Miglieglia

Miglieglia (Italian pronunciation: [miʎˈʎeʎʎa]; Lombard: Mijoja) is a municipality in the district of Lugano in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.

Numerous, but inconclusive archaeological findings indicate that there may have been a Roman era settlement near the current municipality.

On a promontory overlooking the river Magliasina are the ruins known as Castello di Miglieglia.

These ruins were interpreted as remnants of an extensive fortification from the late Classical period.

Although is in not confirmed archaeologically, it is likely that the ruins are the remains of a fortified refuge, which was destroyed by the Milanese in 1156 during the conquest of the Diocese of Como.

[3] In the Late Middle Ages, Miglieglia, Iseo, Cimo and Aranno formed the Concilium (neighborhood) of S. Maria Giovena.

In the 19th century it was partly depopulated because of emigration to German-speaking Switzerland, northern Italy and America.

A chair lift opened in 1952 to Monte Lema (1,624 m (5,328 ft)) and expanded in 1997 with a cable car.

[3] Miglieglia has an area, as of 1997[update], of 5.13 square kilometers (1.98 sq mi).

[4] The municipality is located in the Lugano district, on a terrace in the upper Malcantone valley at the foot of Monte Lema.

The division of Tortoglio's land led to a long running fight with Breno that was not resolved until 1890.

[3] The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules an oak tree eradicated vert acorned or between a chestnut and a walnut both or.

All the symbols (oak, chestnut, walnut) refer to the typical vegetation of the area.

[7] The age distribution, as of 2009[update], in Miglieglia is; 39 children or 14.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 19 teenagers or 7.0% are between 10 and 19.

[8] The historical population is given in the following chart:[3][13] The Church of S. Stefano Al Colle with ossuary is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

[15] In the 2007[update] Gran Consiglio election, there were a total of 195 registered voters in Miglieglia, of which 122 or 62.6% voted.

[18] From the 2000 census[update], 145 or 67.4% were Roman Catholic, while 17 or 7.9% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.

In the lower secondary school system, students either attend a two-year middle school followed by a two-year pre-apprenticeship or they attend a four-year program to prepare for higher education.

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

Aerial view (1948)