Minusio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minusio
Coat of arms
Minusio Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Minusio Location in Canton of Ticino Show map of Canton of Ticino
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Ticino
District	Locarno
Area
• Total	5.86 km2 (2.26 sq mi)
Elevation	246 m (807 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	7,356
• Density	1,255.3/km2 (3,251.2/sq mi)
Postal code	6648
Surrounded by	Avegno, Brione sopra Minusio, Gambarogno, Locarno, Muralto, Orselina, Tenero-Contra

Minusio is a lovely town in the Ticino region of Switzerland. It's located in the Locarno district, right by the beautiful Lake Maggiore. Minusio is known for its interesting history, pretty landscapes, and as a popular place to live near Locarno.

A Look Back in Time: Minusio's History

Minusio has a very long history! Long, long ago, around 600-500 BC (that's the Iron Age), people lived here. We know this because a special burial ground, called a necropolis, was found in the Ceresole area. It had about 20 graves with cool items buried with them.

Later, during the Roman times (1st and 2nd Centuries AD), more burial sites were found. These Roman graveyards are super important for understanding what life was like back then in Ticino. Minusio was a smaller settlement near Muralto, which was the main Roman center in the Locarno area.

Lake Maggiore, with Minusio along the lake in the center, foreground

Minusio was first mentioned in old documents in 1061, though the copy we have is from 1402. It was also called Menuxio in 1200. In the Middle Ages, Minusio was a village that worked together with nearby villages like Brione sopra Minusio and Mergoscia. They formed a group called a Vicinanza, which shared common land and rights. Over time, these villages became separate.

Minusio used to be the capital of the Navegna district between 1803 and 1839. However, after some political disagreements, it lost this role and was even occupied by the military for a while.

Old Churches and Buildings

The main church in Minusio is San Rocco. It was first built in the late 1400s but was completely rebuilt between 1795 and 1801.

Even older is the Church of San Quirico in Rivapiana, first mentioned in 1313! It has old paintings (called frescoes) from the 1200s to 1500s. Its bell tower was once a guard tower, which is pretty cool!

Another important building is the Casa di Ferro, a military base built in 1558. The chapel of Santa Maria dei Sette Dolori (built in 1630) is connected to it.

Many beautiful villas (large houses) were built in Minusio in the 1700s and 1800s. Some of these old villas are still standing today, including some lovely Art Nouveau style homes from the 1900s.

The Villa La Baronata

La Baronata

One famous villa is La Baronata in Mappo, built in the 1600s. In the 1800s, it became a hiding place for famous people who were seeking safety. For example, a revolutionary named Mikhail Bakunin bought it in 1873. He hoped it would help him become a Swiss citizen and provide a base for his political activities. The villa later became a place where people like Carlo Cafiero stayed.

Today, the Elisarion villa, built in the 1920s, is a cultural center run by the town.

Minusio's Geography

Minusio covers an area of about 5.85 square kilometers. A big part of it, about 55.2%, is covered by forests. About 33.9% of the land has buildings or roads, and 8.9% is used for farming.

Aerial view of Minusio by Walter Mittelholzer (1919)

The town is located about 2 kilometers east of Locarno, right on the shore of Lake Maggiore. Minusio includes different parts, or sections, called Ceresole, Mappo, and Mondacce.

Who Lives in Minusio?

Minusio has a population of about 6,729 people (as of December 2004). Many people from other countries live here too, making it a diverse community. For example, in 2015, about 11.7% of the population was born in Italy.

Most people in Minusio speak Italian (about 73.2%). The next most common language is German (17.8%), followed by French (2.1%).

The population of Minusio is a bit older than the average for Switzerland. In 2014, about 16.5% of the population were children and teenagers (0–19 years old), while 56.1% were adults (20–64 years old). Seniors (over 64 years old) made up 27.4% of the population.

Here's how the population has changed over time:

Important Heritage Sites

The Ca' Di Ferro and Oratorio Della Vergine Dei Sette Dolori A Rivaplana is a very important historical site in Switzerland. The Ca' Di Ferro was an armory, which is a place where weapons are stored and soldiers are trained. It was built in 1560.

Minusio's Economy

Minusio is a suburban community, meaning it's a residential area close to a larger city, in this case, Locarno. Many people who live in Minusio work in Locarno.

In 2014, about 1,851 people worked in Minusio.

• A small number (9 people) worked in the primary sector, which includes farming.
• About 399 people worked in the secondary sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.
• The largest number, 1,443 people, worked in the tertiary sector, which includes services like shops, hotels, and offices.

Minusio is also a popular place for tourists. In 2015, hotels in Minusio had over 47,000 overnight stays!

Religion in Minusio

According to a census in 2000, most people in Minusio are Roman Catholic (about 67.6%). About 12.7% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. Other people belong to different churches or did not state their religion.

Getting Around: Transportation

Minusio has its own train station, called Minusio. It's on the Giubiasco–Locarno line, making it easy to travel by train. Many people also use private cars to get to work.

Education in Minusio

Minusio has a good education system. In 2009, there were 933 students in the town.

• Kids can attend up to three years of non-mandatory kindergarten. In 2009, there were 135 children in kindergarten.
• The primary school program lasts for five years. In Minusio, 267 students attended regular primary schools.
• After primary school, students go to lower secondary school. They can choose a two-year middle school program or a four-year program to prepare for higher education.

Many adults in Minusio (about 68.6% of those aged 25–64) have completed higher education, like university or specialized colleges.

See also

In Spanish: Minusio para niños