Editing Locarno (section)

==History==

===Prehistoric Locarno===
In 1934, in the vicinity of today's Via S. Jorio, a [[necropolis]] with 14 [[Urn#Cremation urns|urn graves]] from the Early [[Bronze Age]] (about 14th century BC) were found. Some of the urns were directly buried, while others were placed in boxes of uncut stone. The urns contained, in addition to burned bones, [[bronze]] ornaments, which had some fire damage, including, bangles, hairpins with conical head and slightly thickened neck, rings and knives. Similar urns were also discovered in the district of S. Antonio, which was probably also a small cemetery. The ceramic and bronze objects date from the [[Canegrate culture]] (named after a large necropolis in the province of Milan). However, no traces of the settlement have been discovered.<ref name=HDS_Pre>{{HDS|2108<!--Section 1-1-->|Locarno – Prehistory}}</ref>

In 1935, a large necropolis was discovered at [[Solduno]]. The over 200 graves cover nearly a thousand years, from the [[La Tène culture]] to the 3rd century AD. Many of the La Tène era grave goods (particularly from the 3rd–1st centuries BC) are [[Celts|Celtic]]-style [[Fibula (brooch)|fibulae]] or brooches. These objects demonstrate a cultural influence from regions north of the Alps. However, the ceramic objects are indigenous to [[Golasecca culture]] which spread into Ticino and [[Lombardy]].<ref name=HDS_Pre/>

===Roman era===
Between 1946 and 1949, a number of [[Switzerland in the Roman era|Roman era]] tombs were discovered on the terrace between the churches of Santa Maria in Selva and San Giovanni Battista in Solduno. The Roman city that became Locarno was therefore between the [[Vicus|vicus]] of Muralto and this cemetery. Intensive construction and agricultural activity have destroyed most traces of the ancient city. In 1995 and 1997, 57 graves were found in Via Valle Maggia. Nineteen were from the Roman period, which confirms that even in the [[3rd century]] AD cremation and body burials were practised side by side. Among other significant finds, several glass items were discovered. The Roman necropolis was used from the end of the prehistoric [[La Tène culture|La Tène era]] until the middle of the 3rd century AD. The extensive [[Romanization (cultural)|Romanization]] of Locarno wiped out much of the local culture and replaced it with ancient Roman elements. However, it appears that there was no Roman ruling class which could have dominated the local population.<ref name=HDS_early>{{HDS|2108<!--Section 1-2-->|Locarno – Roman Era to Early Modern Era}}</ref>

===Capitanei di Locarno===
The '''capitanei''' were a group of prominent noble families who emerged in the early Middle Ages and led Locarno. The term is first mentioned in a document granting [[market right]]s to the town by the [[Holy Roman Empire|Emperor]] [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I]] in 1164. This title was originally reserved only for the direct [[vassals]] of the king's [[fief]]. The lower vassals were known as ''valvassores'', but could have been awarded the title of ''capitanei'' as a special concession. The original ''capitanei'' were probably descendants of the old [[Lombards|Lombard]] noble family of Da Besozzo from the [[county]] of Seprio, a historic region of [[Kingdom of the Lombards|Lombard Italy]] which comprised areas in southern Ticino and modern-day Italian provinces of [[Province of Varese|Varese]] and [[Province of Como|Como]] on the western side of Lake Maggiore, and was centred in [[Castelseprio (archaeological park)|Castelseprio]], some 20 kilometres south of Locarno.

Around 1000, the family was granted a fief in Locarno by the schismatic [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Como|Bishop of Como]] Landolfo da Carcano. The ''capitanei'' were given the right to manage the property of the Church entrusted to the local [[pieve]], they had the rights of immunity and coercion, but were not owners of the village cooperatives' (''vicini'') land, with the exception of the churches and royal estates. They did not have the right of [[High, middle and low justice|high justice]] so their political power was limited. However, they played an important role in the later conflicts in the 13th and 14th centuries between the [[Guelphs and Ghibellines]] and in the wars between Como and the [[Duchy of Milan]].

In Locarno, during the [[Reformation]] period in the 16th century, two of the three great feudal families of capitanei, the Muralto and the Orelli families, left the town and moved to [[Zürich]]. A branch of the Muraltos was established in [[Bern]]. The third great Locarno family, the Magoria, remained in Locarno. The ''capitanei'' retained a central role in Locarno's politics until 1798. In 1803, the lands and rights of the ''capitanei'' were integrated into the political municipality of Locarno.<ref>{{HDS|41282|Capitanei di Locarno}}</ref>

===Early Locarno===
[[File:Tessin2006 picture 049.jpg|thumb|Harbor of Locarno. Trade along the lake allowed Locarno to flourish]]
Starting in the Lombard period (after 569), the area around Locarno (and presumably the town) was part of the county Stazzona and later the [[March (territory)|Mark]] of Lombardy. Locarno is first mentioned in 807 as ''Leocarni''. In German, it came to be known as ''Luggarus'', ''Lucarius'', ''Lucaris''.<ref name=HDS/> It is likely that a market existed at or near the lake since the Roman era. The long history of the town and its location led to the creation of a royal court, which was first mentioned in 866. During the [[Middle Ages]] Locarno and Ascona formed a community, with several, separate neighbourhoods. The community managed its [[the commons|common goods]] (alpine pastures, pastures, forests, churches) and tax officials and police.

