Viggiù
Encyclopedia
Viggiù is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Varese
in the Italian
region Lombardy
, located about 50 km northwest of Milan
and about 8 km northeast of Varese
, on the border with Switzerland. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,148 and an area of 9.3 km².
The municipality of Viggiù contains the frazione
(subdivision) Baraggia.
Viggiù borders the following municipalities: Arcisate
, Besano
, Bisuschio
, Cantello
, Clivio
, Meride
(Switzerland), Saltrio
.
Many churches are enriched by the works of local artists. In the heart of the town lies Villa Borromeo (municipal property), an elegant late-neoclassical building, adorned with a nice green area, making it ideal for daily excursions of viggiutesi. The villa, with a C plan is an open courtyard facing Via Roma. It is delimited by a light colonnade, in the central part, forming a sort of semicircle to facilitate the view. The part of the building facing the park has a very linear design, the main entrance is decorated with an austere portico supported by heavy Tuscan columns. The stable (now the Museum of Picasass) which rises in the park has a circular form and its walls are decorated with horse heads in terracotta over this building. The ancient orangery, which since 2007 has been housing the Museum of nineteenth century Viggiutese Sculpture, is featuring works by: Angelo Bottinelli, Antonio Bottinelli, Luigi Buzzi Leone, Giuseppe Buzzi Leone, Antonio Argenti, Giosuè Argenti.The villa is currently used for impromptu art exhibitions organized during summer.
The complex of the Enrico Butti Museum consists of several collections of works by famous viggiutese sculptors such as Enrico Butti, Giacomo Buzzi Reschini, Nando Conti, Luigi Bottinelli, Vincenzo Cattò, Gottardo Freschetti and Ettore Cedraschi.
Finally the Vidisello Cascina, located atop a small hill, is characterized by cultivated terraces. It seems that this structure has arisen on the ruins of an ancient Roman camp and is surveyed in the cadastre of Maria Theresa of Austria. Owned by the Buzzi family, the current structure has a "U" type structure with an inner courtyard, where arcades and galleries dominate: a testimony of its specific connection with farming activities. Beautiful frescoes decorate the walls of the courtyard below.
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:...
(municipality) 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....
in the Italian
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...
region 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...
, located about 50 km northwest of 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 ,...
and about 8 km northeast of Varese
Varese
Varese is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.- Geography :...
, on the border with Switzerland. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,148 and an area of 9.3 km².
The municipality of Viggiù contains the frazione
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
(subdivision) Baraggia.
Viggiù borders the following municipalities: Arcisate
Arcisate
Arcisate is a town and comune located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy....
, Besano
Besano
Besano is a town and comune located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy....
, Bisuschio
Bisuschio
Bisuschio is a town and comune located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy....
, Cantello
Cantello
Cantello is a comune in the Province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 45 km northwest of Milan and about 4 km east of Varese, on the border with Switzerland...
, Clivio
Clivio
Clivio is a comune in the Province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 50 km northwest of Milan and about 10 km northeast of Varese, on the border with Switzerland...
, Meride
Meride
Meride is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.-History:Meride is first mentioned in 852 as Melede. In 1430 it was mentioned as Merede....
(Switzerland), Saltrio
Saltrio
Saltrio is a comune in the Province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 50 km northwest of Milan and about 9 km northeast of Varese, on the border with Switzerland...
.
Monuments and places of interest
Numerous are the art treasures of Viggiù, among which the old towncentre, which is unique. Viggiù is immediately recognizable for the sometimes largerly open courtyards; originally they were factories, where the stone was cut and shaped. Viggiù is also called "the land of picasass" (the land of stonecutter) as during the old times walking among its streets, you could hear the ringing of hammers cutting marble stones.Many churches are enriched by the works of local artists. In the heart of the town lies Villa Borromeo (municipal property), an elegant late-neoclassical building, adorned with a nice green area, making it ideal for daily excursions of viggiutesi. The villa, with a C plan is an open courtyard facing Via Roma. It is delimited by a light colonnade, in the central part, forming a sort of semicircle to facilitate the view. The part of the building facing the park has a very linear design, the main entrance is decorated with an austere portico supported by heavy Tuscan columns. The stable (now the Museum of Picasass) which rises in the park has a circular form and its walls are decorated with horse heads in terracotta over this building. The ancient orangery, which since 2007 has been housing the Museum of nineteenth century Viggiutese Sculpture, is featuring works by: Angelo Bottinelli, Antonio Bottinelli, Luigi Buzzi Leone, Giuseppe Buzzi Leone, Antonio Argenti, Giosuè Argenti.The villa is currently used for impromptu art exhibitions organized during summer.
The complex of the Enrico Butti Museum consists of several collections of works by famous viggiutese sculptors such as Enrico Butti, Giacomo Buzzi Reschini, Nando Conti, Luigi Bottinelli, Vincenzo Cattò, Gottardo Freschetti and Ettore Cedraschi.
Finally the Vidisello Cascina, located atop a small hill, is characterized by cultivated terraces. It seems that this structure has arisen on the ruins of an ancient Roman camp and is surveyed in the cadastre of Maria Theresa of Austria. Owned by the Buzzi family, the current structure has a "U" type structure with an inner courtyard, where arcades and galleries dominate: a testimony of its specific connection with farming activities. Beautiful frescoes decorate the walls of the courtyard below.
St. Stephen Parish Church
The original building, in Romanesque style, was erected at the limit of a crown of houses, which constituted a large and high amphitheater facing the Valceresio area. The church was enlarged in the fifteenth century to reach its current size, three wide aisles, divided into four bays, separated by six columns at the ends of Saltrio monolithic stone and surmounted by capitals.Notable residents
- Gianni DanziGianni DanziGianni Danzi was an Italian Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Territorial Prelature of Loreto. He was born in Viggiù, Varese province, Italy. Danzi died in October 2007 at the age of 67 at his parents' house in Barasso after a long fight with cancer.-External links:*...
(1940–2007), Roman Catholic ArchbishopArchbishopAn archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Territorial Prelature of LoretoLoreto (AN)Loreto is a hilltown and comune of the Italian province of Ancona, in the Marche. It is mostly famous as the seat of the Basilica della Santa Casa, a popular Catholic pilgrimage site.-Location:... - Sandy CaneSandy CaneSandra "Sandy" Maria Cane is an Italian politician who is currently the mayor of Viggiù comune....
, (1961 - ), the first black mayor of Italy elected in June 2009.