- published: 18 May 2014
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Mendrisio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian speaking Switzerland (USI).
The municipality was boosted in size on 4 April 2004 when it incorporated the former municipality of Salorino. On 5 April 2009 it incorporated the former municipalities of Arzo, Capolago, Genestrerio, Rancate and Tremona.
Mendrisio is first mentioned in 793 as Mendrici.
Some thirty graves, tombs and grave stones, as well as coins from the Roman Republic and Roman Empire and the remains of a villa near the Church of S. Maria indicate that this area was settled throughout the Roman era. Powerful Langobard families made Mendrisio into a regional power, at the expense of the old power center, Balerna. By 1140 Mendrisio was an independent municipality in the county of Seprio. It was ruled by city of Como from 1170 until 1335. Following the victory of Milan over Como, it was ruled by the Milanese Visconti. The Visconti ruled until 1402, when a victory by Como brought Mendrisio back under that city. In the 15th Century, it became a fief held by the Rusca and Sanseverino families.