History -Today

From 1900 to 1945 the City underwent important urban changes caused by another demographic increase and economic pressure which really changed radically the structure of the old city centre and of whole districts.

Today Lugano is the most important city in Canton Ticino and with its 100.000 inhabitants, it has become an important center for organization of international conference, which is famous all over Europe. Moreover the city is an important financial and cultural reference for Switzerland itself.

The financial and banking sector started its development at a moderate pace at the beginning of the 20th century and has grown at a steady pace since the sixties and the seventies. After only a few decades Lugano has become the third financial market in Switzerland.

By Kang-Bronz Yun Ji, Gasparini Silvia, Resende Regina

History - Past

Lugano’s history dates back to at least the Stone Age.
In fact, fossil remains have proven that Lugano used to stand below sea level. Stone age evidence includes fossils, and various remains sometimes found at excavation sites.

People living in pile dwellings inhabited the area, as found by various excavations on sites throughout Lugano where remains from the the Paleotic Era have been found. The famous lake on which Lugano sits, was formed by glaciers of the sub alpine region.

In ancient times the area of what is today Ticino was settled by the Lepontii, a Celtic tribe. Later, probably around the rule of Augustus, it became part of the Roman Empire After the fall of the Western Empire, was ruled by the Ostogothes, the Lombards and the Franks.
Around 1100 CE Lugano was the centre of struggle between the free communes of Milan and Como: in the 14th centry it was definitively acquired by theVisconti, Dukes of Milan.


By Kang-Bronz Yun Ji, Gasparini Silvia, Resende Regina