Bedretto

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Bedretto is a small municipality and village in southern Switzerland, in the canton of Ticino. It sits in the Bedretto Valley at the head of the Ticino river and is part of the Leventina district. The municipality includes the village of Bedretto and the hamlets of Ronco, Villa (where the administration is), and Ossasco.

Key facts:
- Area: 75.2 square kilometers
- Elevation: about 1,402 meters above sea level
- Population: around 102 people (as of 2020)
- Language: Italian (Lombard name Bidré)

History and notable points:
- Bedretto is first mentioned in 1210 (as Bedoledo) and became a separate parish by 1227.
- The parish church of SS Martiri Maccabei in Villa was rebuilt after an avalanche in 1594.
- The valley has suffered deadly avalanches in 1749 and 1863, and winters can still isolate the villages.
- Airolo–Bedretto road opened in 1924, later extended to Ronco and beyond Nufenen; a rail link via the Furka Base Tunnel was never completed, so the valley remains relatively isolated.
- Historically, people in Bedretto practiced farming and seasonal migration to Italy and France for work; after World War II, the valley’s population declined, but tourism has grown.

Heritage and people:
- The villages of Bedretto and Villa are part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.
- The majority of residents speak Italian; there are small communities of German- and French-speaking people. The area is known for its mountain scenery and rural character.