Macugnaga
Macugnaga ( Walser German Magganaa ) is a municipality with 586 inhabitants (as at 31 December 2012) in the Italian province of Verbano -Cusio -Ossola (VB ), Region Piedmont. The neighboring municipalities are Alagna, Carcoforo, Ceppo Morelli and Rima San Giuseppe.
Geography
The highest hamlet, Pecetto, situated on 1'327 meters above sea level. Level, the lowest elevation, Pestarena, located on 1,075 m above sea level. M.. Macugnaga lies in the valley of the Valle Anzasca ( Walser German Vischpertal ) in a classic glacial trough valley, which was formed by the mighty glaciers of Monte Rosa Massif and its northern foothills and is dominated by huge moraines in the upper part.
The municipality covers an area of 98 km ², with a maximum altitude of 4,618 m above sea level. M. ( Monte Rosa, Grenzgipfel next to the in- Switzerland Dufour peak with 4,634 m above sea level. M. ). The Margherita Hut, the highest building in Europe, situated in the municipality.
The community consists inter alia of the districts Pestarena ( Walser German In Mattu ), Borca ( Walser German Zer Burfuggu ), Motto ( Walser German Uf dem Biil ), Staffa ( Walser German in d Schtapfu ), Chiesa vecchia ( Walser German Zer altu Chilchu or Duorf ), Opaco ( walser German In Ääbi d ) Ripa ( walser German U d Riifu ) and Pecetto ( walser German Zer Tannu ). Total there are 19 fractions of which share four in two more.
The main livelihood of the population is tourism today.
History and Language
Macugnaga is an old Walser settlement, which in the 12th century by the Swiss Saas Valley (Valais) from settled and has preserved until the 20th century their centuries-long, distinct cultural stability. Pestarena is first attested in 1291 in a document ( Peza Saltaneria ), Motta in 1361, 1373 and Pecetto Borca 1458th
From the 19th century as a result of mining in the lower municipal area and in the 20th century as a result of fascism, tourism and the modern networked lifestyle the community was largely linguistically Italianised. The Titschu called local dialect, a variant of the highly Alemannic Walser German, dying out with the generation of about octogenarian. Consistent witnesses of Walsertums are several monuments in the block house style, but these are afflicted in all districts of modern, not always sensitive integrated hotel buildings.
The dialect can be found documented in Linguistic Atlas of German Switzerland, the Swiss Idiotikon and Max Weibels The popular tradition in the Walser colony Macugnaga ( Novara ), Basel 1985 ( writings of the Swiss Folklore Society, