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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox Swiss town
|subject_name      = Bellinzona
|image_photo       = Town and Castelgrande castle of Bellinzona.jpg
|image_caption     = View of Bellinzona with [[Castelgrande (castle)|Castelgrande]] in the foreground
|municipality_name = Bellinzona
|municipality_type = municipality, town
|imagepath_flag    = CHE Bellinzona Flag.svg
|imagepath_coa     = CHE Bellinzona COA.svg
|pixel_coa         =
|map               = Karte Gemeinde Bellinzona.png
|languages         = Italian
|canton            = Ticino
|iso-code-region   = CH-TI
|district          = [[Bellinzona (district)|Bellinzona]]
|coordinates       = {{coord|46|11|43.336|N|9|01|46.835|E|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code       = 6500 (town only)
|municipality_code = 5002
|area              = 164.20
|elevation         = 241
|elevation_description = Stazione di Bellinzona
|highest           = [[Poncione di Piotta]]
|highest_m         = 2440
|lowest            = [[Ticino (river)]]
|lowest_m          = 200
|population = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-TI|5002}} |populationof = {{Swiss populations YM|CH-TI}} |popofyear = {{Swiss populations Y|CH-TI}}
|website           = www.bellinzona.ch
|mayor             = Mario Branda |mayor_asof= February 2014 |mayor_party= Unità di sinistra
|mayor_title       = Sindaco |list_of_mayors = List of mayors of Bellinzona

|executive_name    = Municipio |executive_number_of_members = 7
|parliament_name   = Consiglio comunale |parliament_number_of_members = 60
|places            = Artore, Carasso, Daro, Ravecchia, [[Camorino]], [[Claro, Ticino|Claro]], [[Giubiasco]], [[Gnosca]], [[Gorduno]], [[Gudo]], [[Moleno]], [[Monte Carasso]], [[Pianezzo]], [[Preonzo]], [[Sant'Antonio, Switzerland|Sant'Antonio]], and [[Sementina]]
|demonym           =
|neighboring_municipalities= [[Arbedo-Castione]], [[Giubiasco]], [[Gorduno]], [[Monte Carasso]], [[Pianezzo]], [[Sant'Antonio, Switzerland|Sant'Antonio]]<ref name=swmap/>
|twintowns         =
}}
'''Bellinzona''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|ɛ|l|ɪ|n|ˈ|z|oʊ|n|ə}} {{respell|BEL|in|ZOH|nə}},<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Bellinzona|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> {{IPA-it|bellinˈtsoːna|lang}};<ref>{{cite book |title=Duden Aussprachewörterbuch |edition=6 |year=2006 |publisher=Bibliographisches Institut & F.A. Brockhaus AG |location=Mannheim}}</ref> <small>[[Ticinese dialect|Ticinese]] </small>{{lang-lmo|Belinzóna}} {{IPA-lmo|belinˈtsɔna|}}; {{lang-fr|Bellinzone}} {{IPA-fr|bɛlɛ̃zon|}}; {{lang-de|Bellenz}} {{IPA-de|ˈbɛlɛnts|}}; {{lang-rm|Blizuna}} {{IPA-rm|bliˈtsuːnə||Roh-sursilvan-Blizuna.ogg}}) is a municipality, a [[List of towns in Switzerland|historic Swiss town]], and the capital of the [[canton of Ticino]] in Switzerland. The town is famous for its [[Three Castles of Bellinzona|three castles]] (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro) that have been UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s since 2000.

The town lies east of the river [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]], at the foot of the [[Swiss Alps|Alps]]. It stretches along the river valley, surrounded by the southern ranges of the [[Lepontine Alps]] to the east and west, and by the [[Lugano Prealps]] to the south.

==Name and coat of arms==
[[File:Bellinzona.Wappen.png|thumb|right|upright|Coat of arms]]

The toponym is first attested in 590 in Latin as
''Belitio'' or ''Bilitio'' (in the accusative, ''Bilitionem''), by [[Gregory of Tours]].<ref>
Gregorius Turonensis, [http://monumenta.ch/latein/text.php?tabelle=Gregorius_Turonensis&rumpfid=Gregorius%20Turonensis,%20Historiae,%2010,%20%20%20%203&domain=&lang=0&links=&inframe=1&hide_apparatus=1&PHPSESSID=05b6e09fa203c1964e1b888c9ee7d12e Historiae, 10.3], ''Quod exercitus Childeberthi regis in Italiam abiit'':
''Olo autem dux ad Bilitionem huius urbis castrum, in campis situm Caninis, inportunae accedens, iaculo sub papilla sauciatus, cecidit et mortuus est''
"Duke Olo went rashly to ''Bilitio'', a stronghold of this city [Milan], situated on the plains called Canini, and was wounded with a dart under the nipple and fell and died."</ref>
The name is [[Lepontic]] in origin, possibly from ''belitio'' ("[[juniper]]") or ''belitione'' ("juniper bushes").<ref>''Archiv für das Studium der neueren Sprachen und Literaturen'' 184, J. Bädeker, 1943, [https://books.google.com/books?id=FVo4AQAAIAAJ&q=Belitio++Bellinzona p. 105].
Jacob Früh, ''Geographie der Schweiz'', Fehr, 1932, p. 12.</ref>

During the medieval period, the name is found as
''Berinzona'' (721, 762, 803, 1002), ''Birrinzona'' (1004), ''Birizona'' (1168), ''Beliciona'' (901, 977) and ''Belinzona'' (1055).<ref>
''Anzeiger für schweizerische Altertumskunde, Bände 21–24'', J. Herzog, 1912, p. 404.</ref>
The German name of the town is ''Bellenz''. A local [[folk etymology]] derives the name ''Bellinzona'' from ''zona bellica'' "war zone", making a connection to the [[Italian Wars]].

