Bellinzona (bĕl-lēntsōˈnä) [key], town (1993 pop. 17,100),
capital of Ticino canton, S Switzerland, on the Ticino River,
near the Italian border. It is a picturesque old town and a hub
of transalpine traffic. Tourism is the main economic factor, but
there are small industries. Possibly a Roman settlement,
Bellinzona belonged at times to Lombardy, Como, Milan, France,
and the Four Forest Cantons. In 1798 it became the capital of
the Bellinzona canton under the Helvetic Republic and the
capital of Ticino in 1803. The town is dominated by three
castles (13th–15th cent.) of the dukes of Milan. The Columbia
Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia
University Press. All rights reserved. More on Bellinzona from
Infoplease: See more Encyclopedia articles on: Swiss Political
Geography