Luino
Encyclopedia
Luino is a small town and comune
near the border with Switzerland
on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore
, in the Province of Varese
(Lombardy
, northern Italy
).
Luino received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree in 1969.
Luino is well known for its weekly market, currently held on Wednesdays, which is purportedly the largest of its kind in Europe. It is also a popular destination for tourists, especially from Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.
necropolis has been excavated in the area, Luino is mentioned by documents only in 1169 AD, as Luvino. In the Middle Ages it was contented between powerful families from Como and Milan
, but was able to maintain its status as a free commune
. As part of the Duchy of Milan, it was acquired by Spain in the early 16th century and, in 1541, king Charles V
gave it right to hold a market in alternance with Maccagno
, who had been enjoying it alone so far. The concession was confirmed in 1786.
Here in 1848 Italian patriots from Piedmont rose against the Austrian occupation. Giuseppe Garibaldi
fought here against the Austrians, and Luino later was the first city in Italy to erect a monument to him (1867).
The area of Luino lived a highly industrialization process starting from the late 19th century, creating ecological damage to the nearby Lake.
over the Monte Ceneri Pass
, which will be replaced by the Ceneri Base Tunnel
in the near future. It is still served both by Italian and Swiss state railway companies. It is also served by the TiLo
company, with services to Cadenazzo
and Bellinzona
in Switzerland
.
), the activity in this sector has now diminished considerably.
One phenomenon which is extremely widespread is the practice of local residents who travel every day to work in Switzerland. These so called frontalieri make Luino and neighbouring towns and villages dormitory towns to some extent.
and Vittorio Sereni
were born in Luino.
The Nobel Prize for Literature-winning playwright Dario Fo
also spent part of his youth here and in the nearby Porto Valtravaglia
.
The antifascist catholic priest Piero Folli
was parish priest in Voldomino, a part of Luino, from 1923 to 1948 and was arrested there by the fascists on December 3rd, 1943 for having helped a group of Jews to expatriate to Switzerland.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
near the border with Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps. It is the second largest of Italy and largest of southern Switzerland. Lake Maggiore is the most westerly of the three great prealpine lakes of Italy, it extends for about 70 km between Locarno and Arona.The climate is mild...
, in the Province of Varese
Province of Varese
The Province of Varese is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Varese but its largest city is Busto Arsizio....
(Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
).
Luino received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree in 1969.
Luino is well known for its weekly market, currently held on Wednesdays, which is purportedly the largest of its kind in Europe. It is also a popular destination for tourists, especially from Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.
History
Although a RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
necropolis has been excavated in the area, Luino is mentioned by documents only in 1169 AD, as Luvino. In the Middle Ages it was contented between powerful families from Como and Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, but was able to maintain its status as a free commune
Medieval commune
Medieval communes in the European Middle Ages had sworn allegiances of mutual defense among the citizens of a town or city. They took many forms, and varied widely in organization and makeup. Communes are first recorded in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, thereafter becoming a widespread...
. As part of the Duchy of Milan, it was acquired by Spain in the early 16th century and, in 1541, king Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
gave it right to hold a market in alternance with Maccagno
Maccagno
Maccagno is a comune of c. 2,000 inhabitants in the province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located in the Val Veddasca about 70 km northwest of Milan and about 25 km northwest of Varese.-History:...
, who had been enjoying it alone so far. The concession was confirmed in 1786.
Here in 1848 Italian patriots from Piedmont rose against the Austrian occupation. Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
fought here against the Austrians, and Luino later was the first city in Italy to erect a monument to him (1867).
The area of Luino lived a highly industrialization process starting from the late 19th century, creating ecological damage to the nearby Lake.
Transport
The town's railway station is of historic importance, being on what was once the sole route to the Gotthard Rail TunnelGotthard Rail Tunnel
The Gotthard Rail Tunnel, is a 15-kilometre long railway tunnel and forms the summit of the Gotthard Railway in Switzerland. It connects Göschenen with Airolo and was the first tunnel through the Gotthard massif...
over the Monte Ceneri Pass
Monte Ceneri Pass
Monte Ceneri Pass is a mountain pass in the Alps in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.It connects the Magadino plain and the Vedeggio valley....
, which will be replaced by the Ceneri Base Tunnel
Ceneri Base Tunnel
The Ceneri Base Tunnel is a railway tunnel under construction in Switzerland's Canton Ticino. It will pass under Monte Ceneri between Camorino in the Magadino Flat and Vezia near Lugano...
in the near future. It is still served both by Italian and Swiss state railway companies. It is also served by the TiLo
Tilo
Tilo is a local name for some plants:* the herb Justicia pectoralis* the tree Ocotea foetens...
company, with services to Cadenazzo
Cadenazzo
Cadenazzo is a municipality in the district of Bellinzona, in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 13 March 2005 the formerly independent municipality of Robasacco was absorbed into Cadenazzo.-History:...
and Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Economy
By the end of the 19th Century, Luino was a heavily industrialised town. The textiles industry was particularly strong here due to the many water courses which could be used to power the machinery. Many textile factories were set up in the local area by Swiss industrialists. Although some shadows of this past trade do remain in the names of local streets and villas (Villa Hussy, via Stehli in the neighbouring GermignagaGermignaga
Germignaga is a comune in the Province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 70 km northwest of Milan and about 20 km northwest of Varese...
), the activity in this sector has now diminished considerably.
One phenomenon which is extremely widespread is the practice of local residents who travel every day to work in Switzerland. These so called frontalieri make Luino and neighbouring towns and villages dormitory towns to some extent.
Famous residents
Two famous figures of 20th Century Italian literature, Piero ChiaraPiero Chiara
Piero Chiara was an Italian writer.He was born in Luino, on Lake Maggiore into a family of Sicilian origin. Sought by the Fascist milice during World War II, he fled to Switzerland in 1944...
and Vittorio Sereni
Vittorio Sereni
Vittorio Sereni was an Italian poet, author, editor and translator of Jewish heritage. His poetry frequently addressed the themes of 20th century Italian history, such as Fascism, Italy's military defeat in World War II, and its postwar resurgence.Born at Luino, Sereni graduated from the...
were born in Luino.
The Nobel Prize for Literature-winning playwright Dario Fo
Dario Fo
Dario Fo is an Italian satirist, playwright, theater director, actor and composer. His dramatic work employs comedic methods of the ancient Italian commedia dell'arte, a theatrical style popular with the working classes. He currently owns and operates a theatre company with his wife, actress...
also spent part of his youth here and in the nearby Porto Valtravaglia
Porto Valtravaglia
Porto Valtravaglia is a comune of c. 2,400 inhabitants in the Province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 70 km northwest of Milan and about 20 km northwest of Varese....
.
The antifascist catholic priest Piero Folli
Piero Folli
Don Piero Folli was an Italian antifascist parish priest.-Biography:Since the years in seminary he shows his opening and sensitivity to social and political problems, sympathizing with workers fights of 1898.In open reaction against any abuse of power and injustice , declared antifascist, since...
was parish priest in Voldomino, a part of Luino, from 1923 to 1948 and was arrested there by the fascists on December 3rd, 1943 for having helped a group of Jews to expatriate to Switzerland.