The [[blazon]] of the municipal [[coat of arms]] is an erect serpent in silver on a red field. The fabulous animal is called in Italian "[[Biscione]]". This animal, which can also be found on the arms of the [[Alfa Romeo|Alfa Romeo car company]], is linked with the [[Visconti of Milan]], who were [[feudal]] lords of Bellinzona in the 14th and 15th centuries.<ref>Pascal Gross, 11 January 2003 at [http://www.fotw.us/flags/ch-ti002.html Flags of the World.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008210942/http://www.fotw.us/flags/ch-ti002.html |date=8 October 2012 }} accessed 25-October-2010</ref>

==History==

===Pre-History and Roman era===
Bellinzona has always occupied an important geographic location in the Alps. To the south, the [[Po Valley]] is accessible by a lowland route down the valley of the river [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]] and by [[Lake Maggiore]]. To the north, the valley of the Ticino leads to the high alpine passes of [[Nufenen Pass|Nufenen]], [[St. Gotthard Pass|St. Gotthard]], [[Lukmanier Pass|Lukmanier]] and [[San Bernardino Pass|San Bernardino]]. Although now little used, the [[San Jorio Pass]] to the east was also important in Bellinzona's past.<ref name=hdsaeh>{{HDS|2031<!--Section 1-1-->|Bellinzona-Ancient and early history}}</ref>

While the region has been occupied since the [[Neolithic Europe|early Neolithic age]]<ref name=hdsaeh/><ref>[http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/la_storia/colonizzazione_preistorica.asp Official Website-Prehistoric Settlement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501091335/http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/la_storia/colonizzazione_preistorica.asp |date=1 May 2009 }} accessed 7 July 2008</ref> it wasn't until the late 1st century BC that a fort was built in the area during the reign of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Emperor [[Augustus]]. While the fort fell into disrepair in the following centuries, it was rebuilt and greatly expanded in the 4th century AD. During the reign of [[Diocletian]] and [[Constantine the Great|Constantin]] a chain of castles and watchtowers were built to protect northern Italy from invasion. Bellinzona's location was recognized as a key point in the defenses and a large castle was built to protect the walls. The town that grew up around the fortifications was known as ''Bilitio''.

Following the [[Decline of the Roman Empire|collapse of the Western Roman Empire]] the [[Succession of states|successor states]], which included the [[Ostrogoth]]s around 500 AD, the eastern [[Byzantine Empire]] towards the middle of the 6th century, and the [[Longobard]]s from 568/70, all took control of Bellinzona and used the castle to assert control of the surrounding passes. Under the Longobards, Bellinzona became the site of a permanent garrison to protect the region from raids by the neighboring [[Franks|Frankish]] and Alemannic tribes.<ref name="HDS Middle Ages">{{HDS|2031<!--Section 1-3-->|Bellinzona-The Middle Ages}}</ref> From Bellinzona the Longobards controlled the traffic on the important trade route from [[Varese]] over [[Ponte Tresa]], the [[Monte Ceneri Pass]], [[Biasca]] and finally over the Lukmanier Pass into [[Chur]]. Some researchers believe that Bellinzona may have been the capital of a county that included most of the valleys in [[Ticino]].<ref name="HDS Middle Ages"/>

===Early Middle Ages===
At around 774 the [[Frankish Kingdom]] (that would become the [[Carolingian Empire]]) gained control of the Ticino valley including Bellinzona.

About two centuries later the [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]], seeking to restore the power of glory of ancient Rome and expand into Italy, opened the Lukmanier and St. Bernard passes. Control of Bellinzona was a key part of this expansion. The town was taken from Milan and given as a gift to the [[Bishop of Como]], who supported the [[Ottonian dynasty]]. In 1002, following the death of Otto III, [[March of Ivrea|Marquis]] [[Arduin of Italy|Arduino of Ivrea]] declared himself [[King of Italy]] and ratified the bishop's ownership of the ''Castelgrande'' and the town. Two years later, after Arduino had been defeated by [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]] the [[King of Germany]], Henry II's man Enrico II reratified the gift of the ''Castelgrande'' on the Bishop of Como.<ref name="Bellinzona High Middle Ages">{{cite web |url=http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/la_storia/medioevo_avanzato.asp |title=Official Website-High Middle Ages |publisher=Bellinzonaunesco.ch |access-date=2013-07-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102235557/http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/la_storia/medioevo_avanzato.asp |archive-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> The town is mentioned in medieval sources in 1218 as ''Bilizione''.

===Conflicts between the Pope and the Emperor===
[[File:Coat of arms of the House of Visconti (1395).svg|thumb|left|Coat of arms of the House of Visconti. Under the Visconti, Bellinzona flourished and the town was expanded.]]

During the [[Investiture Controversy]] of the late 11th century the town of Bellinzona with its castle came under the control of the [[House of Hohenstaufen|Hohenstaufens]] of [[Swabia]]. However, in 1180, [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I (Barbarossa)]] placed the town under the jurisdiction of the town of [[Como]].<ref name="Bellinzona High Middle Ages"/> In the following years Como tended to support the Pope in his conflicts with the Holy Roman Emperor. However, in 1239, Como sided with the Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]] who quickly moved forces into Bellinzona and strengthened the ''Castelgrande''. In 1242 [[Milan]] sent [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]] (or pro-papacy) forces under the command of Simone di Orello to take Bellinzona.<ref name="Bellinzona High Middle Ages"/> The town and castle were taken which weakened the Emperor south of the Alps. However the town was back under the jurisdiction of Como in 1249.<ref name="HDS Middle Ages"/> Conflicts in northern Italy continued, the ''Castelgrande'' was [[siege|besieged]] several times in 1284, 1292 and 1303. During this time the Rusca family in Como, a Ghibelline or pro-Imperial family, fought the growing power of Milan under the pro-papacy [[Visconti of Milan|House of Visconti]] with limited success. Around the end of the 13th century the Rusca family built another castle, ''Montebello'', in Bellinzona, which they controlled. This was fortunate because by 1335 the Rusca family had been driven out of Como and had to retreat to Bellinzona. Five years later, in 1340, Milan besieged Bellinzona. Following a lengthy siege, the town fell to Milan but the Ruscas were allowed to keep ''Montebello''.<ref name="Bellinzona High Middle Ages"/> Pro-papacy Milan would dominate Bellinzona for the next one and a half centuries, though the pro-Imperial Rusca would also occupy part of the town.

===Expansion of Bellinzona under Milan===
[[File:Bellinzona Stadtmauer.JPG|thumb|The ''Murata'' or town wall of Bellinzona]]
Under the control of the Visconti, trade flourished and Bellinzona grew. When an alternative route over the Alps, the [[Schöllenen Gorge|Schöllenen bridge]] opened, traffic in the St. Gotthard increased to the highest levels ever.<ref name="Late Middle Ages">[http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/la_storia/tardo_medioevo.asp Official Site-Late Middle Ages] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222907/http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/la_storia/tardo_medioevo.asp |date=27 September 2007 }} accessed 17 July 2008</ref> During the second half of the 14th century a long wall, the ''Murata'', was built across the Tessin valley, allowing Milan to protect and tax the trade route over the St. Gotthard Pass.<ref name="HDS Middle Ages"/> While the town was controlled by Milan through the Visconti after 1340, the Visconti did not have a formal title and feudal rights until 1396 when they were granted by [[Wenceslaus, King of the Romans|King Wenceslaus]]. However, the orderly growth of Bellinzona was threatened in 1402 when Duke [[Gian Galeazzo Visconti]] died. In 1403 Bellinzona came under the control of [[House of Sax|Alberto di Sacco]] of [[Val Mesolcina]], who held it until 1419 before it was taken over by [[Canton of Uri|Uri]] and [[Obwalden]], which expanded into the [[Leventina (district)|Leventina Valley]]. Milan attacked the town three years later in 1422 after an offer to buy the town was rejected by the [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Swiss Confederation]]. The troops from Uri and Obwalden were quickly driven from the town and later defeated at the [[Battle of Arbedo]] on 30 June 1422. This defeat discouraged the expansionist intentions of Uri and its allies towards [[Lake Maggiore]] for a time.

