America to find work. For a short time in the late 1800s, there was a mine operating in the area.
In 1952, a chair lift was built to Monte Lema, a mountain that is 1,624 meters (5,328 feet) high. This lift was updated in 1997 with a cable car, making it easier for people to visit the mountain.
Geography of Miglieglia
Miglieglia covers an area of about 5.13 square kilometers (about 2 square miles). Most of this land, about 76.2%, is covered by forests. About 3.9% of the land is used for farming. A small part, 2.1%, has buildings or roads. Rivers and lakes make up 0.4%, and 9.9% is land that isn't used for anything, like rocky areas.
Most of the built-up area is made of houses and other buildings (1.4%). Roads and other transport areas make up 0.4%. In the forests, 68% is dense forest, and 2.9% has orchards or small groups of trees. For farming, 2.5% is used for crops, and 1.4% is for mountain pastures where animals graze. All the water in Miglieglia is flowing water, like streams.
Miglieglia is located in the Lugano district. It sits on a flat area in the upper Malcantone valley, right at the base of Monte Lema. The municipality includes the main village of Miglieglia and an old, empty village called Tortoglio. Tortoglio was first mentioned in 1335 but was abandoned in the 1500s after a sickness spread through the area. The land from Tortoglio caused a long argument with the nearby town of Breno, which wasn't settled until 1890.
Miglieglia's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Miglieglia is red. It shows an oak tree with green leaves and golden acorns. On either side of the oak tree, there is a golden chestnut tree and a golden walnut tree. These symbols – the oak, chestnut, and walnut trees – represent the types of trees that grow commonly in the Miglieglia area.
Population and People
Miglieglia has a population of 260 people (as of December 2004). About 10.8% of the people living in Miglieglia are foreign nationals, meaning they are from other countries. Over the past ten years (1997-2007), the population has grown by about 12.3%.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Miglieglia speak Italian, which is 80.5% of the population. The second most common language is German, spoken by 10.2% of the people. About 4.2% of the population speaks French.
Age and Households
As of 2009, about 14.3% of the population are children aged 0-9, and 7% are teenagers aged 10-19. The largest group of adults are between 30 and 49 years old. About 11.4% of the population are seniors aged 60-69, and 11% are aged 70-79.
In 2000, there were 100 households in Miglieglia, with an average of 2.1 people living in each home. Most of the buildings (83.3%) were single-family homes.
The chart below shows how Miglieglia's population has changed over time:
Important Heritage Sites
The Church of S. Stefano Al Colle, which includes an ossuary (a place where bones are stored), is recognized as a very important heritage site in Switzerland.
Economy and Jobs
In 2007, Miglieglia had an unemployment rate of 3.66%. This means a small percentage of people looking for work couldn't find a job.
Types of Jobs
In 2005, jobs in Miglieglia were divided into three main groups:
- Primary sector: 9 people worked in this sector, which includes things like farming and forestry. There were 3 businesses in this area.
- Secondary sector: 2 people worked in this sector, which involves making things, like in factories or construction. There were 2 businesses here.
- Tertiary sector: 20 people worked in this sector, which includes services like shops, hotels, and offices. There were 6 businesses in this area.
Overall, 91 residents of Miglieglia had jobs, and about 40.7% of these workers were women.
Commuting and Travel
In 2000, 22 workers came into Miglieglia for their jobs, while 66 workers left Miglieglia to work in other places. This means more people leave Miglieglia for work than come in. About 22.7% of the people who came to work in Miglieglia were from outside Switzerland.
For getting to work, 14.3% of the working population used public transportation, and 62.6% used a private car. As of 2009, there was one hotel in Miglieglia.
Religion in Miglieglia
According to the 2000 census:
- 145 people (67.4%) were Roman Catholic.
- 17 people (7.9%) belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
- 42 people (19.53%) belonged to other churches not listed.
- 11 people (5.12%) did not answer the question about their religion.
Education in Miglieglia
In Miglieglia, about 69.5% of adults aged 25 to 64 have finished either non-mandatory upper secondary education (like high school) or have gone on to higher education, such as a university or a specialized college.
School System
As of 2009, there were 39 students in Miglieglia. The education system in Ticino (the canton Miglieglia is in) works like this:
- Kindergarten: Children can attend up to three years of non-mandatory kindergarten. In Miglieglia, there were 12 children in kindergarten.
- Primary School: This program lasts for five years. 11 students in Miglieglia attended standard primary schools.
- Lower Secondary School: After primary school, students can choose different paths.
- Some attend a two-year middle school, followed by a two-year program to prepare for a job. There were 8 students in this two-year middle school.
- Others attend a four-year program to get ready for higher education. There was 1 student in this advanced program.
- Upper Secondary School: This level prepares students for a trade or for university.
- Students can go to school while doing an internship or apprenticeship (which takes three or four years). There were 3 students attending school full-time for vocational training and 3 attending part-time.
- Professional Program: This program lasts three years and trains students for jobs in fields like engineering, nursing, or business. There was 1 student in this program.
In 2000, 25 students from Miglieglia went to schools outside the municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Miglieglia para niños
