[2] The medieval part of Sonvico village consist is an old citadel with a compacted structure full of narrow and intricate lanes.

Sonvico is first mentioned in 1040 as Summo Vico, from the Latin "Summus Vicus", meaning "the higher located village"[3]

Prehistoric settlement in the area are proved by the findings of a Golasecca culture grave and a plate with a northern Etruscan inscription.

[3] During the archaeologic explorations in the San Martino church, Roman and Lombard objects (including a woman's grave with a cross brooch from about 650-700 AD) were discovered.

Sonvico was strategically located on top of Lugano valley, which was a necessary passage to the Nordic versant of the Alps, through the Gotthard Pass.

Additionally, it was strongly fortified with a ring wall and a castle, which was built before 1326 and renovated around the end of the 15th century.

Due to its importance, Sonvico obtained a privilege status from the Duchy and was thus allowed to set many of its own laws enjoying tax and customs exemptions.

The first book of law known as "Libbro degli Statuti della Magnifica Comunità di Sonvico" dates from 1473.

The village resisted for a while isolated, and only after the signing of a pact for the maintenance of the old privileges respected by the Duchy, ceded its sovereignty to the Swiss.

Although the privileges were guaranteed by the pact, their maintenance was only partly respected and the Castellanza felt betrayed by the Swiss.

[5] The local economy was based on crops (mainly of chestnut), viticulture and animal husbandry.

Sonvico was almost completely self-sufficient and during the centuries developed a chestnut based economy: common in the area.

Due to limited farming land many residents emigrated abroad seeking job opportunities generally as construction craftsmen and masons.

Initially, emigration was limited to the neighboring European countries, but starting from the 19th century, The United States and Argentina were the main destinations.

At the beginning of the 20th century some tourist hotels opened in the village and between 1911 and 1979 a regional train line connecting Lugano and Sonvico was in operation.

Nowadays Sonvico is a residential quarter and the surrounding agricultural lands have mainly become forest.

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules a saltire argent and in chief tower of the same.

It is still visible in the "Casa della ragione" entrance fresco, in the main square "Piazza Grande".

[6] The historical population is given in the following chart:[14][15] The Provost's Church of S. Giovanni Battista a Corcaréi and the Oratory of S. Martino are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.

[17] In the 2007[update] Gran Consiglio election, there were a total of 1,333 registered voters in Sonvico, of which 848 or 63.6% voted.

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

[21] As of 2000[update], there were 5 students in Sonvico who came from another municipality, while 132 residents attended schools outside the quarter.