During the period of unrest following Gian Galeazzo Visconti's death, a tower which would become the nucleus of the third castle, ''Sasso Corbaro'', was built outside the town.

While the border between Uri and Milan was fixed in the peace treaty of 1426, in 1439 Uri invaded again. While they were unable to take Bellinzona, the victories of the Swiss troops led to Milan granting all of the Leventina Valley to [[Pollegio]] to Uri in 1441. Following the death of Duke [[Filippo Maria Visconti]] in 1447, Bellinzona was in the middle of the succession crisis between [[Franchino Rusca]] of [[Locarno]] and Heinrich of Val Mesolcina, who were allied with Uri and the [[Ambrosian Republic]] in Milan. The war following the succession crisis lasted nearly three years until [[Francesco I Sforza]] seized power in Milan. Bellinzona quickly accepted the new Sforza dynasty and the peace and stability that followed.<ref name="HDS Middle Ages"/>

The peace was broken again in 1478 when the Swiss once again attacked Bellinzona unsuccessfully. However Swiss pride was restored by the [[Battle of Giornico]] which followed, where a force of 600 Swiss soldiers defeated 10,000 Milanese troops. Following the attack, Milan built the ''Sasso Corbaro'' either on the site of a tower which had been built nearly a century before.<ref name="HDS Middle Ages"/> The other two castles were strengthened and the ''Murata'' wall across the valley was rebuilt. Much of the modern castles and fortifications date from this period of construction in the late 15th century.

===An associate of the Swiss Confederation===
[[File:Castelli.JPG|thumb|Castles of Bellinzona]]
In 1499 nearly one and a half centuries of Milanese rule ended with the invasion of Milan by [[Louis XII of France]]. He captured Bellinzona and fearing an attack by the Swiss, fortified the ''Castelgrande'' with 1000 troops.<ref name="Confederation">[http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/la_storia/bellinzona_confederata.asp Official Site-Bellinzona joins the Confederation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501091315/http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/la_storia/bellinzona_confederata.asp |date=1 May 2009 }} accessed 17 July 2008</ref> Throughout the winter of 1499/1500 unrest in Bellinzona grew, until January when an armed revolt of the citizens of Bellinzona drove the French troops from the town. Following the capture and execution of [[Ludovico Sforza]] in April 1500 and seeking protection from France, Bellinzona joined the Swiss Confederation on 14 April 1500, as a [[ennetbirgische Vogteien|condominium]] under the joint administration of [[Canton of Uri|Uri]], [[canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]] and [[Canton of Nidwalden|Nidwalden]].
Following the [[Switzerland in the Napoleonic era|Napoleonic invasion of Switzerland]] in 1798, Bellinzona was the capital of the [[canton of Bellinzona]] within the [[Helvetic Republic]] (1798–1803).

===Bellinzona since 1803===
[[File:Catastrophe de Bellinzona.jpg|thumb|Train disaster in Bellinzona, May 1924]]

Following the [[Act of Mediation]] in 1803 Bellinzona became part of the independent canton of Ticino, and the capital of the new canton from 1803 to 1814. From that date until 1878, Bellinzona, [[Lugano]], and [[Locarno]], took turns being capital every six years. In 1878 Bellinzona became the capital of the canton.

The town includes the village of Artore and, since the incorporation in 1907, the former municipalities of Carasso, Daro, and Ravecchia.

In 1874, the first sections of the [[Gotthard railway]] opened, linking Bellinzona to [[Biasca]] and [[Locarno]]. By 1882, the whole line was open, extending northwards to northern Switzerland via the [[Gotthard Tunnel]], southwards to [[Lugano]] and [[Milan]] via the [[Monte Ceneri Pass]], and down the east shore of [[Lake Maggiore]] to [[Luino]]. Between 1907 and 1972, Bellinzona was also linked to [[Mesocco]] and other [[Val Mesolcina]] communities by the [[Bellinzona–Mesocco railway]].

==Geography==
[[File:Castelgrande Bellinzona.JPG|thumb|Castelgrande in 2004]]
[[File:Picswiss TI-21-25.jpg|thumb|View of the town Bellinzona from Castello Montebello]]
[[File:Picswiss TI-21-34.jpg|thumb|Piazza del Sole, post office, and station]]
[[File:ETH-BIB-Bellinzona con tre castelli-Inlandflüge-LBS MH01-001068.tif|thumb|Aerial view by [[Walter Mittelholzer]] (1919)]]
On 2 April 2017 the former neighbouring municipalities of [[Camorino]], [[Claro, Ticino|Claro]], [[Giubiasco]], [[Gnosca]], [[Gorduno]], [[Gudo]], [[Moleno]], [[Monte Carasso]], [[Pianezzo]], [[Preonzo]], [[Sant'Antonio, Switzerland|Sant'Antonio]] and [[Sementina]] merged into Bellinzona.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/grundlagen/agvch.assetdetail.2245014.html |title=Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz |date=23 March 2017 |website=Swiss Federal Statistical Office}}</ref>

Bellinzona is situated in the valley of the river [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]], at an altitude of {{convert|240|m}}. The town centre lies about {{convert|1|km}} east of the river, with the urban area confined to the bottom and lower slopes of the valley. However the municipality's boundaries extend up both sides of the valley, to altitudes of {{convert|2240|m}} to the west, and {{convert|2195|m}} to the east.<ref name=swmap>{{cite map |url=https://s.geo.admin.ch/82899b70cb |title=Municipality Bellinzona |map=43 - Sopra Ceneri |map-url=https://shop.swisstopo.admin.ch/en/products/maps/national/lk100?layer=ch.swisstopo.landeskarte100_papier.metadata&product=43&productIdentifier=43&childGroupIdentifier=lk100eb#product-43 |scale=1:100 000 |series=National Map 1:100'000 |edition=2015 |date=2012 |publisher=Federal Office of Topography – [[swisstopo]] |location=Wabern, Switzerland |isbn=978-3-302-00043-5 |via=map.geo.admin.ch |access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref>

The town is located at a point at which the river Ticino, which has been flowing in a generally southerly direction, makes a turn to the west, to flow through the wide Pionoa di Magadino before entering the [[Lake Maggiore]], and after it finally reaches to the Italian [[Po Valley]] and [[Lombardy]].

