| Macugnaga | ||
 | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Piedmont | |
| Territory | Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola | |
| Altitude | 1,327 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 99.57 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 544 (2017) | |
| Name inhabitants | Macugnaga | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0324 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 28876 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | Assumption of Mary into Heaven | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Macugnaga is a country of Piedmont in province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.
To know
Geographical notes
Macugnaga is located on the slopes of the majestic eastern wall of Monte Rosa, the highest in the Alps, on the Piedmontese side of the massif. It is located at the extreme limit of the Anzasca Valley, a lateral derivation of the Ossola Valley. The landscape, even near the town, is of an alpine character given the important altitude.
When to go
Macugnaga is suitable for tourism in every season. In summer, the range of excursions ranges from family-friendly to challenging climbs. In winter you can take advantage of the extensive ski facilities.
Background
The first settlement was built around the middle of the 13th century by a population from the Saas valley: the Walser. It is a population of Germanic origin who began to overcome the Alpine passes to reach the fertile and sunny Ossola valleys, starting to develop pastoralism and agriculture. They began to characterize architecture and language with specific elements of their culture, a High German still firm today in medieval semantics.
How to orient yourself
Macugnaga: full screen map.Fractions
Macugnaga is a scattered municipality, that is, made up of several villages. The main ones are:
- 1 Bracket (in Walser language: In d Schtapfú). Staffa, is the current municipal capital located in the center of the great glacial valley of Macugnaga. At the edge of the hamlet is the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta whose construction began at the end of the eighteenth century, replacing the original parish church, which has since been called the Old Church in the hamlet of Dorf for this reason.
- 2 Dorf (in Walser language: Duorf). It is the original Walser nucleus of Macugnaga, characteristic and composed entirely of Walser buildings, some recently restored. Here there is also the first church of the town, attested from 1317 and, like the present one, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, and the cemetery, in use for the mountain hamlets.
- 3 Pecetto (in Walser language: zer Tannu). The hamlet of Pecetto, the last of the hamlets that make up the municipality of Macugnaga, has a clear tourist vocation. The hamlet is actually divided into two distinct settlements: Pecetto Inferiore and Pecetto Superiore.
- 4 Borca (in Walser language: zer Burfuggu). The second hamlet going up the valley is Borca, in the Walser zer Burfuggu language, formerly the municipal seat. In the oldest part of the town is the Church of the Beata Vergine delle Nevi (ad Nives), dating back to 1653.
- 5 Pestarena (in Walser language: In der Mattu). It is the first inhabited nucleus that is encountered climbing the state road, located on verdant slopes well identified by the toponym In der Mattu (to the meadow), with which the Walsers baptized the locality. In the inhabited area stands the Church of San Giovanni Battista (17th century). Only in 1950, given the considerable presence of miners which increased the number of inhabitants of the hamlet, the church of Pestarena was dismembered from the parish of Santa Maria Assunta and constituted a parish.
How to get
By plane
The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa.
By car
- A26 motorway: from Genoa direction Gravellona Toce. Piedimulera exit.
- A8 motorway: from Milan direction Varese. Gallarate-Gattico branch, entrance to A26. Piedimulera exit.
- Strada Statale 33 del Sempione: from Brig direction of the state border of Iselle. Piedimulera exit.
From Piedimulera begins a road that runs through the entire Anzasca Valley and reaches Macugnaga in thirty minutes.
By bus
From the station of Domodossola a bus service is available that reaches Macugnaga (timetables on the Comazzibus website [1]).
How to get around
What see
- 1 Mountain and Smuggling Museum, off to the Prati a Staffa. A museum that collects testimonies of life and culture in Macugnaga with digressions on the historical events regarding mountaineering and the smuggling of Monte Rosa.
- 2 Guja Gold Mine Museum. One of the few gold mines in Europe to be visited by the public, it consists of 12 km of tunnels spread over 11 levels (of which 1.5 km can be traveled), in which you can retrace the life and labors of the miners of the valley. Anzasca and the ancient gold mining techniques.
- 3 Walser House Museum (Alts Walserhuus van zer Burfuggu). Thanks to the visit of a period hut, built with traditional techniques, still complete with all the furnishings and objects of common use, the visitor can discover how the life and traditions of the Walser population were.
- 4 Old church and centuries-old lime tree. Around the church, built in 1317 and dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, there are the ancient houses in wood and stone of the Dorf built with Walser architecture. Near the church stands the monumental Vecchio Tiglio, in the shadow of which for centuries the community meetings, the annual market and the judiciary were administered. The lime tree, declared a national monument, dates back to the 13th century and has a circumference of seven meters.
Events and parties
- San Bernardo Fair.
First weekend of July. Fair that attracts many artisans and sculptors who build, exhibit and see their creations in wood, ceramics, wicker or stone.
First weekend of July. Fair that attracts many artisans and sculptors who build, exhibit and see their creations in wood, ceramics, wicker or stone.What to do
- 1 Belvedere ski area. The Belvedere area can be reached from Pecetto where the two-seater chairlift of the same name starts. There are 10 km of slopes available for all levels of preparation.
- 2 Monte Moro ski area. The Monte Moro area can be reached with two cable cars starting from the Staffa area. There are slopes with over 1000 m of altitude difference
- Cross country skiing. Ring between the hamlets of Pecetto, Isella and ascent to Val Quarazza
- Excursions and walks. On this site [2] excursions of varying difficulty are collected, such as the short walk to Lago delle Fate or the excursion to the Zamboni refuge on the slopes of Monte Rosa.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Average prices
- The Inn, High School, 208, ☎ 39 0324 65473.
- Z'makana Stubu, Via Monte Rosa, 114, ☎ 39 0324 65207.
- Flizzi, Town Hall Square, 48, ☎ 39 0324 65160.
Where stay
Average prices
- Flora Hotel, Piazza Municipio, 4 Frazione Staffa, ☎ 39 032465037.
- Hotel Cristallo, Via Pecetto Town Center, 22 Pecetto hamlet, ☎ 39 032465139.
- Hotel Restaurant Dufour, Via Monte Rosa, 100 Staffa hamlet, ☎ 39 3923686271.
- 1 Rifugio Ristorante Zamboni Zappa, Alpe Pedriola, ☎ 39 032465313. Altitude 2070 m
- 2 Rifugio Ristorante Oberto Maroli, Monte Moro, ☎ 39 032465544. Altitude 2868 m
- 3 C.A.I. Saronno, Belvedere, ☎ 39 0324 65322.
Safety
- State Forestry Corps barracks, Via Monte Rosa, 244, ☎ 39 0324 649029.
How to keep in touch
Post office
- Italian post, Via Ludovico Jacchetti, 2 / A fraction of Staffa, ☎ 39 0324 65068.
