Editing Ascona

{{For|the car|Opel Ascona}}
{{Infobox Swiss town
 | subject_name		= Ascona
 | municipality_type	= municipality
 | image_photo          = Ascona IMG 1646.jpg
 | image_caption        =  
 | imagepath_coa	= CHE Ascona COA.svg
 | imagepath_flag	= CHE Ascona Flag.svg
 | canton		= Ticino
 | iso-code-region 	= CH-TI
 | district		= [[Locarno (district)|Locarno]]
 |coordinates = {{coord|46.155|N|8.768|E|display=inline,title}}
 | postal_code		= 6612
 | municipality_code	= 5091
 | area			= 4.97
 | elevation		= 196|elevation_description= 
 | population		= 5057|populationof = December 2002 | popofyear = 2002
 | website		= www.ascona.ch
 | mayor		= Luca Pissoglio ([[FDP.The Liberals|FDP]]) |mayor_asof=2012|mayor_party=
 | mayor_title	= Sindaco |list_of_mayors	= 
 | places		= 
 | demonym		= 
 | neighboring_municipalities= [[Brissago]], [[Gambarogno]], [[Intragna, Switzerland|Intragna]], [[Locarno]], [[Losone]], [[Ronco sopra Ascona]]
 | twintowns		= 
|}}
[[file:AsconaAnsicht.jpg|thumb|300px|Ascona]]

'''Ascona''' ({{langx|lmo|label=[[Ticinese dialect|Ticinese]]|Scona}} {{IPA|lmo|ˈʃkona|}})<ref>[https://search.ortsnamen.ch/de/record/802005091 ortsnamen.ch], citing Kristol, Andres (ed.): ''Dizionario toponomastico dei comuni svizzeri'' (2005).</ref> is a [[municipalities of Switzerland|municipality]] in the district of [[Locarno (district)|Locarno]] in the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Ticino]] in [[Switzerland]].

It is located on the shore of [[Lake Maggiore]].

The town is a popular [[tourism|tourist]] destination and holds the yearly [[Ascona Jazz Festival]].

==History==
===Prehistory===
The oldest archaeological finds in Ascona (at S. Materno and S. Michele) go back to the beginnings of the Late [[Bronze Age]]. During the expansion of the cemetery in 1952, a [[necropolis]] was discovered at S. Materno, where 21 [[Urn#Cremation urns|cremation urns]] were discovered. The urns were either simply buried or covered with a stone slab box. They contained cremated bones and, in some cases, [[bronze]] [[grave goods]]. Of particular interest are the bronze [[brooch]]es, which are among the oldest that have been found so far in Switzerland. They also provide important evidence for the relationship of this area to the cultures of the [[Italian Peninsula]]. The grave goods have similarities with those from the final phase of the so-called [[Canegrate culture]] (named after a large necropolis in [[Milan]]). However, the materials used are those of the late Bronze Age north of the [[Alps]]. This allowed the cemetery to be dated to the period between the 12th and 10th centuries BC and points to the fact that Ascona took part in trade over the Alps through the [[Val Mesolcina]] and over [[Lake Maggiore]] with the [[Po Valley]].<ref name=HDS_Pre>{{HDS|2086<!--Section 1-1-->|Ascona-Prehistory}}</ref>

Similar objects were found by exploratory excavations in the late 1960s on the castle hill of San Michele. Both fine [[ceramic]]s and coarse [[pottery]] were discovered, which suggests that this area was settled during the Late Bronze Age, even if there is no evidence of the municipal structures. Remains of walls and clay from the Balladrum hill are the only [[Iron Age]] objects found in the municipality. However, the exact age is unknown. The only item that has been conclusively identified is a single flagon from the 6th to 5th century BC.<ref name=HDS_Pre/>

From the [[Roman Empire]], a necropolis with 38 tombs at the foot of the Castle of S. Materno was discovered. The equipment found near the graves points to the period in the mid-1st or 2nd century AD. The necropolis was probably associated with a villa.<ref name=HDS_Pre/> In 1979–80, an excavation at the church of S. Sebastiano discovered 60 early medieval graves.