Upstream, several valleys reach into the high Alps, with access to northern Switzerland over or through the [[St. Gotthard Pass|Passo del San Gottardo]] via the [[Valle Leventina]], the upper valley of the Ticino, and further to the west with access to the [[Valais]] over the [[Nufenen Pass]] via the [[Val Bedretto]], and access to the [[Canton of Grisons|Grisonian]] [[Surselva]] of the [[Anterior Rhine]] via the [[Valle di Blenio]] over the [[Lukmanier Pass]]. The river [[Moesa]], running down the [[Valle Mesolcina]] from the [[San Bernardino Pass]] with access to the Gresionian valley ''Rheinwald'' of the [[Posterior Rhine]], joins the Ticino on the northern boundary of the town.<ref name=swmap/>

To the south the [[Monte Ceneri Pass]] crosses the [[Lugano Prealps]] to give access to [[Lake Lugano]] and an alternate route to Lombardy, whilst the [[San Jorio Pass]] provides a possible route east to the upper [[Lake Como]].<ref name=swmap/><ref name="hdsaeh"/>

The town Bellinzona has an area, {{as of|1997|lc=on}}, of {{convert|19.15|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}. Of this area, {{convert|4.21|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 22.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|11.96|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 62.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, {{convert|4.55|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 23.8% is settled (buildings or roads), {{convert|0.47|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} or 2.5% is either rivers or lakes and {{convert|0.09|km2|acre|abbr=on}} or 0.5% is unproductive land.<ref name=ustat/>
Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 1.6% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 13.0%. Transportation infrastructure made up 5.8% while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 2.7%. Out of the forested land, 60.1% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.9% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 6.6% is used for growing crops, while 2.5% is used for orchards or vine crops and 13.0% is used for alpine pastures. All the water in the municipality is flowing water.<ref name=ustat>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003738/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=02&key1_testo=Territorio%20e%20ambiente&key1=02&key2=01&key3=01 Altitudine, superficie, secondo il genere di utilizzazione, rilevazione 1992/1997, e densità della popolazione, nel 2000] {{in lang|it}} accessed 25 October 2010</ref>

==Demographics==
Bellinzona has a permanent population ({{as of|{{Swiss populations YM|CH-TI}}|lc=on}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-TI|5002}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-TI}} In 2008, 29.4% of the population were foreign nationals.<ref name=HDS_superweb>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Superweb database – Gemeinde Statistics 1981–2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628151016/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html |date=28 June 2010 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 19 June 2010</ref> Between 1997 and 2007 the population has changed at a rate of 0.7%.

Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks [[Italian (language)|Italian]] (87.4%), with [[German (language)|German]] being second most common (3.6%) and [[Serbo-Croatian (language)|Serbo-Croatian]] being third (2.5%).<ref name=SFSO>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105172441/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html |date=5 January 2016 }} accessed 25-October-2010</ref> Of the Swiss national languages ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}), 14,392 people speak Italian, 590 speak German, 189 people speak [[French (language)|French]], and 13 people speak [[Romansh (language)|Romansh]]. The remainder (1,279 people) speak another language.<ref name=Lang>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=01&key1_testo=Popolazione&key1=01&key2=05&key3=00 Popolazione residente, secondo la lingua principale e la religione, nel 2000] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003908/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=01&key1_testo=Popolazione&key1=01&key2=05&key3=00 |date=7 July 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref> The metropolitan area of Bellinzona had a population of 47,128,<ref name="BFS">{{cite web| last = Bundesamt fur Statistik (Federal Department of Statistics)| title = Bilanz der ständigen Wohnbevölkerung (Total) nach Bezirken und Gemeinden| year = 2008| url = http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/02/blank/key/raeumliche_verteilung/kantone__gemeinden.html| access-date = 5 November 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081215033605/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/02/blank/key/raeumliche_verteilung/kantone__gemeinden.html| archive-date = 15 December 2008| url-status = dead}}</ref> divided into 16 municipalities.

{{as of|2008}}, the gender distribution of the population was 46.6% male and 53.4% female. The population was made up of 5,503 Swiss men (31.8% of the population), and 2,567 (14.8%) non-Swiss men. There were 6,781 Swiss women (39.1%), and 2,472 (14.3%) non-Swiss women.<ref name=Resident/>

In {{as of|2008|alt=2008}} there were 132 live births to Swiss citizens and 45 births to non-Swiss citizens, and in same time span there were 132 deaths of Swiss citizens and 15 non-Swiss citizen deaths. Ignoring immigration and emigration, the population of Swiss citizens remained the same while the foreign population increased by 30. There were 7 Swiss men who emigrated from Switzerland to another country, 3 Swiss women who emigrated from Switzerland to another country, 67 non-Swiss men who emigrated from Switzerland to another country and 70 non-Swiss women who emigrated from Switzerland to another country. The total Swiss population change in 2008 (from all sources) was an increase of 377 and the non-Swiss population change was a decrease of 202 people. This represents a [[population growth rate]] of 1.0%.<ref name=HDS_superweb/>

The age distribution, {{as of|2009|lc=on}}, in Bellinzona is; 1,530 children or 8.8% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 1,623 teenagers or 9.4% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 2,091 people or 12.1% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 2,526 people or 14.6% are between 30 and 39, 2,721 people or 15.7% are between 40 and 49, and 2,260 people or 13.0% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 1,969 people or 11.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 1,470 people or 8.5% are between 70 and 79, there are 1,133 people or 6.5% who are between 80 and 89.<ref name=Resident>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=01&key1_testo=Popolazione&key1=01&key2=02&key3=03 01.02.03 Popolazione residente permanente] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003757/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=01&key1_testo=Popolazione&key1=01&key2=02&key3=03 |date=7 July 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

