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91-731: Brianza extends from the Canzo area, North of Monza (approximately 14 km from Milan ), to the Seveso River on the West and to the Adda River on the East. The southern and western parts are mostly flat, while the northern and eastern parts are mountainous. Brianza encompasses a part of the administrative area of the Province of Monza and Brianza , a part of the administrative area of

182-485: A Christian presence in Milan during apostolic times has been found. The conversion of rural areas came after that of the cities: missionaries were sent into the country where they founded religious colleges called pieve that supplied priests and deacons for the countryside. From the 3rd to the 5th centuries, Christianity was consolidated across Canzo. A church was dedicated to St. Stephen . Another product of this period

273-634: A man who became a hero, Mornerin , whose name is preserved as the name of a street in the Old Town. Canzo became a centre of iron production for Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Thereafter Canzo became an art centre known for its quality of life . In 1728 the construction of the baroque Parochial Basilica started, expanding an existing church. Its realistic wooden crucifix was praised by St. Charles Borromeo of Milan during his pastoral visit. The church displayed marble confessionals, three monumental marble statues by Elia Vincenzo Buzzi (an artist of

364-536: A monument to them was built in Garibaldi square. Patriotism was strong just after the war. In 1924 veterans' club Gruppo Alpini Canzo was founded, serving as a major cultural, recreational and social feature. It is also involved in ministering to the natural environment. The autarky stimulated the creation of many urban vegetable gardens in Canzo. After Mussolini 's alliance with Hitler , Italy enacted race laws, but

455-428: A relatively drier season, while the other three seasons have a uniformly high humidity, with the exception of the dry month of July. Fog may appear for a few days a year. The most frequent winds are from the West. During the spring and autumn, southern winds are responsible for massive precipitation. During winter, winds from the north or east bring dry and cold days; sometimes their interaction with wet tepid masses from

546-625: A surrounding geographical area, which was thenceforth named Briantia or Brianza . Brianteo / Briantea / Briantei / Briantee , Briantino / Briantina / Briantini / Briantine , and Brianz(u)olo / Brianz(u)ola / Brianz(u)oli / Brianz(u)ole are all terms for the people of the Brianza. Briantitudine is a name that claims the identity of the Brianza with its population and its culture. Canzo Canzo ( Italian: [ˈkantso] ; Lombard : Canz , Lombard: [ˈkãː(t)s] ; locally : Lombard: [ˈkaːnts] )

637-703: Is alta Brianza . The name Brianza may be derived from the Celtic word brig ("hill"), or the Latin name Brigantia which originated from some colonies of the Brigantes , or Brigantii, a Celtic sub-tribe of Alps and Prealps that were Romanized and after the Barbarian invasions emigrated. According to another tradition, when the Celtic leader Bellovesus founded Milan, his chief lieutenant Brianteo conquered

728-526: Is a comune (municipality) of the Italian province of Como . It is the last town north of the historical Brianza region of Lombardy , capital of the Lake Como Triangle community and a regional tourism destination. It has 5,192 citizens and an area of 11.8 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi), a density of 445 persons/km (1,100/sq mi). Its history began in the 5th century BC, when it

819-548: Is a glacial lake fed by underground springs. Canzo hosts BIOFERA , one of the main organic farming events in Italy. According to a statistic of the major financial newspaper of Italy, Canzo is a leader place of hobbies and security and the 1st borough for social vitality in the Italian mountains . The first settlements were between Cornizzolo , Mount Raj and Segrino Lake . This site remained inhabited until

910-518: Is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy , Italy . It has an area of 146 square kilometres (56 sq mi), making it the third-largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore . At over 400 metres (1,300 ft) deep, it is the fifth-deepest lake in Europe and the deepest outside Norway; the bottom of the lake is 227 metres (745 ft) below sea level. One notable characteristic

1001-468: Is a favorite summer resort for the people of Milan . Its economy includes the production of furniture and tools . The agro-industrial technology and high-tech economies have expanded in recent years. The area of the modern day Brianza was originally settled in the 2nd millennium BC or even earlier. Brianza is in Lombardy , the region named after the Longobards , who arrived around the 570s, after

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1092-454: Is a stream from the southern side of the Corni di Canzo , at about 1,000 m altitude, on the lower edge of Colma dei Corni, where glacial clay crops out from under a mantle of alluvial sediment. It flows down into the Old Town of Canzo. Its basin, lengthened in an east-west direction, is bounded by Cranno's crest, Colletta, Corni, Colma dei Corni (north), and by Maschèrpa and Mt. Prasanto (east). To

1183-493: Is a venue for sailing , windsurfing and kitesurfing . Although generally considered safe, bathers aiming to find relief from the heat and swimming enthusiasts alike should exercise caution, as a prevailing regulation prohibits diving and swimming both in the city of Como and in the various small villages along the lake. Exceptions are found only in privately managed lidos or designated public beaches where explicit signage permits swimming activities. This prohibition stems from

1274-470: Is also responsible for transport services on Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda . There exist three primary services: The Sacro Monte di Ossuccio ("Holy Mount of Ossuccio ") is a sanctuary located on a hillside slope between olive groves and woods along the western edge of Lake Como facing Isola Comacina . Fifteen Baroque-inspired chapels , built between 1635 and 1710, and dedicated to the Mysteries of

1365-522: Is fed primarily by the Adda , which enters the lake near Colico and flows out at Lecco . This geological conformation makes the southwestern branch a dead end, and so Como, unlike Lecco, is sometimes flooded. The mountainous pre-alpine territory between the two southern arms of the lake (between Como , Bellagio and Lecco) is known as the Larian Triangle, or Triangolo lariano . The source of

1456-472: Is its distinctive "Y" shape. Lake Como has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times , and a very popular tourist attraction with many artistic and cultural gems. It has many villas and palaces such as Villa Olmo , Villa Serbelloni and Villa Carlotta . Many famous people have owned homes on the shores of Lake Como, including George Clooney , Madonna and Donatella Versace . In 2014, The Huffington Post described it as

1547-709: Is planted, as often on Lake Como, with huge rhododendrons . Nineteenth-century guests at the Villa included Stendhal and Franz Liszt . Villa Serbelloni , also in Bellagio, hosts the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, a 50-acre (200,000 m ) international conference centre set up and managed by the Rockefeller Foundation since 1959, which also operates a "scholar-in-residence" program for scholars from around

1638-432: Is predominantly dependent on tourism and related activities. The tourism sector stimulates local businesses, including hospitality, restaurants and retail, while also fostering the growth of ancillary services such as transportation, cultural tours and recreational activities. This reliance on tourism has led to significant investments in infrastructure and amenities to accommodate and enhance the visitor experience, making it

1729-462: Is relatively warm and suitable for cultivation of grapevines. The rocks of Lake Segrino are calcareous , produced by the gradual solidification of an ancient seabed . Afterwards, with the continents' geological motion and with the push of Africa against the European plate, the rocks were raised into mountains. "Flutes" are signs of the channels of sediment flow that formed these rocks. Lake Segrino

1820-504: Is served by a public transport system connecting the various villages on the lake. A motorized service began in 1826 when a steamship with sails, the Lario , was launched by the newly established Società privilegiata per l'impresa dei battelli a vapore nel Regno Lombardo Veneto . Since 1952 the fleet has been managed by a government organisation named Gestione Commissariale Governativa and later Gestione Governativa Navigazione Laghi , which

1911-405: Is shaped much like an inverted letter " Y ". The northern branch begins at the town of Colico , while the towns of Como and Lecco sit at the ends of the southwestern and southeastern branches respectively. The small towns of Bellagio , Menaggio and Varenna are situated at the intersection of the three branches of the lake: a boat service operates a triangular route between them. Lake Como

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2002-519: Is the indigenous green turtle . Myriophylla in the deeper water offer food for birds and a nesting site for perch, jackfish, rudd, savettas , tench, carp and eel. In late summer, myriophylla bloom on the surface. The shelter in the middle of the road offers a panoramic view of the lake's western part. This lake is one of the few habitats of the Lataste frog (protected by the EU and UN). The former presence of

2093-471: Is the term for a system of families, farms and possessions established from below, rather than a district established by a superior power. In the 14th century Canzo's history was dominated by the life of the Blessed Mir, a hermit and pilgrim recognized as a saint by the population of Canzo and by those he visited during his travels. He was born in Canzo, in the mountainous frazione of Segunt Alp, to

2184-652: The Brianza region, pass Milan and reach the Po River . Elevations range from 360 to 1,371 m above sea level. Geographically, Canzo is roughly the centre of the Larian peninsula (or Lake Como Triangle). The land lies between the two ramifications of Lake Como. One leads to Como and one goes straight south and, within the boundaries of Lecco , transforms itself into the second part of the Adda River. The third side of