===Medieval town===
A fortified settlement is first mentioned  in 1186, as ''Sconae'' (''castrum quod dicitur sconae''), in 1224 as ''burgus de schona''.<ref>Virgilio Gilardoni, "Abbozzo di inventario toponimi asconesi", ''Archivio storico ticinese'' 81/82 (1980), p. 98&ndash;144.</ref> The etymology of the toponym is unknown, there are several suggestions from 19th-century scholarship, all of them uncertain: 
from Latin ''scanum'' "alluvial sediment", from Latin ''ab abscondito'', or from an uncertain early Romance ''asculà'' "pasture in uncultivated land".<ref>Suggestions are listed in Kristol, Andres (ed.): ''Dizionario toponomastico dei comuni svizzeri'' (2005), the author of the article rejects as implausible a further suggestion, from Lombardic *''skugina'' "granary".</ref> The [[German language|German]] form of the name, ''Aschgunen'', is recorded from the 16th century, when Locarno had come under the rule of the [[Old Swiss Confederacy]]. It is no longer in use.<ref name=HDS/>

In the later Middle Ages, Ascona, [[Ronco sopra Ascona|Ronco]], and Castelletto formed a village cooperative together. In 1321 it was mentioned for the first time, and in 1369, it had its own statutes. The history of Ascona during the [[Middle Ages]] is closely linked with that of [[Locarno]]. The important role of Ascona is reflected in the designation ''plebis Locarni Asconaeque'' which it was given in 1369. It is believed that in the 6th century, the Castle of San Michele was the site of a [[curia]] (court) and the seat of a ''sculdascio'' ([[Lombardic language|Lombardic]] for officer) of the county of Stazzona, who exercised control over the entire [[parish]] of Locarno. In 1004, the [[High, middle and low justice|court rights]] were transferred from the [[Archbishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan|Milan]] to the [[Bishop of Como]]. In 1189 this gave the castle of San Michele to the Duni, one of the families of the ''Capitanei di Locarno''. Other noble families from Locarno (Da Carcano, Castelletto, Muralto) settled in Ascona. They were joined by the Griglioni family that fled the wars between the [[Guelphs and Ghibellines]] of Milan.<ref name=HDS_new>{{HDS|2086<!--Section 1-2-->|Ascona-Middle Ages and Modern Era}}</ref>

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Duni enlarged their fortress (demolished in the 17th century) and the church of S. Sebastiano as well as having created a plaza around their residential home. The oldest fortification, probably, is the castle of San Materno. At its location, north of the village, there already seems to have been a Roman tower. The fort was occupied as early as the Early Middle Ages. In the 13th century, it was owned by the Orelli and Castelletto families. In the 17th century, only a part of the walls was still preserved. In the course of the 13th century, two new fortifications were built. The first was the Carcani Castle on the shore east of the Church of SS. Pietro e Paolo, and it was already demolished by the 2nd half of the 13th century. The second, was still further east, outside the inhabited area at that time. The Griglioni built a small castle to protect a port. Parts of this castle still exist and have been integrated into modern buildings.<ref name=HDS_new/>

A church is first mentioned in 1264 and was originally consecrated only as the Church of S. Peter. The Church of SS Peter and Paul is first mentioned as a [[parish church]] in 1330, and in 1332 as a [[collegiate church]]. However, no documents exist which show the separation from the mother church of San Vittore in [[Muralto]] and thus the existence of an early medieval [[parish]]. The Church of S. Maria della Misericordia was built in 1399–1442. It contains one of the most extensive late [[Gothic art|Gothic]] [[fresco]] cycles in Switzerland.

===Early Modern Ascona===
[[File:Collegio Papio.jpg|thumb|''Collegio Papio'' grounds]]
In 1640-41, Ascona separated from Ronco and Castelletto. According to the statues adopted in the 14th century, Ascona was represented by three people in the Council of the parish of Locarno. Under the [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Swiss Confederation]], it was represented with two members, alternating every two years with those of Ronco. In 1428, Filippo Maria Visconti gave the villages the [[market right]], which was renewed by the Confederates after the conquest of Locarno in 1513.