{{as of|2000}}, there were 7,294 private households in the municipality, and an average of 2.2 persons per household.<ref name=SFSO/> {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 1,490 single family homes (or 51.5% of the total) out of a total of 2,892 inhabited buildings. There were 419 two family buildings (14.5%) and 642 multi-family buildings (22.2%). There were also 341 buildings in the municipality that were multipurpose buildings (used for both housing and commercial or another purpose).<ref>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=09&key1_testo=Costruzioni%20e%20abitazioni&key1=09&key2=02&key3=01 09.02.01 Edifici] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707004037/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=09&key1_testo=Costruzioni%20e%20abitazioni&key1=09&key2=02&key3=01 |date=7 July 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2008|alt=in 2008}}, was 1.45%. Of the apartments, a total of 7,255 apartments (85.8% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 932 apartments (11.0%) were seasonally occupied and 268 apartments (3.2%) were empty.<ref name="09.02.02 Abitazioni">[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=09&key1_testo=Costruzioni%20e%20abitazioni&key1=09&key2=02&key3=02 09.02.02 Abitazioni] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707004053/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=09&key1_testo=Costruzioni%20e%20abitazioni&key1=09&key2=02&key3=02 |date=7 July 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref> {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}} there were 8,455 apartments in the municipality. The most common apartment size was the 3-room apartment of which there were 2,746. There were 474 single room apartments and 1,253 apartments with five or more rooms.<ref name="09.02.02 Abitazioni"/> {{as of|2007}}, the construction rate of new housing units was 6.2 new units per 1000 residents.<ref name=SFSO/>

{{as of|2003}} the average price to rent an average apartment in Bellinzona was 956.03 [[Swiss franc]]s (CHF) per month (US$760, £430, €610 approx. exchange rate from 2003). The average rate for a one-room apartment was 673.24 CHF (US$540, £300, €430), a two-room apartment was about 740.60 CHF (US$590, £330, €470), a three-room apartment was about 910.37 CHF (US$730, £410, €580) and a six or more room apartment cost an average of 1406.75 CHF (US$1130, £630, €900). The average apartment price in Bellinzona was 85.7% of the national average of 1116 CHF.<ref name=BFS_rent>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/05/06/blank/key/einfuehrung.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Rental prices] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423161803/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/05/06/blank/key/einfuehrung.html |date=23 April 2010 }} 2003 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 26 May 2010</ref>

===Historic demographics===
source: [[Historical Dictionary of Switzerland]]<ref>{{HDS|2031|Bellinzona}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| || || 1591 || 1781 || 1808 || 1850 || 1880 || 1910 || 1930 || 1950 || 1970 || 1990
|2020
|-
|'''Population''' || ||ca. 200{{Ref label|households|A|A}} ||ca. 1,100 ||1,260|| 3,209|| 4,036|| 10,406|| 10,706|| 12,060|| 16,979|| 16,849
|55,906
|-
|'''Language'''||German|| || || || ||140|| 1,028|| 831|| 807|| 1,040|| 681
|
|-
| ||French|| || || || ||6 ||74|| 127 || 162 || 179 || 209
|
|-
| ||Italian|| || || || || 3,887 || 9,266 || 9,712 || 11,053 || 15,574 || 14,948
|
|-
| ||Other|| || || || || 3 || 38 || 36 || 38 || 186 || 1,011
|
|-
|'''Religion'''||Protestant|| || || || || 43 || 632 || 550 || 577 || 844 || 626
|
|-
| ||Roman Catholic|| || || || || 3,985 || 8,947 || 9,577 || 11,196 || 15,817 || 14,592
|
|-
| ||Other/None|| || || || || 8 || 827 || 579 || 287 || 318 || 1,631{{Ref label|religion|B|B}}
|
|-
|'''Nationality'''||Swiss|| || || || 2,742 || 3,260 || 6,936 || 8,755 || 10,427 || 12,848 || 11,924
|
|-
| ||Foreign|| || || || 467 || 776 || 3,470 || 1,951 || 1,633 || 4,131 || 4,925
|
|}
:{{note label|households|A|A}} Number of households
:{{note label|religion|B|B}} in 1990, 879 were either atheist or did not identify with any religion

==Elections==
In the [[2007 Swiss federal election|2007 federal election]] the most popular party was the [[FDP.The Liberals|FDP]] which received 30.61% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|SP]] (23.11%), the [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|CVP]] (19.85%) and the [[Ticino League]] (11.42%). In the federal election, a total of 4,634 votes were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 46.1%.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/04/03.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office, ''Nationalratswahlen 2007: Stärke der Parteien und Wahlbeteiligung, nach Gemeinden/Bezirk/Canton''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514211354/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/04/03.html |date=14 May 2015 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 May 2010</ref>

In the {{as of|2007|alt=2007}} ''[[Ticino Gran Consiglio]]'' election, there were a total of 10,187 registered voters in Bellinzona, of which 6,486 or 63.7% voted. 109 blank ballots and 16 null ballots were cast, leaving 6,361 valid ballots in the election. The most popular party was the [[FDP.The Liberals|PLRT]] which received 1,569 or 24.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were; the SSI (with 1,233 or 19.4%), the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|PS]] (with 1,210 or 19.0%) and the [[Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland|PPD]]+GenGiova (with 957 or 15.0%).<ref name=Election>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=17&key1_testo=Politica&key1=17&key2=02&key3=02 Elezioni cantonali: Gran Consiglio, Consiglio di Stato] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003818/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=17&key1_testo=Politica&key1=17&key2=02&key3=02 |date=7 July 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

In the {{as of|2007|alt=2007}} ''[[Ticino Consiglio di Stato]]'' election, there were 60 blank ballots and 22 null ballots, which left 6,405 valid ballots in the election. The most popular party was the PS which received 1,472 or 23.% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were; the PLRT (with 1,453 or 22.7%), the SSI (with 1,103 or 17.2%) and the LEGA (with 1,074 or 16.8%).<ref name=Election/>

==Economy==
[[File:Bellinzona Fernmeldedirektion detail.jpg|thumb|Office building originally built for the Directorate of Telecommunications of the former [[Postal Telegraph and Telephone (Switzerland)|Swiss PTT]], now a business center.]]
The local industry is mainly based on mechanical engineering. The Società Bancaria Ticinese is based in Bellinzona. The most important employer is [[Swiss Federal Railways]].

