Chiasso (and Boffalora) Chiasso

customs @ chiasso towards italy: switzerland ends @ end of foreground grey zone.



church of san vitale in chiasso

historically, chiasso , boffalora 2 distinct agricultural villages. because of presence of nearby italian border , customs office, , later part of access route st. gotthard s tunnel, 2 villages merged , grew.

chiasso s history , development influenced unique location. during history, castle built in chiasso part of extended fortifications of city of como. suburb of como, until 1416 when incorporated in pieve of balerna , given rusca family manage. houses in village center owned albrici family , granted imperial privileges. chiasso had become independent community sometime before 1552. in contemporary documents, mentioned clasio tabernarum (chiasso of taverns) referring function transit point.

boffalora mentioned in 1536 municipality , remained independence until second half of 17th century. became single parish either in 1657 or 1677.

chiasso s church belonged pieve of zezio (in como), withdrew in 16th century. in 1888, boffalora separated parish. became seat of archpriest in 1928. church of san vitale, first mentioned in 1227, , rebuilt in 1934.

in 15th century chaisso known horse market. however, market ended after invasion of swiss confederation , march through chiasso in war of league of cambrai in 1510. in late 16th century chiasso had small population when compared other municipalities of mendrisiotto valley. village survived through role border town (providing warehouses , inns) along income agriculture , paper mills. in 19th century, tobacco , silk factories moved town.

the construction of railway along income customs induced economic , demographic recovery in chiasso. in 1874 railway line lugano-chiasso opened, followed in 1876 1 running como.

in 1910, mendrisio electric tramway opened, linking northern terminus in riva san vitale capolago, mendrisio, balerna , chiasso. section of line in chiasso closed in 1950 , replaced bus service.

modernly, large part of town devoted chiasso s international railway station , related customs (although of border-control responsibilities have been moved como, in italy). there sizeable customs area traffic passing road , motorway (both commercial , non-commercial vehicles).

chiasso offers lot of customs related services. considerable source of revenue town derived italians crossing border purchase goods more cheaply in switzerland, particularly cigarettes , petrol. functions banking centre italian clients wishing keep money within swiss banking system.

starting in 1950, chiasso became important financial center , economic center of mendrisio region, resulting in rapid population increase. since 1980s, however, population , jobs, in services sector have shifted neighboring communities.