In 1580, Bartolomeo Papio, who had become wealthy in Rome, donated 25,000 [[Scudi]] to Ascona for the construction of a [[seminary]] as long as the work could be completed within three years. In October 1584 the school was finished. After negotiations with [[Charles Borromeo]], the Archbishop of Milan, and representatives of [[Pope Gregory XIII]], it was decided to sell the originally planned ''Casa Papio'' and to build the ''Collegio Papio'' college next to the Church of S. Maria della Misericordia. This project ran from 1585 until 1592. In 1616, Cardinal [[Federico Borromeo]], placed the school under the authority of the [[Ambrosians#Oblates of St. Ambrose and of St. Charles|Congregation of the Oblate of Milan]], which led the school until 1798.

The Church of SS Peter and Paul was enlarged in the 16th century, and in 1703, was elevated to have a [[Provost (religion)|provost]] over the church. This was followed by it being raised to have a [[Dean (Christianity)|dean]] in 1800. In 1617-37 the Church of Madonna della Fontana was built on the northern slopes of Monte Verità, which became a pilgrimage destination. The most remarkable profane building of this era is the Casa Serodine, a building of the 17th century, with a richly decorated [[facade]].<ref name=HDS_new/>

===Modern Ascona===
[[File:13 Ascona, Ticino.jpg|thumb|Ascona in 1932]]
After various changes, the ''Collegio Papio'' seminary was secularized in 1852 and then served initially as a high school. It then became a girls' school and later the ''Istituto Elvetico''. In 1879, it returned to its original name and purpose and was placed under the Bishop of Como. In 1885 it came under the authority of the bishop of Lugano. Under the bishop of Lugano, several religious orders administered the seminary, including the [[Oblates of St. Francis de Sales|Salesians]] (1894–1910), the [[Assumptionists]] (1910–14), and finally the [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictines]] (since 1924). In the 20th century, the building was rebuilt and expanded several times (1924–27, after a fire in 1960, 1975–76, and 1992).

In the second half of the 18th century, the Church of SS Peter and Paul was extensively rebuilt. In 1859, the façade and the south side were totally redone in a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style. A further renovation began in 1948 but was aborted after the 18th-century vaults collapsed.

In 1798 Ascona elected to join the [[Helvetic Republic]], and was granted a certain degree of local self-government. French troops moved into the town but were driven out, and it was then occupied by [[Habsburg monarchy|Austrian]] units. When the canton of Ticino was founded in 1803, Ascona became a political municipality.<ref name=HDS_new/>

Until the beginning of the 20th century, the local economy depended mostly on crops, livestock, and fisheries. A smaller, but important source of income was the emigration of builders, architects, and artists to Rome and Tuscany. The most famous Ascona artist families were the Serodine, Abbondio, Pancaldi, and Pisoni. In the 19th century, linen production and mills offered job opportunities to the locals. In the second half of the 19th century, a [[dynamite]] factory operated in Ascona, but it closed after repeated explosions in 1874.<ref name=HDS_new/>

[[File:Minigolf Ascona.jpg|thumb|right|Minigolf Ascona, opened in 1954, the oldest course worldwide following the norms of Paul Bongni]]
In the 20th century, tourism became a major part of the local economy. Since 1970 the number of second homes has increased substantially, and at the end of the 20th century, during the summer season, around 20,000 to 25,000 visitors came to Ascona each year. Closely connected with the rise of tourism was population growth in the 1920s. In 1925 an extensive redistribution of land ownership allowed non-locals to purchase land. By 1934, the number of landowners included not only 299 Ticinesi, but 88 other Swiss, 41 German, 35 Italian, and 31 foreign nationals. The settlement area has expanded since 1960. The expansion has proceeded more and more towards the north, so that {{as of | 2023 | lc = on}} Locarno and Ascona form a single agglomeration. Two bridges connect Ascona with the left bank of the Maggia river. The one at Solduno, which was built 1815–16, and rebuilt in 1887 after the flood of 1868, was totally replaced in 1996. The second bridge, further into the valley, was built in 1974–80. Since 1947, Ascona has also had an airport; however, it is likely to close in the near future.<ref name=HDS_new/>

