| Ispra | ||
 | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Lombardy | |
| Territory | Varese | |
| Altitude | 220 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 15.91 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 5.317(2018 census) | |
| Name inhabitants | ispresi | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0332 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 21027 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | San Martino (patronal feast third Sunday of September) | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Ispra is a city of Lombardy in the province of Varese, located on the left bank of the Lake Maggiore in the section called the "lean shore". It is the seat of the research center JRC - Joint Research Center of the European Community.
To know
Geographical notes
Ispra is located on undulating territory between the lakefront and the two reliefs of Monte del Prete and Monte dei Nassi. The urban development has also affected flat areas, such as that of Lavorascio and the areas where the railway passed. The coast has small inlets, with rocky slopes marked by the traces of ancient lime kilns.
When to go
Given the mild climate, Ispra is suitable to be visited in all seasons. In summer it is renowned as a seaside resort.
Background
The territory was inhabited since prehistoric times and some findings of flint artifacts on the shore of the lake, in the locality of Lavorascio, testify to this.
How to orient yourself
Ispra: full screen map.The historic center of the town is located higher than the lake level and can be identified from the main square with the church of San Martino. Behind it the Mount of Nassi. The lakefront is crossed by a pedestrian promenade that runs along the beach, the port and the grassy shore.A more modern area, called Ispra 70, extends north of Monte dei Nassi on the shore of the Gulf of Lavorascio. JRC search is located farther from the lake, near the old train station.
Neighborhoods
Currently the five districts are: Alto Paese (the historic center), Barza / Quassa, Borghetto, Cascine, Case Nuove or Riún Cà Növ.
How to get
By plane
The nearest airport is Malpensa, which is 28 km away.
By car
Ispra can be reached from Milan along the A8 motorway towards Varese up to Gallarate, then the A8-A26 stretch towards Gravellone Toce up to the Vergiate-Sesto Calende exit. From here via the state road.
In summer, a boat service is active.
On the train
Ispra cannot be reached by train because the train station was permanently closed in 2013.
By bus
Ispra is served by buses from the Autolinee Varesine company. The line is the Varese-Angera-Sesto Calende direction.
How to get around
What see
- 1 Church of San Martino Vescovo, piazza San Martino. Parish church built in the seventeenth century incorporating part of a medieval church.
- The current parish, which incorporates part of the seventeenth-century one, was built between 1712 and 1742 and consecrated on 13 June 1749 by Casimiro Reina Bubens, titular bishop of Capsa and delegated by the archbishop of Milan Giuseppe Pozzobonelli. In 1759 the high altar was rebuilt, in 1909 the frescoes were finished, in 1892 the altar of the Crucifix was rededicated to St. Joseph. In 1904 the altar of Sant'Antonio di Padova was rededicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1938 the cemetery once placed in front of the church was dismantled. Finally, in 1997 the building was renovated, repainted and the floor redone.
- The furnaces. There are five kilns still standing (2010), which correspond to the same number of white wounds in the rock of the hills: two adjoining in the locality of "Puncia" just below Monte dei Nassi, one adapted as a private residence in the locality of "Fornaci" and two far from the lake, near the village, the first is part of a private villa in via Monte Dei Nassi and the other right in the frieze of via Monte Dei Nassi itself.
- The lime kilns in Ispresi consisted of a large conical-shaped crucible even up to 3/4 meters in diameter and a height of 6/9 meters, and had on the one hand the lime discharge and the antipode, but more raised, the entrance to the fireplace of the wood burning brazier. They were built with special bricks and stones to ensure the presence of refractory material inside to keep the heat accumulated from combustion. The trunk / cone of the furnace was filled from above with the raw material; the "calcareous stone", suitably split into varying sizes from a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters. The filling with small or large stones constituted the "draft" of the furnace; with large "calcareous stones" there was a greater draft but a more difficult cooking inside the stone itself and with smaller "calcareous stones" less draft, often better cooking but longer times. The wood placed in the brazier was set on fire and kept the hearth burning for days. The fumes, entering the furnace or oven from a special conduit, crossed the "calcareous stone" giving up its heat which could reach 800 / 1,000 degrees centigrade when fully operational. The quality of the wood burned in the brazier was the other variable for a good "baking". The lime was cooked over a low heat and lasted several days. The "quicklime" then, once cooked, was manually removed from the opposite side of the brazier and had to be "extinguished" with special water washes. The operation was classified as dangerous for the production of poisonous gases.
- 2 Castelbarco Mausoleum. Polygonal plan sepulchral monument.
- 3 Villa Castelli. Villa Castelli is a villa in the center of Ispra, today the seat of the Municipality.
- A large house was built by the Brughera family before the middle of the 19th century on the area of the ancient houses of the locality known as "Pozzolo". In 1876 the Brughera family ceded the property to the Castelli brothers who over the years arranged it and significantly expanded the property, purchasing the surrounding land, farmhouse and vineyard. After further modifications and owners, the villa was uninhabited for a few years, until the mayor Ranci started negotiations and in 1971 it was bought by the municipality to become the seat of the town hall.
- The villa was once surrounded by a high wall and hidden by a thick curtain of plants that protected the privacy of the owners. The park was connected to the villa by the bridge over the road, and climbed with paths cut into the rock and immersed in the green of the woods. In the villa the owners lived between the ground floor and the first floor, where next to the bedrooms there was a veranda, which was later transformed into a chapel. Across the road stood the farmhouse, which included the stables for the horses and the carriage house, the service rooms, the barn, the laundry, the cellar and the tinaja, and finally the house for the gardeners and caretakers. On the hill there was the small farmhouse of Ortiglio, and above it the farmhouse of Montebello with the vineyard.
Events and parties
- Patronal feast.
11 November. Ispra's patron saint is St. Martin Bishop. - Cascine in celebration (Cascine locality). The end of August. Gastronomic event with Valtellina food stands and dance music, organized by the Cascine Onlus Committee.
- Mid-August isprese (On the lakefront). Around mid-August. Party with food stands and fireworks organized by the Pro Loco Ispra.
11 November. Ispra's patron saint is What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Average prices
- San Gottardo restaurant, Via Marconi 111, ☎ 39 0332 780389. Historic restaurant of Ispra, in the center of the village.
- San Gabriele pastry shop, Via Piave 64, ☎ 39 0332 780 179. Artisan pastry shop that has been preparing excellent desserts since 1961: brioches for breakfast, pastries, cakes and the classic "Brutti e buona", Dolce di Varese and Dolce di San Martino.
- Gastronomy The Delights, Via Piave 52, ☎ 39 0332 781867. Gastronomia presents in Ispra since 1998 in the center of the country. It is possible to buy takeaway food and ready meals from appetizers to desserts, including pizzas.
