Bellinzona (formerly known as Bellenz in German; Bellinzone in French, also Bellence; Latin: Bilitio) is a municipality and the capital of the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in Switzerland. With a population of 17,323 (as of December 31, 2009), it is the second-largest city in the canton after Lugano. Bellinzona is located in the valley plain east of the Ticino River at the foot of the Gotthard massif, near the border of Sopraceneri (northern Ticino) and Sottoceneri (southern Ticino). The plain, directly connected to the Magadino plain, features rock formations shaped during the last Ice Age. Bellinzona is first mentioned in 590 as Belitio or Belintiona, later as Berinzona, Beliciona, Birrinzona, and in 1168 as Birizona. The town was of great strategic importance as the key to the passes of St. Gotthard, Lukmanier, and San Bernardino.