In 1945 negotiations over [[World War II]] surrender plans took place between [[United States of America|U.S.]] and [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] representatives in Ascona.<ref>
{{cite book
 |last1                = Emde
 |first1               = Heiner
 |year                 = 1980
 |title                = Verrat und Spionage in Deutschland: Texte, Bilder, Dokumente
 |url                  = https://books.google.com/books?id=EXg0AQAAIAAJ
 |publication-place    = Munich
 |publisher            = Ringier
 |page                 = 168
 |isbn                 = 9783858591258
 |access-date          = 7 May 2023
 |quote                = Dulles war auch der kluge Kopf hinter den deutsch-alliierten Kapitulationsverhandlungen in Zürich und Ascona.
}} 
</ref>

=== Monte Verità ===
[[File:Tessin Mai 2007 042.jpg|thumb|Villa Semiramis on Monte Verità, today a part of the hotel and conference complex]]
"[[Monte Verità]]" ("Mount Truth") was so named at the beginning of the 20th century, when a "colony" was founded by proponents of primitive socialism and anarchy on a hill formerly known as "Monescia", just to the north-west of the town of Ascona.<ref>[http://www.hippy.com/php/article-243.html Hippy.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830033310/http://www.hippy.com/php/article-243.html |date=2007-08-30 }} para. 35</ref>

The colony attracted a large number of artists, anarchists, and other famous people, including [[Hermann Hesse]], [[Hans Habe]], [[Carl Jung]], [[Erich Maria Remarque]], [[Hugo Ball]], [[Else Lasker-Schüler]], [[Stefan George]], [[Isadora Duncan]], [[Paul Klee]], [[Rudolf Steiner]], [[Mary Wigman]], [[Gyula Háy]], [[Max Picard]], [[Ernst Toller]], [[Henri van de Velde]], [[Rudolf Laban]], [[Frieda von Richthofen|Frieda]] and [[Else von Richthofen]], [[Otto Gross]], [[Erich Mühsam]], [[Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach]], and [[Gustav Stresemann]].

==Geography==
[[File:Panorama ascona.jpg|thumb|none|620px|Ascona with islands of Brissago]]
[[File:Ascona.lago.jpg|thumb|Lake Maggiore with Ascona in the foreground]]
[[File:ETH-BIB-Ascona v. S. aus 100 m-Inlandflüge-LBS MH01-005978.tif|thumb|Aerial view from 100&nbsp;m by [[Walter Mittelholzer]] (1929)]]
Ascona has an area, {{as of|1997|lc=on}}, of {{convert|4.97|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}. Of this area, {{convert|1.78|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 35.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|1.66|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 33.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, {{convert|2.63|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 52.9% is settled (buildings or roads), {{convert|0.01|km2|acre|abbr=on}} or 0.2% is either rivers or lakes and {{convert|0.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 4.0% is unproductive land.

Of the built up area, housing, and buildings made up 26.8% and transportation infrastructure made up 13.7%, while parks, green belts, and sports fields made up 10.9%. Out of the forested land, 28.4% of the total land area is heavily forested and 5.0% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 6.0% is used for growing crops, while 3.0% is used for orchards or vine crops, and 26.8% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is in lakes. Of the unproductive areas, 3.8% is unproductive vegetation.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003738/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=02&key1_testo=Territorio%20e%20ambiente&key1=02&key2=01&key3=01 Altitudine, superficie, secondo il genere di utilizzazione, rilevazione 1992/1997, e densità della popolazione, nel 2000] {{in lang|it}} accessed 25 October 2010</ref>

The municipality is located in the Locarno District, on the right bank of the [[Maggia (river)|Maggia delta]]. It consists of the town of Ascona which includes the sections of Gerbi, Monescie, Monte Verità, Moscia, and Saleggi.

