The name "Cadro" probably originates from the Late Latin "Clartum", meaning gate, fence, or enclosure.

Part of Lugano since 2013, the district of Cadro, already mentioned in the Lombard era, was under the jurisdiction of the Parish of Sonvico until 1599 (a church dedicated to its patron saint, Saint Agatha, is documented as early as 1366).

After becoming independent, the municipality included Davesco-Soragno until 1801.

In 1911, the Lugano-Cadro-Dino railway made connections with the city center faster and easier, strengthening ties with Lugano.

In Cadro, particular attention is given to the patronal feast of Saint Agatha, the feast of Saint Roch, the feast of Saint Nicholas, as well as the festival of Saints Peter and Paul at Alpe Bolla. Carnival is also celebrated with great enthusiasm.

The coat of arms

cadro

The Armoriale dei Comuni ticinesi by Gastone Cambin, published in 1953 by the Istituto Araldico e Genealogico di Lugano, described the coat of arms of Cadro as follows: "Vert (green), a unicorn rampant argent (silver), collared with a crown or (gold)."

The unicorn originally appeared on the seal of the ancient Castellanza di Sonvico (to which Cadro was historically linked) and, at the same time, is one of the attributes of Saint Agatha, the patron saint of Cadro. The crown was adopted from the coat of arms of the Reali family, in recognition of its artists and benefactors.

In 1979, Cadro’s coat of arms was chosen by the postal service for a Pro Juventute stamp series, making Cadro the first Ticino municipality to feature in this series of stamps.

Places of interest

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The request to build a "roccolo", a small structure where bird catchers would stay during hunting activities, dates back to December 1861. The various levels of the small tower, including the ground floor with a kitchen, are connected by small wooden stairs. By placing a fine net on the trees surrounding the structure, migratory birds were captured, attracted by other birds in cages placed on the meadow of the plateau.

Bird hunting in roccoli has since been prohibited.

Listed since 1938 as a cultural asset of cantonal interest, the first mention of the church dates back to 1366, while the frescoes depicting various saints, including Saint Agatha, are attributed to the 15th century.

On 13 December 1603, after becoming a parish, the construction of the new church began, and it was consecrated in 1622.

Over the centuries, various works followed: in 1634, for instance, the Chapel of the Rosary was built, and in 1939, a significant phase of interior restoration began. Between 2004 and 2006, a thorough restoration finally gave the church its current appearance.

The implementation regulations of the Cadro Zoning Plan protect the following cultural assets of federal, cantonal, or municipal interest:

Cultural assets of cantonal interest:

  • Liron fountain-sarcophagus
  • Parish Church of S. Agata
  • Cemetery cross

Cultural assets of municipal interest:

  • Town Hall (formerly Palazzo Reali)
  • Patriziato House (Beneficio Bulani, formerly municipal schools)
  • Public washhouse (limited to the ground floor)
  • Farmhouse
  • Oratory of San Rocco
  • Chapel alla Stazione
  • Chapel in campagna
  • Chapel al Mulino
  • Municipal cemetery
  • Roccolo, resting area, and Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul at Alpe Bolla
  • Stone bridge over the Franscinone stream
  • Cobbled paths
  • Ice house (Nevèra) at Alpe Valà

The English version of this page was created with the aid of automatic translation tools and may contain errors and omissions.

The original version is the page in Italian.

Cadro
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