{{as of|2007|In 2007}}, Bellinzona had an unemployment rate of 5.16%. {{as of|2005}}, there were 33 people employed in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary economic sector]] and about 10 businesses involved in this sector. 1,691 people are employed in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] and there are 149 businesses in this sector. 11,647 people are employed in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]], with 1,093 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO/>

{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 16,293 workers who commuted into the municipality and 2,631 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net importer of workers, with about 6.2 workers entering the municipality for every one leaving. About 45.3% of the workforce coming into Bellinzona are coming from outside Switzerland, while 0.1% of the locals commute out of Switzerland for work.<ref name=commuter>[https://archive.today/20120804043150/http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Statweb] {{in lang|de}} accessed 24 June 2010</ref> Of the working population, 8.8% used public transportation to get to work, and 50.6% used a private car.<ref name=SFSO/>

{{as of|2009}}, there were 9 hotels in Bellinzona with a total of 145 rooms and 283 beds.<ref>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=10&key1_testo=Turismo&key1=10&key2=03&key3=01 Settori alberghiero e paralberghiero] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003852/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=10&key1_testo=Turismo&key1=10&key2=03&key3=01 |date=7 July 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

==Religion==
[[File:Picswiss TI-21-02.jpg|thumb|upright|Swiss Reformed church in Bellinzona]]
From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 12,185 or 74.0% were Roman Catholic, while 651 or 4.0% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]]. There are 2,164 individuals (or about 13.14% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), and 1,463 individuals (or about 8.89% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name=Lang/>

==Weather==
Bellinzona has an average of 102.8 days of rain or snow per year and on average receives {{convert|1563|mm|in|abbr=on}} of [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]]. The wettest month is May during which time Bellinzona receives an average of {{convert|181|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 13 days. The driest month of the year is December with an average of {{convert|60|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation over 13 days.<ref name=MeteoSchweiz>{{cite web |url=http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/de/klima/klima_schweiz/tabellen.html |title=Temperature and Precipitation Average Values-Table, 1961–1990 |access-date=8 May 2009 |publisher=Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology – MeteoSwiss |language=de, fr, it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627163841/http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/de/klima/klima_schweiz/tabellen.html |archive-date=27 June 2009}}, the weather station elevation is 225 meters [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].</ref>

==Education==
In Bellinzona about 60.5% of the population (between age 25–64) have completed either non-mandatory [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|upper secondary education]] or additional higher education (either university or a ''[[Fachhochschule]]'').<ref name=SFSO/>

In Bellinzona there are a total of 2,662 students ({{as of|2009|lc=on}}). The Ticino [[Education in Switzerland|education system]] provides up to three years of non-mandatory [[kindergarten]] and in Bellinzona there are 413 children in kindergarten.

The primary school program lasts for five years and includes both a standard school and a special school. In the municipality, 781 students attend the standard primary schools and 51 students attend the special school. 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. There are 632 students in the two-year middle school and 3 in their pre-apprenticeship, while 271 students are in the four-year advanced program.

The upper secondary school includes several options, but at the end of the upper secondary program, a student will be prepared to enter a trade or to continue on to a university or college. In Ticino, vocational students may either attend school while working on their internship or apprenticeship (which takes three or four years) or may attend school followed by an internship or apprenticeship (which takes one year as a full-time student or one and a half to two years as a part-time student).<ref>{{Cite report |title=KANTONALE SCHULSTRUKTUREN IN DER SCHWEIZ UND IM FÜRSTENTUM LIECHTENSTEIN / STRUCTURES SCOLAIRES CANTONALES EN SUISSE ET DANS LA PRINCIPAUTÉ DU LIECHTENSTEIN |url= http://edudoc.ch/record/35128/files/Schulsystem_alle.pdf |author=EDK/CDIP/IDES |year= 2010 |access-date= 24 June 2010 }}</ref> There are 162 vocational students who are attending school full-time and 299 who attend part-time. The professional program lasts three years and prepares a student for a job in engineering, nursing, computer science, business, tourism and similar fields. There are 50 students in the professional program.<ref>[http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=15&key1_testo=Formazione%20e%20scienza&key1=15&key2=02&key3=01 Allievi e studenti, secondo il genere di scuola, anno scolastico 2009/2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707003844/http://www.ti.ch/DFE/USTAT/DATI_RIEPILOGHI/default_x.asp?menu=15&key1_testo=Formazione%20e%20scienza&key1=15&key2=02&key3=01 |date=7 July 2011 }} {{in lang|it}} accessed 23 November 2010</ref>

{{as of|2000}}, there were 2,957 students in Bellinzona who came from another municipality, while 313 residents attended schools outside the municipality.<ref name=commuter/>

Bellinzona is home to 2 libraries. These libraries include; the Biblioteca Cantonale Bellinzona and the ''Biblioteca comunale''. There was a combined total ({{as of|2008|lc=on}}) of 138,818 books or other media in the libraries, and in the same year a total of 43,919 items were loaned out.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/16/02/02/data.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office, list of libraries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706231342/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/16/02/02/data.html |date=6 July 2015 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 14 May 2010</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:Picswiss TI-21-06.jpg|thumb|Autopostale city bus (left) and longer distance bus in Bellinzona]]

[[Bellinzona railway station]] is a major intermediate stop on the [[Gotthard railway]]. It is a stopping point for major trains heading north toward [[Arth-Goldau railway station|Arth-Goldau]] and [[Zürich Hauptbahnhof|Zürich]], south toward [[Lugano railway station|Lugano]], [[Chiasso railway station|Chiasso]] and [[Italy]], or southwest to [[Locarno railway station|Locarno]]. The station is also served by the regional trains operated by [[Treni Regionali Ticino Lombardia|TiLo]] to [[Biasca]], Chiasso, Locarno, Lugano and [[Malpensa Airport]].

[[PostBus Switzerland]], known locally as the ''AutoPostale'', operate a small network of city bus routes within Lugano, as well as longer distance routes to other towns and cities. All routes serve the railway station.

The [[A2 (Switzerland)|A2]] and [[A13 (Switzerland)|A13]] motorways, as well as some main roads, link here, thus making it an important transportational node. The A2 runs north via the [[Gotthard Pass]] to [[Lucerne]], [[Basle]] and [[Germany]], and south to [[Lugano]] and [[Italy]]. The A13 runs north-east via the [[San Bernardino Pass]] to [[Chur]] and [[Austria]].

==Culture==
The town is known for its [[carnival]] [[Rabadan]], which has taken place for over 150 years.

=== Bellinzona  in art ===

<gallery mode=packed   heights="180px">
(Barcelona) Bellinzona - 1830 - William Turner - Tate Britain.jpg| ''Bellinzona'' by [[J. M. W. Turner]] - 1830.
Joseph Mallord William Turner 005.jpg|''Bellinzona'' by [[J. M. W. Turner]] - 1841.
</gallery>

==Sport==
The [[association football|football]] club [[AC Bellinzona]] play in the [[Swiss Challenge League]]. Their stadium is the [[Stadio Comunale Bellinzona|Stadio Comunale]].

GDT Bellinzona, the hockey team, plays in the [[Swiss 1. Liga (ice hockey)|Swiss 1. Liga]].

The female basketball team (Pallacanestro Bellinzona) plays in the National League A.

The floorball team (Ticino Unihockey) has played in the National League B for some years.