==Coat of arms==
The [[blazon]] of the municipal [[coat of arms]] is ''Azure two keys argent in saltire ribboned together and in chief a papal crown of the same.'' The attributes of St. Peter were conceded when the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Como|bishop of Como]] and the church of St. Peter (S. Pietro) gave feudal rights to Ascona.<ref>[http://www.fotw.us/flags/ch-ti058.html Flags of the World.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009030631/http://www.fotw.us/flags/ch-ti058.html |date=October 9, 2012 }} accessed 21-November-2010</ref>"

==Demographics==
Ascona has a population ({{as of|{{Swiss populations YM|CH-TI}}|lc=on}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-TI|5091}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-TI}} {{as of|2008}}, 27.6% of the population are resident foreign nationals.<ref name=HDS_superweb>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Superweb database - Gemeinde Statistics 1981-2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628151016/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html |date=June 28, 2010 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 19 June 2010</ref> Over the last 10 years (1997–2007) the population has changed at a rate of 10.7%.

Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks [[Italian language|Italian]] (66.0%), with German being the second most common (23.9%), and [[Serbo-Croatian language|Serbo-Croatian]] being third (2.5%).<ref name=SFSO>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105172441/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html |date=January 5, 2016 }} accessed 21-November-2010</ref> Of the Swiss national languages ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}), 1,189 speak German, 112 people speak French, 3,289 people speak Italian, and 10 people speak [[Romansh language|Romansh]]. The remainder (384 people) speak another language.<ref name=Lang>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=01&key1_testo=Popolazione&key1=01&key2=05&key3=00 Popolazione residente, secondo la lingua principale e la religione, nel 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003908/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=01&key1_testo=Popolazione&key1=01&key2=05&key3=00 |date=July 7, 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

{{as of|2008}}, the gender distribution of the population was 46.6% male and 53.4% female. The population was made up of 1,776 Swiss men (32.4% of the population), and 779 (14.2%) non-Swiss men. There were 2,202 Swiss women (40.1%), and 731 (13.3%) non-Swiss women.<ref name=Resident/> In {{as of|2008|alt=2008}} there were 22 live births to Swiss citizens and 8 births to non-Swiss citizens, and in same time span there were 36 deaths of Swiss citizens and 9 non-Swiss citizen deaths. Ignoring immigration and emigration, the population of Swiss citizens decreased by 14 while the foreign population decreased by 1. There were 7 Swiss men and 3 Swiss women who immigrated back to Switzerland. At the same time, there were 43 non-Swiss men and 27 non-Swiss women who immigrated from another country to Switzerland. The total Swiss population change in 2008 (from all sources) was an increase of 17, and the non-Swiss population change was a decrease of 3 people. This represents a [[Population growth#Population growth rate|population growth rate]] of 0.3%.<ref name=HDS_superweb/>

The age distribution, {{as of|2009|lc=on}}, in Ascona is; 365 children or 6.7% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 500 teenagers or 9.1% are between 10 and 19.  Of the adult population, 481 people or 8.8% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old.  612 people or 11.2% are between 30 and 39, 833 people or 15.2% are between 40 and 49, and 782 people or 14.2% are between 50 and 59.  The senior population distribution is 817 people or 14.9% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 666 people or 12.1% are between 70 and 79, there are 432 people or 7.9% who are over 80.<ref name=Resident>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=01&key1_testo=Popolazione&key1=01&key2=02&key3=03 01.02.03 Popolazione residente permanente] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003757/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=01&key1_testo=Popolazione&key1=01&key2=02&key3=03 |date=July 7, 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

[[File:Ascona-saeed.jpg|thumb|Ascona from a balcony]]