2275-632: The Celtic and the Roman expansion. The spread of Christianity in Brianza dates back to the 3rd century, owing much to Saint Ambrose . There, St. Augustine of Hippo (as documented by himself in his Confessions ) had lived at Rus Cassiciacum (now Cassago ), during the period after his conversion and just before his baptism by Bishop Ambrose. In the Middle Ages the Cathars , the Humiliati and

2366-588: The Celts tribe of the Comenses and conquered the city. Comum was then strengthened and rebuilt after a raid by Rhaetian and repopulated with 3,000 settlers in 77 B.C. Finally, after having reclaimed the marshy area, in 59 B.C. it was re-founded with the name of Novum Comun in its current location on the lake shore at the behest of Gaius Julius Caesar . Pliny the Younger , in one of his Epistulae , describes

2457-581: The Cuntrada dal cuèrc (street of the porch); a fort, later occupied by the Spanish rulers in their first phase, was probably not far from the pretòri , in the street now known as Turèta (little tower street); another tower was on an elevated site looking toward Crann and the little valley in front of it. The coat of arms of Corte di Casale was similar to others of the zone (such as pieve Vallassina ), with diagonal white and red stripes, forming peaks with

2548-504: The Duomo of Milan ), a triumphal arch and frescos representing the Trinity , St. Stephen and the four evangelists . It also had three portals, two pulpits, two sacristies, many marble balusters and several reliquary busts. In the 19th century it was enriched by its pipe organ (1828) provided by Serassi from Bergamo and by the mural pictures of David Beghè. On 21 April, the pope enlarged

2639-726: The Pataria religious movement rose and fell in several towns of Brianza. The Franciscans flourished instead and remain to the present day. Most of the region follows the Ambrosian Rite of the Catholic Church in communion with the Pope in Rome. Brianza was home to many distinguished figures in poetry, philosophy and history of medicine among them are: In Italian, lower Brianza is referred to as bassa Brianza and upper Brianza

2730-571: The Province of Lecco , a part of the administrative area of the Province of Como and some municipalities of the administrative area of the province of Milan bordering the Province of Monza and Brianza. The main language spoken in this area is Italian and to a lesser extent a dialect of the Lombard language . Brianza is densely populated, with approximately 1.372 inhabitants/km, yet remains remarkably fertile for farming. Due to its hilly nature, it

2821-488: The Province of Milan to take quantities home with them. Villa Meda is composed of two neoclassical courtyards. St. Francis square features buildings from many architectural periods, particularly the Baroque church , the curt da Pinòla (a medieval poor courtyard), and the ramparts and arch of Villa Meda. The chapel of St. Stephen's church hosts relics and a Renaissance crucifix. The area has two war memorials. City Hall

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2912-539: The United Kingdom . The landscaped gardens in the English style are a product of this period. Later in the century, it was turned into a luxury hotel. Today the Villa d'Este is known for attracting celebrity guests. Villa del Balbianello , famous for its elaborate terraced gardens, lies on a promontory of the western shore of the lake near Isola Comacina . Built in 1787 on the site of a Franciscan monastery, it

3003-488: The 1950s, under the later names of Canza and Sitt di Budracch . The later Celtic and first Roman foundation were transferred to the valley under the Corni di Canzo (Canzo's Horns), formed by the course of the river Ravella. The ancient town was on the right side of this river. The oldest extant streets are: Lunaa (from a Celtic root meaning "swampland" was nearest to the river); Casargh (probably from Casearium , place for production of cheese and milk-derivatives)

3094-535: The 2010s average temperatures have been constantly rising and once rare severe weather events, such as rainstorms and hailstorms, have been happening with increased frequency. At the beginning of the first millennium B.C. during the Iron Age , the Comum oppidum was born and the civilization of Como developed, inserted in the broader Golasecca culture . In 196 B.C. the army of the consul Claudius Marcellus defeats

3185-478: The Atlantic or Mediterranean creates the conditions for heavy snowfall. Foehn is a fall or winter wind that can provoke sudden higher temperature. The main local winds are: Breva dal Segrin (from the south), Breva da Caslin (from the west), Vent dal Sant Prim (from the north), and Ariasc di Alp (from the east). Summer is warm, with temperatures around 30 °C. Winters are cold on the whole, and by night

