Faido (Italian: [faˈiːdo]; Ticinese: Faid) is the capital of the district of Leventina in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland.

On 29 January 2006, Faido grew by incorporating the villages of Chiggiogna, Rossura, and Calonico.

On 1 April 2012, Faido grew again when it incorporated the former municipalities of Anzonico, Calpiogna, Campello, Cavagnago, Chironico, Mairengo and Osco.

[5] Crucial for the development of the municipality into a regional center was the location in the middle of the valley and at the foot of the gorge of Mount Piottino.

The mountain was a barrier to passenger and goods transport, which required a stop and facilities for travelers.

The meetings of the local head of the Levantine (parlamento generale) and the Council of the valley community were held in Faido.

During the Middle Ages the church of San Siro in Mairengo (first mentioned in 1171) was the baptistery of the Vicinanza.

The Chapel of St. Bernardino of Siena from 1459 was under the patronage of the Varesi family, which also owned a six-story tower house.

The railway encouraged the founding various hotels (including the Hôtel Suisse in 1905) and the spread of crafts and small industries.

Before World War I, the village was, especially with Milanese families, a popular and bustling holiday resort.

The current District Hospital was built in 1923 at the request of residents and civic communities of the Levantine.

In 1976 Faido fought successfully against the fragmentation of the municipal area by the highway and got a bypass tunnel.

[5] In the spring of 2004, the residents voted for incorporating the surrounding municipalities of Chiggiogna, Osco, Mairengo, Calpiogna, Campello, Rossura, Calonico, Anzonico, Cavagnago, and Sobrio.

[7] It grew again following the 2012 merger with Anzonico, Calpiogna, Campello, Cavagnago, Chironico, Mairengo and Osco.

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules a Latin cross couped indented Argent and issuant from it a hand in blessing of the same clead Purpure.

[10] The age distribution, as of 2009[update], in Faido is; 142 children or 7.1% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 205 teenagers or 10.2% are between 10 and 19.

Lorenzo e Agata are listed as Swiss heritage site of national significance.

The villages of Anzonico, Calpiogna, Primadengo, Chironico, Brusgnano-Freggio, Osco, Faido, Calonico, Rossura, Tengia, Figgione and Sobrio-Ronzano are all listed in the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

The walls also feature a mural from 1558 by Gerolamo Gorla da Milano and paintings from the 17th Century.

[18] In the 2007[update] Gran Consiglio election, there were a total of 1,151 registered voters in Faido, of which 892 or 77.5% voted.

The wettest month is May during which time Faido receives an average of 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain or snow.

The driest month of the year is December with an average of 67 mm (2.6 in) of precipitation over 7.4 days.

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

The rate of violations of immigration, visa and work permit laws was 5.7 per thousand residents.