{{as of|2000}}, there were 2,472 private households in the municipality, and an average of 2.0 persons per household.<ref name=SFSO/>  {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 689 single family homes (or 47.8% of the total) out of a total of 1,442 inhabited buildings.  There were 194 two family buildings (13.5%) and 360 multi-family buildings (25.0%).  There were also 199 buildings in the municipality that were multipurpose buildings (used for both housing and commercial or another purpose).<ref>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=09&key1_testo=Costruzioni%20e%20abitazioni&key1=09&key2=02&key3=01  09.02.01 Edifici] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707004037/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=09&key1_testo=Costruzioni%20e%20abitazioni&key1=09&key2=02&key3=01 |date=July 7, 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2008|alt=in 2008}}, was 0.65%.  {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 4,636 apartments in the municipality.  The most common apartment size was the 3 room apartment of which there were 1,567.  There were 606 single room apartments and 503 apartments with five or more rooms.<ref name=Apartment>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=09&key1_testo=Costruzioni%20e%20abitazioni&key1=09&key2=02&key3=02   09.02.02 Abitazioni] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707004053/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=09&key1_testo=Costruzioni%20e%20abitazioni&key1=09&key2=02&key3=02 |date=July 7, 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>  Of these apartments, a total of 2,465 apartments (53.2% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 2,067 apartments (44.6%) were seasonally occupied and 104 apartments (2.2%) were empty.<ref name="Apartment"/>  {{as of|2007}}, the construction rate of new housing units was 11.8 new units per 1000 residents.<ref name=SFSO/>

The historical population is given in the following table:<ref name=HDS>{{HDS|2086|Ascona}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! year
! population 
|-
| 1591
| ca. 1,000
|-
| 1801
|  772
|-
| 1850
|  902
|-
| 1900
|  942
|-
| 1920
|  1,118
|-
| 1950
|  2,923
|-
| 1980
|  4,722
|-
| 1990
| 4,540
|-
| 2000
|  4,984
|-
| 2017
|  5,534
|-
|}

==Heritage sites of national significance==
There are eleven Swiss [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage site of national significance]] in Ascona. There are three churches on the list: the church of S. Maria della Misericordia with the ''Collegio Papio'', the Church of S. Michele with the ruins of a medieval castle, and the [[Parish Church]] of SS. Pietro e Paolo. Three houses are on the list: the Serodine House, the Unifamiliare Tuia House, and the Villa at via Ludwig 26. The Balladrum, a prehistoric and medieval settlement, as well as the Albergo, a park with a complex of houses, and the Monte Verità Museum, are also on the list. Two museums, the ''Museo comunale d’arte'' and the ''Museo Epper'', and a theater, the ''Teatro S. Materno'', finish out the list. The entire town of Ascona is listed on the [[Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.babs.admin.ch/de/aufgabenbabs/kgs/inventar/a-objekte.html |title=Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance |date=1 January 2018 |website=A-Objects |publisher=Federal Office for Cultural Protection (BABS) |access-date=12 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628110559/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |archive-date=28 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Tessin 05 2006 226.jpg|Church of S. Maria
File:Kirche-in-ascona.jpg|Parish Church of Ss. Pietro e Paolo
File:Hotel monte verità.jpg|Hotel on Monte Verità
</gallery>

==Politics==
In the [[2007 Swiss federal election|2007 federal election]] the most popular party was the [[FDP.The Liberals|FDP]] which received 32.24% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|CVP]] (18.93%), the [[Swiss People's Party|SVP]] (15.89%) and the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]] (15.29%). In the federal election, a total of 1,419 votes were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 41.4%.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/04/03.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office, ''Nationalratswahlen 2007: Stärke der Parteien und Wahlbeteiligung, nach Gemeinden/Bezirk/Canton''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514211354/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/04/03.html |date=May 14, 2015 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 May 2010</ref>

In the {{as of|2007|alt=2007}} ''[[Ticino#Government|Gran Consiglio]]'' election, there were a total of 3,346 registered voters in Ascona, of which 1,763 or 52.7% voted.  37 blank ballots and 2 null ballots were cast, leaving 1,724 valid ballots in the election.  The most popular party was the [[FDP.The Liberals|PLRT]], which received 422 or 24.5% of the vote.  The next three most popular parties were; the [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|PPD]]+GenGiova (with 323 or 18.7%), the SSI (with 307 or 17.8%) and the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|PS]] (with 215 or 12.5%).<ref name=Election>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=17&key1_testo=Politica&key1=17&key2=02&key3=02  Elezioni cantonali: Gran Consiglio, Consiglio di Stato] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003818/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=17&key1_testo=Politica&key1=17&key2=02&key3=02 |date=July 7, 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

