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# Monteceneri commune (Ticino canton, Switzerland)

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Last modified: 2026-04-04 by martin karner
Keywords: monteceneri | bironico | camignolo | medeglia | rivera | sigirino |
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image located by Martin Karner

Monteceneri is a new commune formed on 21 November 2010 of the communes Bironico, Camignolo, Medeglia, Rivera and Sigirino (see below).
It has its name from the Monte Ceneri ("Mount of Ashes"), which is also an important pass on the north-south route between Germany and Italy.
All of Monteceneri's fractions are on the south side of the Monte Ceneri in the Lugano district.
According to the responsible authorities, this emblem shows the relationship to the modern world and to the roots of the past.
The mountain with the dovetail pinnacles (which are characteristic of Ticino heraldry) on both sides of the vertical dividing line, refers to the
former fortifications that secured the pass crossing (Because of their horizontal instead of vertical position they could be mistaken as pennants).
With the sun rising behind the peak, the community sees itself open to the future. With the mutual shapes of the battlements, the municipality wants
to be understood as a hinge between the two parts of the canton (The Monte Ceneri pass forms the natural border between the northern and southern part
of Ticino). The colors are also intended to refer to the past and to the future: The yellow symbolizes the chestnut as food for people and as animal feed,
the blue is intended to show the importance of water in the future.
Christopher Southworth tries a blazoning of this non-heraldic emblem: "Parti per pale and per fess-peaked Azure and Or counterchanged a partial roundel Gules at slightly above fess point and in the lower half six fesswise labels with forked ends staggered in pale issuant from the centre line three to the dexter and three to the sinister."

See also: Cadenazzo commune > Robasacco

- Bironico
- Camignolo
- Medeglia
- Rivera
- Sigirino

See also:

- Lugano district
- Ticino canton
- Switzerland

## Bironico (until 20 November 2010)

image by Pascal Gross

Azure a cross patriarchal bottony Or surmounted by a castle embattled ajouré Argent in chief a sword fesswise of the Third hilted of the Second and draped with a cloak Gules.
Christopher Southworth

On the flag of Bironico, the castle alludes to the one erected in 1418 by the Count Giov. Giacomo Rusca, the patriarcal cross is the one of the Cardinal Agostino Oreggio from Bironico, archibishop of Benevento from 1633 to 1635, sword and cloak alludes to S. Martin, patron saint of the church.
Pascal Gross, 26 June 2003

## Camignolo (until 20 November 2010)

image by Pascal Gross

Quartered argent and vert a key and a sword counterchanged both palewise.
Željko Heimer, 29 June 2003

The four fields created by the quartering refer to the fractions Castello, Cressino, Molinazzo and Camignolo di Fuori. The village church is dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul. Therefore their symbols, key and sword.

## Medeglia (until 20 November 2010)

image by Pascal Gross

Azure a Sun in her Splendour Or between two Roses Argent slipped growing from a Mount of 3 Coupeaux of the second.
Željko Heimer, 14 January 2003

The emblem symbolizes the local mountain Cima di Medeglia (1260 m alt.).

## Rivera (until 20 November 2010)

image by Pascal Gross

Tierced per fess first azure two bendlets wavy argent overall a letter R counterchanged second or coupeaux vert and third gules two tunnel holes sable
issuant from base.
Željko Heimer, 15 July 2003

The symbols which appear on the flag of Rivera allude to the waves of Radio Svizzera Italiana ¹ emitted from Monte Ceneri (the mount of 3 coupeaux).
The black arcades allude to the tunnels connecting both parts of Ticino: Sopra- and Sottoceneri (above [north] and below [south] the Mount Ceneri).
Adopted on 3.12.1952, these arms are a recent adoption, compared to many in this canton.
Pascal Gross, 14 July 2003

¹ Monte Ceneri was one of the three Swiss main transmitting stations, it covered Italian speaking Switzerland (beside Sottens for the French language and
Beromünster for the German language). During World War II they got legendary status since they maintained free information on air for listeners in
Switzerland and the unfree parts of Europe.

## Sigirino (until 20 November 2010)

image by Pascal Gross

Gules a saltire throughout Argent and in chief a tower embattled ajouré of the Same.
Christopher Southworth

The St. Andrew cross on the flag of Sigirino alludes to the patron saint of the church from 1292. The tower relates to the field name Castellaccio, where there are still remains of a fortification.
Pascal Gross, 15 July 2003