History of Brissago and Porta

The unruly, southernmost minirepublik of Switzerland 

Brissago (old name Brisa) is a community in the district of Locarno in the Southern Canton Ticino in Switzerland. Brissago consists of different historic centres, namely Bassuno, Caccio, Cadogno, Cartogna, Corte, Gadero, Incella, Madonna di Ponte, Nevedone, Noveledo, Piazza, Piodina, Porta, Rossorino and Tecetto as well as the Isles of Brissago.

Since the 16th century...

... Brissago was mentioned as Brixago back in the 16th century. At that time as well as today, Brissago has a population of around 1500 people. 

...known for the "Brissago"- cigars.

The European branch of the Dannemann cigar factory is located in Brissago. More than 600 people, mostly women, were employed in tobacco processing at the beginning of the 20th century. During this time Brissago also began to develop into a holiday resort with summer residences, holiday homes and hotels. 

...from 1521 involuntarily part of the Swiss Confederation

 For a long time, there was no easily accessible road from Ascona along the lake. The easiest way to get to Brissago was by boat. The result was that Brissago had to remain closed by land for centuries, which meant that for a long time it was able to maintain an autonomous life of its own.  With its Statuti rustici 1289-1342 - written in Latin as it should have been at the time - and then again, after the advance of the Confederates to Milan in 1512, 1513-1520, the municipality was to a certain extent a minirepublic that could be directly linked to the Empire. It was able to preserve its extensive self-government both under the Milan dukes of Visconti and Sforza and under the Counts of Rusca of Locarno from Como. Also from 1521, when Brissago became part of the Swiss Confederation (on the day of San Giorgio on 23 April), Brissago preserved a certain autonomy as a part of the "Common Lands". The emblem of San Georgio, who defeated the enemy dragon, thus became part of the Brissaghes municipal emblem (source: Gustav A. Lang, "Brissago - where Switzerland is most southern").

The village of Porta is one of the oldest neighbourhoods. When Brissago got its own village law around the middle of the 13th century, the municipality consisted of the three village cooperatives (vicinie) Costa di Piodina, Costa di Mezzo and Costa di Dentro (with Brissago Porta), which in turn were divided into so-called Degagne.

Since at least 1500 some houses were located here at the way Costa di Dentro. The inhabitants lived from the cultivation of vineyards, olive groves and the keeping of sheep and goats. The villagers also did some fishing, trade and handicrafts. The residents of Porta, like those of the other parts of the village, had their own identity as "coming from Porta". Quite a few of the inhabitants also emigrated over the centuries - mostly to Italy, Milan and Florence, where they became cooks, innkeepers, notaries or clergymen.