History Airolo

airolo in 1835

in settlement of madrano, roman tombs 2nd , 3rd centuries ad found. belonged vicus, inhabitants collected crystal, processed in locarno glass. ruins of stalvedro castle 13th-century lombardy noble family. tradition , written sources confirm existence of castle, situated near parish church tower. near madrano small castle rebuilt in late 13th century anexia family. archaeological excavations conducted in 1995 inside parish church of ss nazaro celso (first mentioned parish in 1224) discovered construction history dating 5th or 6th centuries. present building given form in 1879, though church tower dates roman era. @ train station there famous high-relief carving vincenzo vela, devoted construction workers lost lives digging gotthard rail tunnel.

the modern municipality of airolo first mentioned in 1210 oriolo. in german known eriels , in romansh iriel, though these names no longer official.

the region of airolo, politically tied fate of levantine valley, divided 4 degagne; madrano, valle, solario , oro. in 13th , 14th century airolo, had been populous village of valley, supplied grain needed whole levantine. due traffic on gotthard pass, village became wealthy trade , housing travelers. there 4 major hospices, of 2 on pass.

battle of airolo

during sonderbund war of 1847, federal troops moved gain control of key alpine passes , prevent sonderbund uniting. 1 of key passes st. gotthard, led battle of airolo. before diet began campaign, men of uri seized st. gotthard passes (3 november 1847). marched across levantina valley , surprised 3 thousand ticinese encamped @ airolo. ticinese driven far moesa bridge. however, once uri soldiers arrived @ point, found face face graubünden , ticino militia, superior them in number, stopped progress. expedition had no other result holding 2 thousand federal troops places decisive blows struck.

compressed air-driven train entering gotthard tunnel during construction

between 1871 , 1881, airolo home many workers on gotthard rail tunnel. construction difficult due financial, technical , geological issues, latter leading death of around 200 workers (the exact number not known) due water inrushes; many killed compressed air-driven trains carrying excavated material out of tunnel. strike of workers in 1875 crushed swiss army, killing 4 , wounding 13.

fires ravaged village 4 times, last times in 1736 , 1877. after landslide of sasso rosso on 28 december 1898, destroyed part of village, killed 3 people , destroyed village forest, great defensive wall erected above houses. in beginning of 19th century, construction began on avalanche protection. then, after avalanches of 1923 , 1951 (ten deaths) construction resumed , continued modern times. 1890, airolo had electric street lighting. power plant built in municipality in 1922. hydroelectric plants built both public , private agencies. in 1958, settlements of brugnasco , albinasca connected roads airolo. in 1969 first sewage treatment plant built in canton, opened in airolo. in 1986, town council approved comprehensive building , zoning regulations.

despite several natural disasters , pollution , traffic gotthard tunnel, airolo has remained, since beginning of 20th century, popular holiday resort. airolo first ski resort in ticino , construction of pesciüm facility, remained important 1 in canton. @ end of 20th century, airolo popular destination hiking, trails include strada alta , sentiero degli alpi.

although population falling, airolo small commercial center. service companies rail , road transport (including motorway service area @ stalvedro), military , tourism dominate economy. in 1985 service sector , construction industry offered two-thirds of jobs. agricultural sector modest. in 1990s, there 775 households , 19 full-time , 13 part-time farmers, in way involved agriculture. industrial sector is, despite closure of main construction company, major employer. major factory in airolo metal processing factory of tenconi (which established in 1871), employs 100 people.