Bellinzona

Bellinzona
Belinzóna (Lombard)
View of Bellinzona with Castelgrande in the foreground
Location of Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Coordinates: 46°11′43.336″N 9°01′46.835″E / 46.19537111°N 9.02967639°E / 46.19537111; 9.02967639
CountrySwitzerland
CantonTicino
DistrictBellinzona
Government
 • ExecutiveMunicipio
with 7 members
 • MayorSindaco (list)
Mario Branda Unità di sinistra
(as of February 2014)
 • ParliamentConsiglio comunale
with 60 members
Area
 • Total
164.20 km2 (63.40 sq mi)
Elevation
(Stazione di Bellinzona)
241 m (791 ft)
Highest elevation2,440 m (8,010 ft)
Lowest elevation200 m (660 ft)
Population
 (December 2020)
 • Total
43,360
 • Density264.1/km2 (683.9/sq mi)
DemonymBellinzonese (Italian)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal code
6500 (town only)
SFOS number5002
ISO 3166 codeCH-TI
LocalitiesArtore, Carasso, Daro, Ravecchia, Camorino, Claro, Giubiasco, Gnosca, Gorduno, Gudo, Moleno, Monte Carasso, Pianezzo, Preonzo, Sant'Antonio, and Sementina
Surrounded byArbedo-Castione, Giubiasco, Gorduno, Monte Carasso, Pianezzo, Sant'Antonio
Websitewww.bellinzona.ch

Bellinzona (/ˌbɛlɪnˈznə/ BEL-in-ZOH-nə, Italian: [bellinˈtsoːna] ; Ticinese: Belinzóna [belĩˈtsona]) is a municipality, a historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro) that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000.

The town lies east of the river Ticino, at the foot of the Alps. It stretches along the river valley, surrounded by the southern ranges of the Lepontine Alps to the east and west, and by the Lugano Prealps to the south.