In the {{as of|2007|alt=2007}} ''Consiglio di Stato'' election, 29 blank ballots and 8 null ballots were cast, leaving 1,726 valid ballots in the election. The most popular party was the PLRT which received 409 or 23.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were; the PPD (with 338 or 19.6%), the LEGA (with 311 or 18.0%) and the SSI (with 254 or 14.7%).<ref name=Election/>

==Economy==
[[File:Ascona Albergo Hotel.jpg|thumb|Piazza Hotel, one of the many hotels in Ascona]]
{{as of|2007|In 2007}}, Ascona had an unemployment rate of 4.99%. {{as of|2005}}, there were 9 people employed in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary economic sector]] and about 3 businesses involved in this sector.  361 people were employed in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] and there were 47 businesses in this sector.  2,683 people were employed in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]], with 353 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO/>  There were 2,233 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 46.0% of the workforce.

{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 2,056 workers who commuted into the municipality and 1,149 workers who commuted away.  The municipality is a net importer of workers, with about 1.8 workers entering the municipality for every one leaving.  About 16.0% of the workforce coming into Ascona are coming from outside Switzerland, while 0.1% of the locals commute out of Switzerland for work.<ref name=commuter>[https://archive.today/20120804043150/http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Statweb] {{in lang|de}} accessed 24 June 2010</ref>  Of the working population, 7.5% used public transportation to get to work, and 47.8% used a private car.<ref name=SFSO/>

{{as of|2009}}, there were 34 hotels in Ascona with a total of 1,192 rooms and 2,230 beds.<ref>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=10&key1_testo=Turismo&key1=10&key2=03&key3=01  Settori alberghiero e paralberghiero] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003852/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=10&key1_testo=Turismo&key1=10&key2=03&key3=01 |date=July 7, 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

==Religion==
[[File:Ascona2008 img 6658.jpg|thumb|Church in Ascona]]
From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 3,308 or 66.4% were [[Roman Catholic]], while 835 or 16.8% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]]. There are 606 individuals (or about 12.16% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), and 235 individuals (or about 4.72% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name=Lang/>

==Education==
In Ascona about 69.6% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|upper secondary education]] or additional higher education (either university or a ''[[Fachhochschule]]'').<ref name=SFSO/>

In Ascona there were a total of 766 students ({{as of|2009|lc=on}}). The Ticino [[Education in Switzerland|education system]] provides up to three years of non-mandatory [[kindergarten]], and in Ascona there were 94 children in kindergarten. The primary school program lasts for five years and includes both a standard school and a special school. In the municipality, 217 students attended the standard primary schools and 10 students attended the special school. In the lower secondary school system, students either attend a two-year middle school followed by a two-year pre-apprenticeship, or they attend a four-year program to prepare for higher education. There were 213 students in the two-year middle school and 1 in their pre-apprenticeship, while 123 students were in the four-year advanced program.

The upper secondary school includes several options, but at the end of the upper secondary program, a student will be prepared to enter a trade or to continue on to a university or college. In Ticino, vocational students may either attend school while working on their internship or apprenticeship (which takes three or four years) or may attend school followed by an internship or apprenticeship (which takes one year as a full-time student or one and a half to two years as a part-time student).<ref>{{Cite report |title=KANTONALE SCHULSTRUKTUREN IN DER SCHWEIZ UND IM FÜRSTENTUM LIECHTENSTEIN / STRUCTURES SCOLAIRES CANTONALES EN SUISSE ET DANS LA PRINCIPAUTÉ DU LIECHTENSTEIN |url= http://edudoc.ch/record/35128/files/Schulsystem_alle.pdf |author= EDK/CDIP/IDES |year= 2010 |access-date= 24 June 2010 }}</ref> There were 26 vocational students who were attending school full-time and 73 who attend part-time.