The light athletics society (GAB Bellinzona) organises every year a meeting called "Galà dei Castelli" (literally: Castles's gala), with a lot of world-famous athletes and the best Swiss athletes.

==Heritage sites of national significance==
Bellinzona is home to twelve buildings or areas that are listed as Swiss [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage site of national significance]]. Additionally, it is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Three Castles of Bellinzona. The merger on 2 April 2017 added seven additional buildings or sites. The entire old town of Bellinzona, along with the villages of Moleno and Preonzo, is listed on the [[Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.parsys.000117.DownloadFile.tmp/ti.pdf |title=Kantonsliste A-Objekte:Ticino |year=2009 |work=KGS Inventar |publisher=Federal Office of Civil Protection |language=de |access-date=12 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706221155/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.parsys.000117.DownloadFile.tmp/ti.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2011}}</ref>

In addition to the Three Castles and the town walls, the medieval and early modern town is included on the list. Three religious buildings, the Church of S. Maria delle Grazie, the Collegiata dei Ss. Pietro e Stefano and the Church of S. Biagio a Ravecchiai, are on the list. The Cantonal Archives, ''Bagno Pubblico'', the secondary school ({{lang-it|Scuola media}}) on via Lavizzari 28 and the ''Teatro sociale'' are the rest of the buildings on the list.

<gallery>
Bellinzona 066.jpg|Castelgrande
Bellinzona Montebello.JPG|Montebello
Bellinzona Castello di Sasso Corbaro Turm.jpg|Castello di Sasso Corbaro
Bellinzona Murata.jpg|Town wall
Bellinzona SMGrazie Chiostro.jpg|Church di S. Maria delle Grazie
Bellinzona Collegiata.JPG|Collegiata dei Ss. Pietro e Stefano
Chiesa di San Biagio - Bellinzona.jpg|Church of S. Biagio a Ravecchia
PiazzaCollegiataInverno.jpg|Old town of Bellinzona
Fortini della Fame (Camorino).jpg|The Fortini Della Fame in Camorino
Chiesa di San Bernardo (Monte Carasso) IV.jpg|Church of S. Bernardo 
Fortini della Fame (Monte Carasso) III.jpg|Church of SS. Trinità, part of the Fortini Della Fame in Monte Carasso
<!--Wrong picture, as it belongs to Evolene, KGS-Nummer 10537  File:Chapelle Lana.JPG|The Fortini Della Fame in Sementina-->
Monte Carasso.jpg|Augustinian Monte Carasso Monastery
</gallery>

==The Three Castles==
{{main|Three Castles of Bellinzona}}
[[File:Bellinzona from above. Castle Grande 060622.jpg|thumb|Bellinzona from above. Castelgrande]]
[[File:Three castles of Bellinzona.jpg|alt=Aerial view of the Castles of Bellinzona from Sasso Corbaro|thumb|Castles of Bellinzona from Sasso Corbaro]]
[[File:Ramparts Bellinzona.jpg|thumb|Ramparts of Bellinzona connecting Castelgrande to Castello di Montebello]]
[[File:Bellinzona 066.jpg|thumb|Castelgrande showing the walls and towers of the extensive castle]]
[[File:ChateauMontebelloBellinzona.jpg|thumb|Montebello castle located on a rocky hilltop east of town is connected to Castelgrande by the town walls]]
[[File:Bellinzona Castello di Sasso Corbaro aussen.jpg|thumb|Sasso Corbaro castle]]
The Three Castles, officially listed as the '''Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona''', have been a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] since 2000. The group is composed of ''Castelgrande'', castle ''Montebello'', castle ''Sasso Corbaro'' and fortified walls. The ''Castelgrande'' is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of fortified walls that protect the old town and connect to the ''Montebello''. The third castle (''Sasso Corbaro'') is located on an isolated rocky promontory south-east of the other two.<ref>{{cite web|author=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/884 |title=UNESCO listing for Bellinzona |publisher=Whc.unesco.org |access-date=2013-07-04}}</ref>

===Castelgrande===
The site of the ''Castelgrande'' has been fortified since at least the late 1st century BC and until the 13th century, it was the only fortification in Bellinzona. During its history the castle has been known as the stronghold (before the 13th century), the Old Castle in the 14th and 15th centuries, ''Uri Castle'' after 1506 and Saint Michael's Castle from 1818.<ref name="Castelgrande">{{cite web |url=http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/castelli_e_mura/castelgrande.asp |title=Official Website-Castelgrande |publisher=Bellinzonaunesco.ch |access-date=2013-07-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007065617/http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/castelli_e_mura/castelgrande.asp |archive-date=7 October 2013}}</ref>

The ''Castelgrande'' hill includes a nearly vertical side on the north and a steep southern side, but is nearly flat and {{convert|150|to|200|m|abbr=off}} in diameter. The natural shape of the hill has encouraged every man-made fortification to follow the same contours. While the Roman fort is not visible the Roman foundations were used by the [[High Middle Ages]] castle which followed. Of the High Middle Ages castle the only visible parts are a few pieces of wall that are still standing. Much of the visible castle dates from 1250 to 1500 with extensive renovations and some expansion in the last two centuries. Most of the area inside the castle walls is now flat, open space.

Records from the 11th to 15th centuries as well as archeological evidence indicate that the castle grounds were once full of buildings. However, most of these were pulled down by the [[Duke of Milan|Dukes of Milan]] to free up interior space. The open space was divided into 3 large [[Ward (fortification)|bailey]]s which served to provide temporary housing for troops that could be stationed in Bellinzona. Under the Dukes of Milan, the outer fortifications were extended and strengthened. The walls were raised and extended and towers were added. The western walls were totally rebuilt and connected to the town walls.

The castle can be reached by taking an elevator from the foot of the rock to the castle grounds or by climbing steep, narrow streets from the town centre through the town wall onto the castle grounds.

===Montebello===
Montebello Castle (known as the Small, New or Middle Castle in the 15th century, as Schwyz Castle from 1506 and St. Martin's Castle after 1818) is located to the east of the town centre. It was built before 1313 for the pro-Imperial Rusca family, who occupied the castle following the Visconti victory and occupation of the ''Castelgrande''. By the end of the 14th century it was in the hands of the Visconti.<ref name="Montebello">[http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/castelli_e_mura/montebello.asp Official Website-Montebello Castle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001193658/http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/castelli_e_mura/montebello.asp |date=1 October 2008 }} accessed 30 July 2008</ref> The castle was renovated and expanded between 1462 and 1490 to its current state. In the 19th century, the castle fell into disrepair and was renovated starting in 1903.

A little chapel, dedicated to Saint Michael, leans against the wall of the more recent south-facing section; built around 1600, it is one of the few buildings erected in the castles of Bellinzona under the rule of the three Swiss cantons.