3276-577: The Como fleet in action against the ships of the Milanese and their allies or between 1525 and 1532 due to the Musso war unleashed by Gian Giacomo Medici . On 28 April 1945, deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was executed in the lakeside village of Giulino , about 180 m (590 ft) from the waterfront. As a tourist destination, Lake Como is popular for its landscapes, wildlife and spas. It

3367-467: The Corni group, comprising the Corni di Canzo (with the surrounding mountains) and the sub-group of Mount Barro and Mount Crocione (situated over the boundaries of the Larian peninsula). Other mountains are Mount Bollettone , Mount Moregallo , Pizzo dell'Asino, Mount Raj, Mount Boletto, Punta Tre Termini and Mount Broncino. The terrain is mainly composed of limestone strata, rich in caves and caverns,

3458-577: The Duchy of Milan became a possession of the Habsburgs . Canzo became part of "the empire where the sun never sets" (after the conquest of the Americas). The new rulers did little to improve the economy, instead imposing taxes to support their wars. Spanish soldiers had a base in Canzo. Three tales of rebellion against Spanish rule by Canzo's population have been handed down from this period. One tells about

3549-763: The Rosary are dotted along the way that leads to the Monastery. This building is the last in the chain and is dedicated to the Coronation of the Virgin . In 2003, the Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy , including that of Ossuccio, were added by UNESCO to the World Heritage List . Lake Como attracts visitors from around the world and as a consequence, the economy of the towns surrounding Lake Como

3640-472: The absence of influent rivers and the advanced plant-based purification system installed on the northern side. The north end of the lake is marked by the Roman milestone , on which a two sided niche has been constructed, a memorial of the time (in the early 19th century, during the so-called Little Ice Age ) when a carter fell asleep and his oxen carried his wagon, loaded with stone, onto the ice-covered lake, but

3731-502: The action of glaciers, parallel to the anticline and syncline folds forming the structure of the Lombard pre-Alps. The environment is completely wild as far as Gajum, and is made up of coppices ; the quality of its waters is demonstrated by the presence of stream trout , sometimes also visible under the town bridges in Canzo. The view of the river valley is dominated by the promontory named Cepp da l'Angua or Scalfìn dal diaul , in

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3822-531: The approval of important innovations: laws for the protection of female and young workers, on work accidents, illness, old age, data collection/analysis and acceptance of cooperative societies. In 1915, Italy entered the World War I in alliance with France and Great Britain, reconquering the Italian territories of Trentino and Friuli, then occupied by the Austro-Hungarian empire. Many Canzeses died and

3913-457: The armies of France and Austria into a lengthy battle there in the late 15th and early 16th century. In this period Niccolò Pelliccione, the Canzese captain of a free company , fought under the sight of Francesco Sforza and Gian Giacomo Medici . In 1526 Canzo was the theatre of a clash between his company and the arquebusiers sent by Antonio de Leyva . After the decisive Battle of Pavia ,

4004-542: The artistic wave of the Renaissance was represented in Canzo by wood carver Giovanni da Canzo and his colleagues Giovanni Ambrogio da Longone, Cristoforo da Proserpio and Francesco Vignarca. They were employed in the construction of the pipe organ for the Duomo of Milan . Other wood artists of the former Squadra di Canzo were the Contis from Mariaga and Stefano de Bernardi from Caslino. The wealth of Lombardy attracted

4095-551: The beginning of the commune of Canzo. In Canzo the peripheral course of the River Lambro is an important source of irrigation for the Canzese plain frazione of Terra Rossa and for the Canzese part of Scarenna, extending to the edge of Caslino. In Canzo, as in many boroughs of Brianza, the word Lambar became a synonym of "river". Its clarity is proverbial. "Clear as Lambro " is a common saying. Its waters are relatively fresh and constant, compared with those of Ravella. Ravella

4186-705: The cemetery. Poets and writers like Alessandro Manzoni and Carlo Porta were inspired by this place during visits to their friends' villas . Canzo became one of the major sites of silk production in the Western world, led by the Marques Crivelli. Spinning mills belonging to the Gavazzi and especially the Verza families were central to this development. Entire families moved there from Brescia and Veneto as manpower for these factories, receiving an education in

