- Arona (NO)
Infobox CityIT
img_coa =Arona-Stemma.png
official_name = Comune di Arona
region =Piedmont
province = Novara (NO)
elevation_m = 212
area_total_km2 = 14
population_as_of =December 31 ,2004
population_total = 14413
population_density_km2 = 1022
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|45|45|N|08|33|E
frazioni = Dagnente, Mercurago, Montrigiasco, Campagna
telephone = 0322
postalcode = 28041
gentilic = Aronesi
saint = Sts.Felinus and Gratian
day =March 13
mayor = Antonio Catapano (sinceApril 5 ,2005 )
website = [http://www.comune.arona.no.it www.comune.arona.no.it]Arona, Italy is a town of about 14,500 inhabitants on
Lake Maggiore , in theprovince of Novara (northernItaly ). Its main economic activity is tourism, especially fromMilan ,France andGermany .History
Archaeological findings have shown that the area of what today is Arona was settled from the 18th-13th centuries BC. Later it was a possession of the
Celt s, the Romans and theLombards .In the 11th century the Benedictine abbey of
Saints Gratianus and Felinus , Martyrs, was founded.After the destruction of
Milan in 1162 by EmperorFrederick Barbarossa , many of the exiled took refuge in Arona.Later the city was a possession of the
Torriani and (from 1277) of theVisconti families. In the early 14th century the city became a free commune under the suzerainty of the abbey. In 1439 it was acquired byVitaliano Borromeo and, as a result, theHouse of Borromeo .Main sights
Arona's main attractions include:
*"Sancarlone".This giant statue ofSaint Charles Borromeo was commissioned by CardinalFederico Borromeo , and construction began in 1614, completed in 1698. At 35.10 m it was the largest bronze standing statue in the world, second only to theStatue of Liberty . It is said that the architects behind the Statue of Liberty consulted the blueprints of the Sancarlone when laying out their own.It was intended as part of a complex of buildings and chapels celebrating the life of St. Charles, of which only three chapels were completed. Next to the statue are the 17th basilica and the former Archbishop's Palace. A smaller version of the statue, the "Sancarlino", can be seen in Corso Cavour in the town.
*"La Rocca" ("The Castle") is a park owned by the Borromeo family. The park used to contain the castle of Arona, destroyed by the Napoleonic armies, and was the birthplace of St. Charles Borromeo himself. The park is freely open to the public and is a favourite of many locals; many animals are kept in semi-captivity in various areas of the park.
*The "Lungolago" ("Lakeside") offers a fine view of the castle ofAngera and the Alps. Swimming in Lake Maggiore is now possible, after years of pollution. A beach has been refurbished by this group close to Piazza del Popolo in the town center, called "Le rocchette" ("The little rocks").
*The church of the "Collegiata della Natività di Maria Vergine" (1482) has paintings of the life of San Carlo Borromeo byCesare Nebbia .The 'frazione' of Mercurago is home to Lagoni Park, a protected area including a peat-bog, pastures dedicated to the breeding of thoroughbred horses and a woodland area. There are also some archeological findings from the
Bronze Age , including ancientwheel s.Transportation
Arona is 40km north of Milan's
Malpensa International Airport , actually closer than Milan itself. It is also somewhat connected to the railway network, being one of the main stops in the important link between Milan andSwitzerland that passesDomodossola (another parallel link travels throughComo ). Arona is also the last station for two minor rail lines, connecting Arona toNovara andSanthià ; the latter uses single-cardiesel trains.Due to the town's size there is no public transport, but some bus companies connect the city to its 'frazioni' of Dagnente, Campagna, Mercurago and Montrigiasco, and to neighbouring municipalities.
Arona is near a confluence of motorways, and from there one can head for Milan, Genoa, and
Gravellona Toce (where the motorway becomes a simple highway toDomodossola and continues intoSwitzerland ). Whereas there is a motorway exit named after Arona, the exit at Castelletto Ticino is usually more convenient for the traveller coming from the direction of Milan.The headquarters of the
Navigazione del Lago Maggiore (Lake Maggiore's ship transportation company) are located in Arona, along with theirshipyard . Arona is the southernmostport on Lake Maggiore, and transportation byboat orhydrofoil is available to both sides of the lake up to the Swiss city ofLocarno .urrounding municipalities
*
Oleggio Castello
*Meina
*Comignago
*Dormelletto Twin cities
*
Compiègne ,France
* Arona,Spain
*Huy ,Belgium External links
* [http://www.comune.arona.no.it Town Hall] of Arona.
* [http://www.arona.net/ Arona.net] , a private portal.
* [http://www.aronanelweb.it/ AronanelWeb] , history and events of the city.
* [http://www.discoverlakemaggiore.com/arona.asp Discover Arona] , Local Information
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