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 Bissone 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 This is an ancient inhabited settlement, situated along the shores of the lake and at the foot of the hill, whose existence was already recorded in the Longobard era (8th century AD). The history and development of Bissone are linked to fishing, which was the main activity of its inhabitants for centuries. Moreover, the village is well-known as the birthplace of whole generations of craftsmen and artists dedicated to various professions in the building trade - architects, engineers, builders, stonemasons, stone-hewers, marble-workers, stucco-workers and painters - who left the village from the Middle Ages onwards to work in many European cities and provinces, both north and south of the Alps. Among this artistic workforce, which bears names like Gaggini, Caratti, Orsatti, Castelli, Allio, Garovo, Tencalla, Bussi, Porro, Maderno, Verda, Somaini, Comanedi, Pario, Bono, etc., that of the architect, Francesco Borromini(1599-1667) apears; he is one of the absolute protagonists of the Roman Baroque period and more generally of the history of art of all times. In the last few decades Bissone has extended towards the hill and in the direction of Campione d'Italia. In spite of the threatening presence of important communication routes, the old centre has maintained its urban structure with its two remarkable religious buildings, its narrow streets, the typical porticoes and elegant façades along the square by the lake. Interesting buildings: Parish Church of St. Carpoforo (medieval origins, reshaped in the second half of the 17th c.). Church of St. Rocco (medieval origins, restructured in the first half of the 17th c.). Votive chapel of St. Nicholas of the Flüe (1948). Patrician houses along the shore of the lake and in the streets, mainly dating back to the 16th , 17th and 18th centuries and mostly belonging to the local artistic workforce. Excursions: Panoramic trails towards Campione d'Italia, Arogno, Maroggia. Lake-side walk along the bridge-dam to Melide. Altitude: 274 m. above sea level Population: 780 Surface: 4,22 km2 Distances: Lugano: 8 km Mendrisio: 10 km Town Hall: +41 91 649 72 80 www.bissone.ch bissone@swissonline.ch Transport (symbols):