In the 10th century, [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan|Bishop of Milan]] began to consolidate more and more power to himself at the expense of the [[Kingdom of Germany|Kings of the Germans]].  This expansion by Milan was countered by [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]], who incorporated Locarno in 1002/04 with the surrounding areas into the Diocese of Como. [[Friedrich Barbarossa]] granted extensive [[market town|market rights]] to Locarno in 1164 and granted [[imperial immediacy]] in 1186. Due to these privileges, Locarno developed substantial local autonomy, which assisted in the development of municipal institutions. The nobles (''Nobili'') lost more and more rights to the citizens (''borghesi''). By 1224, the ''borghesi'' had their own administration and various privileges, including: market rights, the right to their own weights, maintenance of mills and grazing rights in Saleggi, in Colmanicchio (''Alp Vignasca'') and in the Magadino and Quartino valleys.<ref name=HDS_early/>

Locarno was the administrative centre of the [[parish]] of Locarno.  The ''[[Podestà]]'' or high government official, resided in the Casa della Gallinazza, which was burned in 1260 during the clashes between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Several Locarno families, including members of the ''Capitanei di Locarno'' and Simone da Orello, played an important role in the battles between the two factions. In 1342, Luchino and Giovanni [[Visconti of Milan|Visconti]] conquered the area, which brought Locarno back under the power of [[Milan]]. In 1439, Count Franchino Rusca was awarded Locarno as a fief.<ref name=HDS_early/>

In 1291, a [[Humiliati]] monastery was first mentioned in Locarno. St. Catherine's church, attached to the monastery, probably dates to the mid-14th century.<ref name=HDS_Religion/>

===Under the Swiss Confederation===
[[File:Struktur Eidgen 1530.png|thumb|Swiss Confederation in 1530, showing Locarno and other territories of the Ticino region]]
The rule of the Rusca ended in 1503, when the [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Confederates]] occupied Locarno, but failed to conquer the Visconti castle. After the [[Battle of Novara (1513)|battle of Novara]] in 1513, the French King [[Louis XII of France|Louis XII]] gave the Confederates the castle. In the Treaty of Freiburg in 1516, they received all of Locarno. The Twelve Cantons took turns appointing a governor ({{langx|it|commissario}}), to rule over Locarno. The governor had both civil and criminal jurisdiction, except in certain cases after 1578, where seven judges were elected by the locals to try the cases. On taking office, the governor swore under oath to obey the statutes of Locarno. The governor was supported by a local mayor, and criminal fines were usually given to the local community.<ref name=HDS_early/>

The rule of the Twelve Cantons also affected the social and political relations of the town. In addition to the nobility (representing the three old noble families Orelli, Muralto and Magoria) and citizens, there was a third group. This third group, the ''terrieri'', was a group of residents who had lived a long time in Locarno, but were not citizens. Each of the three groups was a [[statutory corporation]], with shared property and a governing body. Under the Confederation, each of these groups or corporations had representation in the ''Consiglio Magnifico'' which ruled Locarno. However, the town's dominance over the villages in the region, until 1798, is clearly shown in their representation in the council. The three groups in Locarno had twelve aldermen (six nobles, four citizens and two ''terrieri''), while all the rural communities together had only eight members.<ref name=HDS_early/>

During the Middle Ages, Locarno was centred around the intersection of Via Cittadella and Via S. Antonio. The town stretched up the slope of the mountain and behind the castle. Some houses lined the shore, and above the Contrada Borghese a small, almost rural settlement grew up. The centre of town was dominated by townhouses with their large courtyards and gardens. The members of the upper class also owned small country houses with [[vineyard]]s, which went up the hill behind Locarno as well as in Solduno and [[Cugnasco]]. Locarno also had several noble [[Estate (land)|estates]] during the [[Late Middle Ages]], including the so-called Cittadella. The buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries, including the Casa Simona (16th to 18th century), the Casa Rusca from the first half of the 18th century (now the seat of the municipal art gallery) and the Casa del Negromante, were built on older structures and didn't change the layout of the town.<ref name=HDS_early/>