Montebello Castle houses the Archaeological and Civic Museum. The museum was opened in 1974 and is located in the tower and the former residential quarters of Montebello Castle. It is divided into two sections-history and archaeology. In the history section, there are several [[Capital (architecture)|capitals]] from the 15th century and a rare 13th-century [[Baptismal font]] as well as drawings and sketches from several artists. This section also houses a collection of ceremonial and military arms. The archaeology section includes many items from 1400 to 1500 BC as well as ceramics, glassware, funeral urns, ornamental objects and jewellery in iron and bronze from around the canton. The museum is open from March to November.<ref>[http://www.bellinzonaturismo.ch/framework/Desktopdefault.aspx?menu_id=373 Bellinzona Tourism Website-Montebello Castle Museum] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029060759/http://www.bellinzonaturismo.ch/framework/Desktopdefault.aspx?menu_id=373 |date=29 October 2008 }} accessed 30 July 2008</ref>

===Sasso Corbaro===
Sasso Corbaro, known as Unterwalden Castle after 1506 and Saint Barbara's Castle after 1818, is about {{convert|600|m|abbr=off}} south-west of town on a rocky hill. Unlike the other two castles Sasso Corbaro is not integrated into the town walls. The first part of the castle was the north-eastern tower which was built in 1478 to close a gap in the defenses of the town.<ref>[http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/castelli_e_mura/sasso_corbaro.asp Official Website-Sasso Corbaro] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304011602/http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/castelli_e_mura/sasso_corbaro.asp |date=4 March 2009 }} accessed 31 July 2008</ref> The walls and south-west tower were added later. The castle was struck by lightning multiple times during the 16th and 17th centuries, and by 1900 was falling into ruins.

Today, Sasso Corbaro Castle houses the ''Sala Emma Poglia'' which is the "wooden room" built for the Emma family during the 17th century. Originally located in the entrance hall of their home in [[Olivone]] in the Blenio Valley, the room was purchased by the canton of Ticino in 1944 and housed first in the ''Castelgrande'' before being moved to the Sasso Corbaro in 1989. The room is panelled entirely in [[walnut]] and also includes the ''stüva'', stove which provided heating. The stove bears the crest of the Emma family (an eagle and a lion [[Attitude (heraldry)#Rampart|rampant]]). The museum also houses temporary exhibits. It is open from March until November.<ref>[http://www.bellinzonaturismo.ch/framework/Desktopdefault.aspx?menu_id=374 Bellinzona Tourism-Sasso Corbaro] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029060804/http://www.bellinzonaturismo.ch/framework/Desktopdefault.aspx?menu_id=374 |date=29 October 2008 }} accessed 31 July 2008</ref>

== Notable people ==
[[File:LouisWyrschByKarlGeorgKaiser.jpg|125px|thumb|Louis Wyrsch, 1848]]
[[File:Ernst Brugger.gif|125px|thumb|Ernst Brugger]]
[[File:Daniela Scalia action.jpg|125px|thumb|Daniela Scalia, 2016]]
* [[Louis Wyrsch]] (1793–1858), a politician and military commander of the 19th century
* [[Carlo Salvioni]] (1858–1920) a Swiss [[Romance languages|romanist]] and linguist.
* Henri Dubuis (1906–2003), an architect, he designed the Volkshaus in [[Biel/Bienne]] in 1932
* [[Laura Solari]] (1913–1984), an Italian film actress, 1936–1969<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0812726/ IMDb Database] retrieved 20 December 2018</ref>
* [[Ernst Brugger]] (1914–1998), a politician and member of the [[Swiss Federal Council]] 1969–1978 
* [[Giorgio Orelli]] (1921–2013), an Italian-speaking Swiss poet, writer and translator
* [[Fritz Peter (tenor)|Fritz Peter]] (1925–1994) a Swiss operatic tenor.
* [[Mauro Baranzini]] (born 1944), an economist of the Cambridge [[Post-Keynesian economics|Post-Keynesian]] school
* [[Renato Berta]] (born 1945), a cinematographer and film director<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005655/ IMDb Database] retrieved 20 December 2018</ref>
* Pablo Togni (born 1979), part of [[NEVERCREW]] a street art group that creates large format murals
=== Sport ===
* [[Domenico Giambonini]] (1868–1956), a sport shooter who competed in the [[1920 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Antonio Permunian]] (born 1930), a football goalkeeper who played in the [[1962 FIFA World Cup]]
* [[Luca Tramontin]] (born 1966), rugby player and commentator, created the "Orules" rugby game for disabled
* [[Marco Giampaolo]] (born 1967), an Italian association football manager currently at [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]]
* [[Kubilay Türkyilmaz]] (born 1967), a former footballer, 380 club caps and 64 for [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
* [[Massimo Busacca]] (born 1969), a former football referee and Head of [[FIFA]] Refereeing 
* [[Stefania Antonini]] (born 1970), an Italian former football goalkeeper who played 32 games for the [[Italy women's national football team]]
* [[Massimo Lombardo]] (born 1973), a former footballer, now assistant manager of [[FC Basel]]
* [[Daniela Scalia]] (born 1975), an anchorwoman and sport journalist, collaborates with [[Luca Tramontin]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8116464/ IMDb Database] retrieved 20 December 2018</ref>
* [[Antonio Marchesano (footballer)|Antonio Marchesano]] (born 1991) a footballer, over 230 club caps
* [[Mauro Lustrinelli]] (born 1976), a former pro. footballer, 484 club caps and 12 for [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
* [[Daniel Panizzolo]] (born 1986), a Swiss footballer
* [[Nicole Bullo]] (born 1987), an ice hockey defender, plays for the [[Switzerland women's national ice hockey team]] and competed in the [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006]], [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010]] and [[2014 Winter Olympics]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
*{{HDS|2031|Bellinzona (municipality)}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{Commons category|Bellinzona}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Bellinzona | volume= 3 |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort |author-link= W. A. B. Coolidge| pages = 703&ndash;704 |short= 1}}
*[http://www.bellinzona.ch/ Bellinzona official website]
*[http://www.rabadan.ch Rabadan carnival]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070217000106/http://www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/ Unesco]
*[http://insecam.org/en/view/374258/ Bellinzona online camera]

{{Municipalities of the district of Bellinzona}}
{{Cantons of Switzerland}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bellinzona| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Cities in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Cantonal capitals of Switzerland]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Ticino (river)]]
[[Category:15th-century establishments in the Old Swiss Confederacy]]
[[Category:1500s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:1500 establishments in Europe]]
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