The professional program lasts three years and prepares a student for a job in engineering, nursing, computer science, business, tourism and similar fields.  There were 9 students in the professional program.<ref>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=15&key1_testo=Formazione%20e%20scienza&key1=15&key2=02&key3=01  Allievi e studenti, secondo il genere di scuola, anno scolastico 2009/2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003844/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=15&key1_testo=Formazione%20e%20scienza&key1=15&key2=02&key3=01 |date=July 7, 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

{{as of|2000}}, there were 231 students in Ascona who came from another municipality, while 213 residents attended schools outside the municipality.<ref name=commuter/>

==Crime==
In 2014 the crime rate, of the over 200 crimes listed in the [[Strafgesetzbuch (Switzerland)|Swiss Criminal Code]] (running from murder, robbery, and assault to accepting bribes and election fraud), in Ascona was 64.4 per thousand residents, slightly lower than the national average (64.6 per thousand). During the same period, the rate of drug crimes was 5.5 per thousand residents. This rate is lower than average, only 48.2% of the rate in the district, 62.5% of the rate in the canton, and 55.6% of the national rate. The rate of violations of immigration, visa and work permit laws was 1.7 per thousand residents. This rate is lower than average, 47.2% of the rate in the canton and 34.7% of the rate for the entire country.<ref>[https://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch/maps/13/de/11488_11587_3864_7266/19010.html Statistical Atlas of Switzerland] accessed 5 April 2016</ref>

== Notable people ==
[[File:Clown Dimitri 2016.jpg|155px|thumb|Dimitri, 2016]]
* [[Dimitri (clown)|Dimitri]] (1935 in Ascona – 2016), a Swiss clown and mime artist
* [[Daniela Ambrosoli]] (born 1941 in Ascona), a Swiss entrepreneur, philanthropist, and film director
* [[Bruno Bisang]] (born 1952 in Ascona), a Swiss fashion photographer
* [[Paolo Duca]] (born 1981 in Ascona), a Swiss former professional ice hockey player
* [[Brigitte Helm]] (1906 – 1996 in Ascona), German actress who fled [[Nazi Germany]] for Switzerland and died in Ascona
* [[Gaetano Matteo Pisoni]] (1713 in Ascona – 1782), an Italian architect, worked in a Late Baroque manner 
* [[Marianne von Werefkin]] (1860 – 1938 in Ascona), a Russian-German-Swiss Expressionist painter, lived in Ascona from 1918
* [[Anthony van Hoboken]] (1887–1983), a musical collector, bibliographer, and musicologist; lived in Ascona 1951 to 1977
* [[Wladimir Vogel]] (1896–1984), a Swiss composer of German and Russian extraction, lived in Ascona 1939-1964
* [[Gregor Wentzel]] (1898–1978 in Ascona), a German physicist known for development of quantum mechanics, lived in Ascona from 1970

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ascona}}
{{Wikivoyage|Ascona}}
*{{HDS|2086}}
*{{HDS|27825|Monte Verità}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120717035054/http://www.upd.unibe.ch/research/symposien/HA11/monteverita.html Der Monte Verità in Ascona]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041019033713/http://www.emmet.de/hb_veri.htm Der "Heilige Berg" Monte Verità]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041012040546/http://www.cultura-ascona.ch/home/homepage.htm Museo comunale d’arte moderna Ascona]
*[http://www.ascona.ch/ www.ascona.ch]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041012182403/http://www.maggiore.ch/news/index.cfm?lingua=en www.maggiore.ch]
*[http://www.jazzascona.ch/ New Orleans Jazz Festival]
*[http://www.virtualascona.com News about Ascona]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080610044241/http://www.discoverlakemaggiore.com/ascona.asp Ascona Tourism Information]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120730055845/http://africabusiness.com/webcams/indexAscona.html Live Camera Ascona]
*[https://insubricahistorica.blogspot.ch/2018/04/the-dynamite-disaster-of-ascona.html 1873-1874 dynamite production in Ascona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428181609/https://insubricahistorica.blogspot.ch/2018/04/the-dynamite-disaster-of-ascona.html |date=2018-04-28 }}

{{Lago Maggiore}}
{{Municipalities of the district of Locarno}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ascona| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Maggiore]]
[[Category:Lakeside resorts in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Cultural property of national significance in Ticino]]