===Locarno's castles===
[[File:Castello Visconteo3.jpg|thumb|Castello Visconteo]]
{{Main|Castello Visconteo (Locarno)}}
There were several castles from the [[Early Middle Ages]] in Locarno. One was destroyed by the Milanese in 1156. Another, first mentioned in 1210 as Orelli castle, was occupied in 1342 by the Visconti and enlarged. This castle came to be known as Visconti Castle. In 1531, the Confederates demolished much of the castle, leaving only the central core. The castle was used as the residence of the governor, but in the following centuries, it began to fall apart. From 1804 to 1909, the castle was the seat of the administrative governor and the District Court. After 1909, it came into the possession of the city and was renovated in 1921–28. Since 1920, it has housed the city and Archaeological Museum. In 1507, a defensive bastion or [[ravelin]] was added to protect the castle entrance. It is likely that Leonardo da Vinci designed this structure.<ref name="Swissinfo 11 Aug">{{cite news |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/Home/Archive/Locarno_gets_its_own_da_Vinci_mystery.html?cid=5371158 |title= Locarno gets its own da Vinci mystery |author=Gehring, Françoise |location=Locarno, Switzerland |date=11 August 2006 |publisher=SSR SRG |work=Swissinfo.com |access-date=3 December 2010}}</ref><ref name=HDS_early/> North-east of the castle is Palazzo Casorella (Casa degli Orelli) from the 16th century.

===Early modern Locarno===
[[File:View from Monte Ceneri road toward Locarno.jpg|thumb|Vineyards above Locarno]]
During the Middle Ages, the economy of Locarno and the whole region was closely linked with the nobles who owned the market, fishing, alpine and grazing rights and [[tithe]]s. Starting in the 13th century, some of these privileges went to the citizens' corporation. The hill areas were dominated by [[viticulture]], while grain was raised in the plains. Within the town, vegetables and fruits were grown. Artisans and stores were concentrated in the interior of the town. The repeatedly flooded shorelines and the alpine pastures were used for grazing. In the early modern period, Locarno developed into a thriving commercial centre on an important road that linked the major cities of [[Lombardy]], with German-speaking Switzerland and Germany. Cereals and salt came from Lombardy and [[Piedmont]] to Locarno, while Locarno and its hinterland (especially the [[Valle Maggia|Maggia Valley]]) provided large quantities of wood and cattle to Italy.<ref name=HDS_early/>

The [[parish church]] of Locarno, S. Antonio Abate, was first built in 1353–54. It was replaced by the current building in 1664. The decoration of the church was financed, primarily, by the grain traders at the end of the 17th century, and the chapel [[fresco]]es are by Giuseppe Antonio Felice Orelli from 1742. The citizens of Locarno had the right to appoint priests at S. Antonio Abate, S. Maria in Selva (consecrated in 1424, since 1884 only the [[choir]] and bell tower remain) and SS Trinità dei Monti (consecrated 1621). The church of San Francesco, together with the adjoining convent, were built in the early 13th century. The church's first consecration was probably in 1230, but the first documented consecration of the church was in 1316. It was rebuilt and enlarged between 1538 and 1675 using construction material from Visconti Castle. San Francesco hosted the meetings of the nobility and the citizens. Starting in the 16th century, the appointed governor swore his oath in the church.<ref name=HDS_Religion>{{HDS|2108<!--Section 1-3-->|Locarno – Religious Life}}</ref>

In the 16th century, the [[Humiliati]] order was suppressed and St. Catherine's church and monastery closed. All three ruling groups of Locarno agreed to convert the church and monastery into the Hospital S. Carlo. The Hospital remained until 1854 when it closed, due to financial reasons.<ref name=HDS_Religion/>

In the 16th century, Locarno's population declined as a result of the exodus of [[Protestantism|Protestants]] and the [[Plague (disease)|plague]] in 1576–77. After a recovery in the 17th century, the population declined considerably in the 18th century again.

===Protestant Reformation===
By 1535, there was a [[Protestant Reformation|Protestant]] community known as the ''ecclesia christiana locarnensis'' in Locarno. They owed their existence to the work of Giovanni Beccaria, several notables of the town (including Taddeo Duni) and religious refugees from [[Milan]] and Piedmont. To counteract the tensions, the Protestant community and the Catholic clergy met for a debate on 8 May 1549. At the end of the debate, Beccaria was imprisoned. However, because of protests against his arrest, he was immediately released. In 1550, Locarno declared itself to be a Catholic town, but a large group continued to practice the Protestant faith. However, in 1554, the Diet of Baden issued an ultimatum to the Protestants, either renounce their new faith or go into exile. On 3 March 1555, over 100 people left Locarno to emigrate to [[Zürich]].<ref name=HDS_Religion/>

In the course of [[Counter-Reformation]] in the 17th century, many religious buildings in Locarno were renewed or rebuilt. These include the 1604 church dedicated to SS Sebastiano e Rocco with the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchin]] monastery and the church of S. Maria Assunta (Chiesa Nuova).<ref name=HDS_Religion/>

