It was formed on 13 March 2005 from the earlier municipalities of Arosio, Breno, Fescoggia, Mugena and Vezio.

[8] According to tradition, the Roman road leading from Ponte Tresa to Monte Ceneri Pass ran through Arosio.

By the Middle Ages it was a central town in the upper Magliasina valley, which was at that time was known as the Valle d'Arosio.

The villages of Arosio, Breno, Cademario, Mugena Tortoglio and Vezio formed an economic and political unit.

It contains a cycle of frescoes by Antonio da Tradate and notable stucco work by local artists from the 17th and 18th centuries.

At some time after the year 1000, the Abbey of S. Abbondio in Como acquired some rights and land in Breno.

Alp Rettaiola (alpine pasture) was lost after a century-long dispute with the Italian Valle Veddasca, following a by a decision of the Varese Congress in 1752.

Between 16th and 19th centuries, limited land and resources led to a large exodus of construction workers from Breno.

[5] According to a 1296 document Fescoggia was one of only two villages that was in the Lugano area, but was totally owned by Como Cathedral.

The Monastery of S. Abbondio in Como owned the tithe right in the village, but sold it in 1579 to Breno.

The Chapel of S. Silvester was built in the late 13th century, over the ruins of a church dedicated to Madonna of the snows.

In the 15th century, the village area also included Monti di Lot and Alp Firinesc.

Until the end of the 19th century, the inhabitants also drove their animals in a seasonal migration to alpine pastures to the east slopes of the mountains of Santa Maria and Cervello.

On Monte Torri, in the 19th century, an iron ore (hematite) mine opened a furnace for smelting operation was built.

In the Middle Ages, Como Cathedral possessed property, tithes and rights to use alpine meadows over half of Nisciora Alp.

Historically, farming and grazing in the alpine meadows of S. Maria and Cervello were the main source of income.

[7] In the Early Middle Ages, the Bishop and monastery of St. Abbondio in Como owned property and rights in Vezio.

Until the late 19th century, part of the population seasonally migrated to the eastern slopes of the mountains of S. Maria and Cervello.

[13] The age distribution, as of 2009[update], in Alto Malcantone is; 134 children or 10.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 133 teenagers or 10.3% are between 10 and 19.

[14] The historical population is given in the following table: In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the FDP which received 30.03% of the vote.

[15] In the 2007[update] Gran Consiglio election, there were a total of 951 registered voters in Alto Malcantone, of which 623 or 65.5% voted.

The professional program lasts three years and prepares a student for a job in engineering, nursing, computer science, business, tourism and similar fields.

[20] About 60.3% of the total households were owner occupied, or in other words did not pay rent (though they may have a mortgage or a rent-to-own agreement).

[11] The Parish Church of Di S. Michele and is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.