4277-518: The consent of the men of Canzo, who swore fidelity to the legitimate Archbishop, Giovanni Visconti and provided him a refuge after he was forced to flee by a pretender to his office. Thus Canzo became the seat of the Archbishop and his court for at least five years. Canzo's economy had been based on wool weaving, but under its vassalship to the Negronis family, nicknamed "Missaglia", it became

4368-543: The danger posed by the lake's waters that swiftly transition from shallow to deep near the shoreline and from unpredictable aquatic conditions, which have led to numerous incidents, including drowning cases attributed to sudden thermal shock . The lake is well known for the attractive villas that have been built there since Roman times when Pliny the Younger built the Comedia and the Tragedia resorts. Many villas on

4459-466: The family of Paredis (meaning relatives ), probably a hybrid of Welsh with the local people who settled on Canzo's Horns and still widely present. After the death of his elderly parents, he was educated by an older hermit who lived in the frazione named Scarenna. In Canzo he served as a spiritual father and peacekeeper, living in the mountains near the springs of the River Ravella, where a church

4550-593: The frazione of Castelmarte , also called Ravella, it flows into the Lambro River. The springs of Gajum at 485 m are a source of quality drinking water, in the past bottled by a local cooperative. Their water is distributed freely to the local population from two fountains, one near to the source and one in Villa Meda. The springs have been a famous resort for excursionists since the 19th century. Tables and chairs were carved from rocks, built by early tourists. In

4641-529: The ice did not break. The River Lambro rises in the mountains of the Mt. San Primo group, not far from Madonna del Ghisallo . The springs are karstic and their name Menaresta means "flows and stops". They rise from a particular stone siphon, situated underground in calcareous rock. Every eight minutes, as observed by Pliny the Elder , the water fills the siphon and then flows out, producing an intermittent stream for

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4732-556: The lake and its surrounding area as providing plentiful opportunities for fishing and hunting. According to the Notitia Dignitatum , at least since the 4th century, a Praefectus commanding a Roman military fleet was present on the lake. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the waters of the lake were the scene of military clashes, such as in the 12th century during the war of Milan against Como , which saw

4823-465: The lake shores have admirable gardens that benefit from the mild climate induced by the stabilizing presence of 22.5 cubic kilometres (5.4 cu mi) of lake water and can sustain many subtropical and Mediterranean plants. Villa Carlotta was built for the Milanese Marquis Giorgio Clerici in 1690 and occupies a site of over 7 ha (17 acres) at Tremezzo , facing the Bellagio peninsula. An Italian garden (with steps, fountains and sculptures)

4914-427: The late 20th century winters used to be quite snowy and cold, with average daily temperatures well below freezing in January and February; however, due to global warming , average temperatures in winter have gradually risen since the turn of the 21st century, reaching a record high of 21 °C (70 °F) on January 27, 2024; until the late 2000s summers as well used to be distinguished by pleasant climate but since

5005-425: The laws of supply and demand and elaborate the system of modern revenue service, later adopted across the globe. He was a precursor of both Adam Smith and marginalism . Philosopher Beccaria published his theory about "punishment as reeducation", proposing the abolition of capital punishment . The linguistic work of Manzoni and the syndical/political work of Filippo Turati , born in Canzo in 1857, contributed to

5096-448: The moral unification of Italy that followed the 1861 political change. Many Canzese soldiers participated in the unification under the orders of Giuseppe Garibaldi . During the 1848 revolution against Austria, Duroni, a patriot from Canzo, was the first to hoist the Italian flag on the highest spire of the Duomo di Milano . In 1904, deputy Filippo Turati 's party's support in Parliament to Giovanni Giolitti 's Italian Government led to

5187-432: The most beautiful lake in the world for its microclimate and environment with prestigious villas and villages. The lake's official name is Lario (derived from the Latin Larius ), but it is rarely used informally, while it is still used in formal language; it is also found in the toponym of some villages along the lake such as Pognana Lario and Mandello del Lario ; Italians usually call it Lago di Como . The lake

5278-474: The most famous of which is the "Lead Hole" (Bus del Piomb, Buco del Piombo in Italian). A particular characteristic of this area is the presence of isolated erratic boulders , pushed down by glaciers that in prehistory occupied the Valmasino and Valmalenco valleys. Some were excavated by the primitive population to make tombs ("massi avelli"). Canzo lies on a boundary between three climatic typologies: continental climate of Brianza, alpine climate produced by

