| Ornavasso | ||
 | ||
| State | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Piedmont | |
| Territory | Ossola Valley | |
| Altitude | 215 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 25.92 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 3 418 (2019) | |
| Name inhabitants | Ornavassesi | |
| Prefix tel | 39 0323 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 28877 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | St. Nicholas | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Ornavasso is a city of Piedmont.
To know
Background
Enrico Bianchetti in 1890 he discovered in Ornavasso a necropolis divided into the sites of "San Bernardo" (165 tombs) and "In Persona" (165 tombs). The tombs, mainly inhumation, are dated between the 2nd century BC. and the 1st century AD and they are inserted in the Leponzio-Celtic culture, already influenced by the contact with the Romans.
The two necropolises must have belonged to a single large village, perhaps on the rocky spur that dominates the locality, with the presence of different social strata and activities related to sheep farming and the exploitation of timber. The inhabited area must have been on the path of the streets that from Lake Maggiore, at the time extended to Gravellona Toce, where port structures were found, continued towards the Alpine passes.
The materials found were donated to the Landscape Museum of Verbania in 1961 and are exhibited in a detached section at the town hall of Ornavasso.
Around 1300 groups of settlers settled on the mountain of Ornavasso walser coming from the Simplon region, which belonged to the same feudal house of Ornavasso. From these initial settlements (Bach, Grube, Ronch, Wasser, Boden, Casalecchio) the settlers moved down to the right of the Stagalo stream in the Dorf and to the left into the Roll.
Perhaps the black plague of 1348 contributed to further thin out the already scarce Romance population of the place. At the end of the 14th century Ornavasso had already become a German linguistic island and the colonists had learned the art of extracting marble, which was then conveyed along the Toce river up to Milan, where it was used in the Duomo. In the documents of the time, Ornavasso marble was cheaper for the Milanese than Candoglia marble, because it was of lower quality.
The Valaisian German language (Walser language) disappeared in the course of the 19th century: the latest evidence is around 1863. The current dialect (Lombard type) still retains German lexicon terms and a strong pronunciation. Numerous toponyms belong to the Walser language, especially in the mountains of Ornavasso and Migiandone. The German origin has left influences, as well as in the language and toponymy, in the traditions, especially that of the Carnival, which is celebrated for weeks with itinerant dancing vigils.
During the Second World War, Ornavasso saw the birth of the partisan formation "Divisione Valtoce", with the characteristic blue handkerchief. After the fall of the Republic of Ossola, it was reconstituted with the name of "2to Valtoce "and included in the" Di Dio Group ".
How to orient yourself
Ornavasso: full screen map.How to get
By plane
- Airport of Milan Linate (About 120 Km)
- Airport of Milan Malpensa (About 60 km)
- Airport of Turin Boxes (About 150 km)
By car
- A26 motorway Genoa-Gravellona Toce, Ornavasso exit
- State road n. 33 of the Simplon
On the train
- Line Milan-Domodossola
- Line Novara-Domodossola
By bus
- Line Domodossola - Omegna, Comazzi Bus Service, stops: 1. Fraz. Migiandone, 2. Ornavasso - Piazza Bianchetti
- Line Novara - Arona - Domodossola, STN - Novaresi Transport Company s.r.l. , Stops: 1. Ornavasso - Piazza Bianchetti
- Line Verbania - Domodossola, CON.SER.VCO, Stops: 1. Ornavasso - Piazza Bianchetti
How to get around
What see
- 1 Sanctuary of the Madonna del Boden.
Every day 9.00-17.00. The Sanctuary is the extension of an oratory built on the remains of a previous chapel, known for the image of the Blessed Virgin painted on the wall that was venerated by the inhabitants of the area. According to tradition, the night of 7 September 1528 a shepherdess from Ornavasso, after taking her sheep to pasture, fell asleep. When he woke up all the sheep had fled. Messasi, in the dark, in search of them fell on a cliff; frightened she asked the Madonna for help. A light, coming from the chapel of the Boden, allowed her to find the way and her flock that had gathered at the Oratory. Since then, on 8 September, the feast of the Madonna del Boden, or Miracles, began to be celebrated.
Every day 9.00-17.00. The Sanctuary is the extension of an oratory built on the remains of a previous chapel, known for the image of the Blessed Virgin painted on the wall that was venerated by the inhabitants of the area. According to tradition, the night of 7 September - Today the building has a three-nave plan divided by four arches. The painting of the original chapel, following the deteriorating effects of time, was replaced by a statuette, 30 cm high, depicting the Crowned Madonna.
- 2 Sanctuary of the Madonna della Guardia. The Sanctuary is located along the road leading to the Boden Sanctuary. Its construction began in 1674, but was completed only a century later in 1774. Abandoned and closed in 1965 in 1991 work began for its recovery.
- 3 Marble quarry. About 1.5 km from the center, crossing the bridge over the San Carlo stream, and continuing towards the Sanctuary of Boden, you reach the entrance to the ancient marble quarry. The quarry is famous for having supplied the raw material for the construction of the facade of the Certosa di Pavia, of the covering of the pillars in the Octagon of the Cathedral of Pavia, as well as other important monuments, such as the Arco della Pace Milan and a small part of the Milan Cathedral. The historical part of the quarry can be visited entirely and is home to an important musical festival. Towards Christmas it is decorated and for the Christmas markets and becomes the setting for the "Santa's grotto".
- 4 Partisan house museum, via Alfredo di Dio.
- 5 Verbania Landscape Museum (Branch of Ornavassano).
Events and parties
- . Christmas markets in the streets of the historic center of the town. A little train takes you to the marble quarry which has been transformed for the occasion into the magical Santa Claus cave.
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Average prices
- 1 Rose Lake, via PIetro Jorio, 31, ☎ 39 333 982 9810, @[email protected].
