History
The district of Castagnola-Cassarate is bordered to the south by the lake and the river mouth, to the east by Monte Brè, and to the north by Viganello. In addition to Ruvigliana, the district also includes Caprino and Cavallino, located on the opposite shore of the lake, and the Alpe di Trevino, situated below the summit of Sighignola.
In 1972, the merger of Lugano, Castagnola, and Brè initiated a unified administrative and organizational development of the territories on the left bank of the Cassarate river. Lugano thus gained a territory of extraordinary scenic quality, suitable for residential settlement and various recreational activities.
Of significant public importance are the areas of Campo Marzio, South and North, and the Lido in Cassarate, the Casserum estate with the current San Michele Park, the territories of Cortivo and San Domenico, the Parco degli Ulivi (Olive Park) along the romantic path to Gandria, the cellars and grotti of Caprino, and the former Ronchetti quarry.
Equally noteworthy are the historical and cultural landmarks such as Villa Favorita, Villa Heleneum, and Casa Carlo Cattaneo, now home to the city's Archivio storico (Historical archive), while the old Castagnola town hall has been converted into the district Center.
The coat of arms
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 Castagnola as follows: "Argent, a chestnut branch with three leaves vert, and two golden burs fructed gules, placed bendwise."
The coat of arms depicts a chestnut branch, symbolizing the chestnut trees that were once widespread in the territories of Castagnola, Ruvigliana, and Fulmignano. The creation of the coat of arms also involved architect Mario Chiattone.
Places of interest
Casa Cattaneo, which hosted prominent figures, was purchased by the former municipality of Castagnola in 1972 and became the seat of the Archivio storico (Historical archive) of the City of Lugano in 1980.
Since 1972, the building of the former municipality of Castagnola has housed the District center, which includes the Ufficio rionale, the Ufficio di conciliazione in materia di locazione (weddings can also be held upon request), and the Administrative archive of the former municipality. It also hosts several organizations, including the Castagnola Philharmonic.
The center has become a meeting place for the community and offers multipurpose rooms for organizations, exhibition spaces, and a large hall for meetings, concerts, and conferences. One room is dedicated to the works of painter Bruno Morenzoni (1917–1991), who left this legacy to honor his city.
In 1995, a significant renovation project, overseen by architect Edy Borradori, was completed.
Located at Via Foce 1 in Lugano, the Agorateca facilitates interaction and the exchange of interests by offering the community access to several thousand books, magazines, DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, and informational brochures.
In the Middle Ages, the land of Castagnola was part of the Parish of Lugano. The Church of San Giorgio was managed by a chaplain, while the parish priest resided in San Lorenzo. This arrangement continued until the early 17th century, when Castagnola, following the example of other municipalities, requested and obtained parochial autonomy.
According to sources, the church was built in 1616 or after 1618. After breaking ties with the mother church, the new parish was required to pay compensation to offset the "damage" caused by the separation, as well as grant certain privileges to the former parish priest and his successors. Castagnola appealed to religious authorities to reduce the demands of the people of San Lorenzo. On 24 February 1620, Judge Ludovico Sareggi significantly reduced the compensation requested by the Assembly of San Lorenzo, enabling the construction of the new parish and ensuring a manageable financial burden.
The interior was transformed into Baroque style during the second half of the 17th century. The church underwent restoration between 1970 and 1973. The bell tower retains its original primitive structure, topped by an 18th-century bell chamber. Noteworthy features include a beautiful statue of the Virgin in the Chapel of the Madonna and a scagliola altar frontal from the third quarter of the 18th century. In the opposite chapel, there is a fresco depicting the Apparition of the Child to Saint Anthony of Padua. In the Ossuary, an allegorical fresco by Giovan Battista Discepoli, known as Lo Zoppo da Lugano, from the first half of the 17th century, depicts the Macabre Procession.
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.