5369-407: The north side of Lake Como (where his mother was born). He died in Sorico , where another church was dedicated to him. He may have belonged to the newborn movement of St. Francis of Assisi . On 7 July 1414, Filippo Maria Visconti , duke of Milan, brought the former Corte di Casale under the temporal jurisdiction of the Archbishop , and it ceased to be an autonomous authority. This happened with

5460-418: The official source of iron for the Duchy of Milan 's army, enriching the town. Two schools were established. In this period the commune devised a coat of arms (which had previously used that of the Corte di Casale): a blue field (also found in Prina's coat of arms) with golden stars and hooves for iron transformation, shaped like beehives. While Leonardo da Vinci was painting The Last Supper in Milan ,

5551-409: The plain of the River Ravella, in the areas known as Parisùn and Gerètt . New enterprises were opened, such as the Porroni stone carving company (which created the capitals for Como's Portici Plinio), and manufacturing industries, such as iron scissors. Canzo became Italy's centre of this kind of production together with the nearby village of Premana . Every street had at least one scissor maker. At

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5642-544: The population of Canzo, like those of many other Italian cities, acted to protect their Jewish neighbors. Orlando Prina, official of the Alpini , served in the Greek campaign , then returned to Canzo after the armistice. He worked clandestinely in the Resistance against German occupation, in spite of the presence of two headquarters of SS corps. After the Nazi's retreat he organized the new Commune, providing for displaced persons (sfollati) bombed out of their homes. The Canzese welcomed those searching for refuge. A moral example

5733-399: The presence of mountains over 1,500 m, and Mediterranean climate of Lake Como. Rains are abundant, exceeding 2 m a year. The rainfall is caused by the Stau effect that occurs within depressions, causing strong southern winds and forcing air to rise along the slopes of mountains and to release its humidity as precipitation. During the winter precipitation often falls as snow. Winter is

5824-538: The river Lambro is here. At the centre of the triangle, the town of Canzo is the seat of the Comunità Montana del Triangolo lariano , an association of the 31 municipalities that represent the 71,000 inhabitants of the area. According to the Köppen climate classification , the Lake Como area is categorized as humid subtropical climate ; average temperatures range from 4 °C (39 °F) in January to 25 °C (77 °F) in July. Water temperatures reach an average of 26 °C (79 °F) in July. Until

5915-528: The same time sensibility to nature grew. In particular, Lake Segrino was protected by ceasing an international water skiing competition, at the expense of immediate financial advantage. In the last quarter of the century Canzo became a centre for organic farming. In 1984 the first example of what would become the BIOFERA began . In 1987, the oldest of Italy's three major "organic festivals" launched. Historic buildings were restored, including St. Francis church, St. Mir's hermitage and Villa Meda. A new chapel

6006-439: The sea is revealed by fossils of radiolarians and ammonites . The Fons Sacer , or sacred spring, the main underground source of Lake Segrino's water, gave its name to the entire lake. In this part of the lake common toads nest, and grebes (or loons) swim with their joeys and nightingales sing. In the air are kestrels (or windhovers), hawks and buzzards and eagles. This lake is the clearest and least polluted lake in Europe, due to

6097-408: The shape and color of two horns. After the plain of Erba, Canzo is at the confluence of the two small valleys formed by Mount Barzaghino, Mount Scioscia and Mount Cornizzolo. The first is the site of Lake Segrino , formed by glacial movements. The second hosts the town of Caslino . An intermittent spring rises from the side of Corni di Canzo and flows into the river Lambro , whose waters flow south to

6188-402: The shape of an enormous heel, while on the right side you can see, although covered by vegetation, the terraces of the moraines, where Prim Alp , Segunt Alp and Terz Alp are built. A geological nature trail traces the valley, whose attractions are the green rocks ("massi erratici") of serpentite and serizz . After passing the town, the River Ravella flows through the plain of Lambro, and in

6279-414: The small workers' city created by Giuseppe and Alessandro Verza. In the 19th century the Vallassinese Bank arose from the capital of the Prina family and silk worker Magno Magni who pioneered the Italian chemical industry. In Vicenza he founded the society that later invented commercial plastics. The strong moral ideas of Giuseppe Parini , educated in this district, encouraged economist Verri to explain

6370-576: The south, the basin of Ravella includes parts of Mount Raj, Mount Cornizzolo and Pesora. Its affluents are the small rivers of St. Mir and of Valett, the last flowing down from Pesora and entering Ravella not far from St. Francis' church, passing between the convent 's lands and the curt di Sant , flowing under an ancient bridge and entering Ravella between the former Prina and Arcellazzi palaces. The River Ravella, in its upper course, often flows through steep limestone canyons, resulting in small waterfalls and with characteristic "giants' mufflers", produced by