===The Canton of Ticino===
Under the [[Helvetic Republic]] (1798–1803) Locarno was part of the [[Canton of Lugano]]. Following the collapse of the Helvetic Republic, the [[Act of Mediation]], in 1803, created the Canton of Ticino with Locarno as an independent municipality. The Helvetic Republic was very liberal and attempted to reform much of Swiss society. However, the changes were too great and the Republic collapsed. The compromise Act of Mediation changed some aspects of society but left others unchanged. The new municipality of Lucarno was no longer ruled by three different ''[[Bürgergemeinde|patriziati]]'', which had emerged from the three groups (nobles, ''borghesi'' and ''terrieri''), but until the mid-19th century there were institutions that reached back to the [[Early Modern Switzerland|Ancien Régime]]. For example, the community of Locarno and Ascona was dissolved in 1805. Nevertheless, a "committee of the representatives of the former communities of Locarno" managed, for several decades, the S. Carlo Hospital and schools, which had been shared by the ''patriziati'' of the old, combined community. However, the power of the old ''patriziati'' gradually weakened. In 1859, the ''terrieri'' decided to set aside their corporation. The nobles corporation distributed its assets in 1866–67 to its members and dissolved the archive, but retained until about 1920, the fishing rights. Only the citizens' corporation has preserved its status as a civil community.<ref name=HDS_Modern>{{HDS|2108<!--Section 1-4-->|Locarno – 19th and 20th Centuries}}</ref>
[[File:Locarno 1.jpg|thumb|left|Piazza Grande]]
The Constitution of 1814, established Locarno, Bellinzona and [[Lugano]] as the capitals of the canton, in a six-year rotation. Locarno was the capital of the canton in 1821–27, 1839–45, 1857–63 and 1875–81. In 1838–39, on the initiative of a group of notables, a government building was built. It was sold in 1893 to a private company. It then became the headquarters of Credito Ticinese and since 1917 it has been the headquarters of the [[Electricity Company of Sopraceneri]]. Locarno was repeatedly the scene of political clashes. In 1839 and 1841, uprisings against the government broke out. In 1855, a murder in a coffee house was used as a pretext for a coup of radicals (''pronunciamento'').  Another coup, the Ticino coup of 1890, did nothing to change the balance of power between the parties in the city. After a liberal [[Mayor of Locarno|mayor]] ruled for 35 consecutive years (1865–80), a conservative mayor ruled for another 36 years (1880–1916).<ref name=HDS_Modern/>

To break the conservative hegemony of the late 19th century, the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democrats]], allied with the [[Liberal Party of Switzerland|Liberals]] in 1916 elections. They succeeded to a majority in the city government (which then consisted of nine members, but in 1987 was limited to seven), which they kept in the following decades.<ref name=HDS_Modern/>

In the 19th century, the population in Locarno grew noticeably compared to neighbouring communities. As early as 1836, the immigrant population was over 16% of the population. Between 1860 and 1880, the population fell slightly mainly because of emigration to [[California]]. In the following decades, the growth rates were below those of other population centres of the canton, which, unlike Locarno, benefited directly from the [[Gotthard railway]].

In 1816, the special rights and title of the old mother church of San Vittore in [[Muralto]] went over to S. Antonio Abate. In 1863, snow collecting on the roof of the church caused the [[Vault (architecture)|vault]] to collapse, killing 40 people. The citizens' collective or ''borghesi'' lacked the resources to repair the church. Therefore, in 1866, the ownership and maintenance of the churches of S. Antonio and S. Maria in Selva were given to the town as a whole. For financial reasons, the collapsed church was not completely repaired. Only the façade and central vault were rebuilt and the choir was expanded.<ref name=HDS_Religion/>

Between 1863 and '74, the church of San Francesco had to be used for services, and after 1798, the Assemblies of the neighbourhoods, the city and the county were held in the church. In 1814, the church of San Francesco was [[secularized]] and the [[Franciscans]] had to leave. The church and convent served from 1821 until 1827 as the State Government offices. From 1848 to 1863, the church was closed for worship, and in 1874 it was converted into a barracks and a salt storage. In 1924, it was converted back into a church and used by Benedictines for [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] services delivered in the [[German language]]. The [[Jesuits]] took over this task from 1947 until 1992. The monastery was secularized in 1848, and after the 1893–94 renovation, it housed the first high school. Then in 1930, it was used for teacher training.

===Modern Locarno===
Between 1935 and '92, the newspaper ''L'Eco di Locarno'' was printed in Locarno. In 1992, it merged with the official newspaper of the Liberal party ''Il dovere'' to create the daily newspaper ''La Regione''. Since 1987, the only German language newspaper in Ticino, the ''Tessiner Zeitung'', is published three times each week in Locarno.