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Bellinzona

Bellinzona is a town in southern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Ticino. It sits on the Ticino River at a strategic juncture of the Alpine valleys and functions as a regional administrative and commercial center. The city is widely known for its three medieval castles, which overlook the historic town and illustrate the area’s defensive history.

The castles of Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro were built between the 13th and 15th centuries to

Bellinzona’s history reaches back to ancient times and has seen influence from various rulers, including the

Today, Bellinzona functions as the cantonal capital and a major transportation hub, with rail and road links

guard
the
important
routes
between
Italy
and
the
Swiss
plateau.
Together
with
the
old
town,
they
form
the
Fortifications
of
Bellinzona,
which
were
inscribed
as
a
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site
in
2000.
The
fortifications
reflect
the
changing
military
technologies
and
political
control
of
the
region
over
several
centuries.
Romans,
Lombards,
and
later
the
Swiss
Confederation.
The
old
town
preserves
a
network
of
narrow,
winding
streets,
arcaded
passages,
and
several
churches
and
civic
buildings
that
reveal
a
blend
of
medieval
and
early
modern
architecture.
connecting
Ticino
with
other
parts
of
Switzerland
and
northern
Italy.
The
surrounding
area
features
hillside
vineyards
and
mountain
landscapes,
contributing
to
the
city’s
role
as
a
cultural
and
historical
gateway
to
southern
Switzerland.