6461-437: The springs of the river Valett). Evidence of pre-Roman cults is found at mountain sites, including stones dedicated to propitiatory fertility rites and to female divinities of the waters (see water sprite ). A legend says that the Church of Milan was founded by St. Barnabas . This is commonly rejected by historians (because apparently St. Barnabas never left Cyprus after St. Paul 's departure), archaeological proof of

6552-474: The temperature goes below 0 °C, but the protective effect of surrounding mountains and the mitigating effect of Lake Como make the winter cold less severe, with temperatures only a few degrees below 0. During spring and autumn temperatures vary suddenly, but generally are moderate. The flora is composed of oaks, chestnut trees, ironwoods, alders, elms, maples, spruce and firs, with a particularly rich underbrush: strawberries, blueberries and mushrooms. Veronica

6643-434: The titles granted to the parish, giving its vicars the titles of provost and monsignore and encouraging the Archbishop of Milan, Andrea Carlo Ferrari , to revive Corte di Casale's rule in matters of ecclesiastical administration. Two important painters of the later 19th century, Carlo Gerosa and Giovanni Segantini , lived and worked in Canzo. Artistic chapels and monumental graves of the 18th and 19th century are visible in

6734-483: The top upward and the imperial eagle at the top. During these centuries the rule of Corte di Casale continued. On 27 April 1162, in an act signed in Pavia , Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor , recognized that the possessions of St. Peter's Abbey (built on the east side of mount Cornizzolo ) included some fields in Canzo. Contemporaneous documents attest that other acreages formally belonged to Monza 's chapter; one of them

6825-522: The triangle consists of many small lakes, of which Lake Segrino is smallest. The mountains of the triangle are pre-Alpine, topped by Mount San Primo at 1,686 m. The classification of the Larian peninsula's mountain range is: Western Alps > North-Western Alps > Lugano Pre-Alps > Como Pre-Alps > Larian Triangle. The chain is divided into three groups: the Mount Palanzone group; Mount San Primo 's massif (with sub-group Oriolo) and

6916-522: The village of Magreglio . The first affluent of Lambro is called Lambretto (coming from Crezzo). It enters Lambro by the village of Lasnigo . It then runs faster and "cuts" the Vallassina valley, leading to Asso , where it drives three old flour mills. The Vallassina ends when it receives the flow of the River Foce (coming from Valbrona), which descends in an unexpected waterfall that also marks

7007-419: The villages of Caslino , Castelmarte , Proserpio , Eupilio , Longone and some frazioni (hamlets) of the current commune of Erba , with Canzo as its capital. The Old Town of Canzo preserves the sites of the ancient communal and pieval system: the seat of the governor and of the federal jails were in the street later named Cuntrada dal pretòri ; the communal assembly was in a place that gave its name to

7098-641: The woodland landscape park in Romantic style. The villa today includes a museum of agricultural implements as well as important works of sculpture by Sommariva's friend Antonio Canova and by Luigi Acquisti . Villa d'Este , in Cernobbio , was built in 1568 by Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio , a native of the town. In 1816–1817 the villa was home to Caroline of Brunswick , estranged wife of the Prince of Wales and shortly to become queen consort of King George IV of

7189-550: The woods above the source an ancient chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows ( Madòna di Sètt Duluur ). The springs are at the crossroads of the Alp path and St. Mir's path. Their name comes from the local Lombard word gaumm /ga'ym/ (from Celtic ga- , womb), meaning "husk, walnut husk or hull", because a walnut tree overlooked the main fountain. Its nuts fell into the basin of water, floating on it and when ripe, coloring it black. The water attracts people from southern Brianza and

7280-561: The world. This is believed to have been the site of Pliny the Younger's villa "Tragedia". Its well-known park was created at the end of the 18th century by Alessandro Serbelloni. Villa Monastero , located in Varenna, is another notable example of an ex-monastery converted to a villa. It is an eclectic villa built in the Nordic style. Many famous people have or have had homes on the shores of Lake Como, such as George Clooney . Lake Como

