Old village on Lake Lugano and at the foot of Monte San Giorgio on the road that leads from Riva San Vitale to Porto Ceresio (Italy). Originally the economy was based on fishing, but then there was a positive development in tourism and thus numerous new holiday homes. The old town center is characterized by narrow streets and old houses. The sculptor Ambrogio Poma was from Brusino Arsizio and he decorates the Hall of States in the Federal Palace.
The toponym of Brusino Arsizio seems to derive from the Celtic Brux (thorn bush) and Arx (tower) so the name should mean "Tower of the brambles"; Carlo Salvioni compares this name to that of Busto Arsizio with reference to burning (Italian arsiccio) and burning and in fact the municipal coat of arms reproduces a burning tower.