INTRODUCTION     TOWNS AND VILLAGES     TRANSPORT     HOW TO GET THERE     INTRODUCTION     MONTE GENEROSO     MONTE SAN GIORGIO     THE PARK OF THE BREGGIA GORGE     MUGGIO VALLEY     PARK OF THE PENZ HILL     THE PRE MURIN PARK     FORTHCOMING EVENTS     RECURRING EVENTS     SPECIAL EVENTS     TICINO, LAND OF CYCLING     MEETING FACILITIES     INTRODUCTION     MUSEUMS     ART GALLERIES     HISTORICAL BUILDINGS     CINEMA TEATRO CHIASSO     WALKS     MOUNTAIN-BIKE PATHS     THEMATICS PATHS     TREKKING     GUIDED EXCURSIONS Towns and villages Rancate Arogno Arzo Balerna Besazio Bissone Brusino Arsizio Bruzella Cabbio Caneggio Capolago Casima Castel San Pietro Chiasso Coldrerio Genestrerio Ligornetto Maroggia Melano Mendrisio Meride Monte Morbio Inferiore Morbio Superiore Muggio Novazzano Rancate Riva San Vitale Rovio Sagno Salorino Stabio Tremona Vacallo It is a village not far from Mendrisio in an area with lots of terraced vineyards and meadows. The centre, built around the parish church, is characterised by 19th century buildings, narrow streets and by the attractive square. The origin of Rancate seems to date back to the 5th century A.D. as the parish of Riva San Vitale. At that time the people from Rancate baptised their children and buried their dead in the nearby lakeside village. On the separation from Riva San Vitale in 1528 Rancate became an independent parish. At the beginning of the 20th century agriculture was still the primary activity but the decline started immediately after the second world war, making way for a residential area. In the last few decades the number of houses in the village has increased notably, so has the number of inhabitants. The famous architect, Carlo Fontana, was born in Rancate (cf. Novazzano); the sculptor, Grazioso Rusca, author of the bas-reliefs on the façade of Milan’s Cathedral, is remembered as well as Grazioso Botta, who worked in Russia, and the sculptor, Giuseppe Belloni (1898-1964), who left indelible traces of his noble art, especially in the Fourvière Cathedral in Lyon. Interesting buildings: Parish Church of St. Stephen (18th c., on older foundations). Chapel of St. John the Baptist (17th c.). Villa Züst (19th c.). Bourgeois houses from several periods. Ancient wine-cellars in the wood. Museum: The Züst Cantonal Art Gallery Altitude: 359 m. above sea level Population: 1'420 Surface: 2,28 km2 Distances: Mendrisio: 1 km Chiasso: 10 km Town Hall: +41 91 640 44 60 comune.rancate@bluewin.ch Transport (symbols):