7371-553: Was appreciated by Leonardo da Vinci , and by the Italian writers Ippolito Nievo and Antonio Fogazzaro , who set some of their romances there. At the bridge called Punt d'Inach , the habitat is rich in plant and animal species. In June and August waterlilies bloom on the surface and a community of reed-maces diffuses on the shores. In a place called Schiuntina , on the eastern side of the lake, water birds such as coots, gallinules, wild ducks, herons, nycticoraxes, cannareccione , dunnocks, nightingales and bitterns live. Emis orbicularis

7462-618: Was built by the Hunters' Association near the site of the hamlet where Blessed Mir was born. In the 2000s the Alpini founded a polyphonic chorus, and a solidarity fund was established for people touched by the international financial crisis. The borough of Canzo is situated in front of the Valassina valley, beginning at the foot of the Corni di Canzo mountain, so called (Corni meaning Horns) for its crest, as bifurcate and rocky, ash-grey, in

7553-571: Was designed as a modern Broletto with a massive freestone civil clock tower linked to the ancient Palazzo Tentorio and its park . Old Town is formed by streets called cuntrada , of different ages. Structures feature a variety of portals and other particulars such as mullioned windows, ogives, ribbings, tower-shaped garrets and the Old Theatre. Lake Como Lake Como ( Italian : Lago di Como [ˈlaːɡo di ˈkɔːmo] , locally [ˈkoːmo] ), also known as Lario ,

7644-673: Was founded by Celts and Gaulish Insubres . Prehistoric settlements date to the Mesolithic period and the Copper Age . The name of the town comes from the Latin Cantius , itself from the Celtic root meaning edge . It is known in Lombardy for its mountains, particularly the Corni di Canzo (Canzo's Horns) and the Cornizzolo . The surroundings are rich in watercourses and springs. Lago del Segrino

7735-529: Was given by parish priest don Pozzoli, when he assisted deserters destined for execution just a few days before Liberation. After the war, the educated class of Canzo restored its quality of life, adding infrastructure and restarting production. Despite a national battle between Catholics and Marxists, in Canzo moderate and peaceful freedom of thought was maintained, together with honest collaboration in social matters. The population grew and its density increased, so new districts and houses were built, especially in

7826-448: Was laid out at the same time. The villa was later sold to powerful banker and Napoleonic politician Giovanni Battista Sommariva. Stendhal was his guest in 1818, and his visit is recalled at the start of La Chartreuse de Parme . In 1843 it was purchased by Princess Marianne of Nassau as a wedding present for her daughter Carlotta, after whom the villa is now named. The latter, together with her husband Georg II of Saxen-Meiningen, laid out

7917-459: Was posthumously dedicated to him. He dedicated a long period to a walking pilgrimage in total poverty to Rome, where he is said to have visited the Pope and (possibly) Saint Bridget of Sweden . He then returned to Canzo, passing by the Lomellina region near Pavia , where he worked his first attested miracle, summoning rain by his prayers. He worked the same miracle in Canzo when he started toward

8008-451: Was rented by Nicola Prina. Most of the toponyms remained unchanged until modern times, such as Gèpp longh and Ravèl(a) . The documents testify to the limitation of the feudal power of the dukes and archbishops of Milan in favour of the communal autonomy of the Corte di Casale, until 1414. This is the reason why this pieve had a different name from the others of western Lombardy: "corte"

8099-497: Was the home of explorer Guido Monzino and today houses a museum devoted to his work. Villa Melzi d'Eril in Bellagio was built in neo-classical style by architect Giocondo Albertolli in 1808–1810 as the summer residence of Duke Francesco Melzi d'Eril, who was vice-president of the Napoleonic Italian Republic . The park includes an orangery , a private chapel, fine statues and a Japanese garden , and

8190-531: Was where people lived and Sumbich ( summum vicum – the elevated camp) was where the Roman cohorts settled. The presence of Roman soldiers and their integration within the Insubric /Lepontian (partially Orobic) population is still evidenced by toponyms such as Castelmarte ("the Castle of Mars ", the Roman god of war) and Martesana (possibly the root of the cult of St. Michael , as in the lazzaretto near to

8281-557: Was widespread veneration of St. Maternus , one of the bishops under whom the area had been converted. During the 3rd century, Bishop Monas organized the diocese. At this time Canzo probably belonged to Incino 's pieve , but later the Curtis Casalensis (or Canzo's Team) confederation was established and retained relative political autonomy throughout the Middle Ages . This pieve or confederation of communes comprised

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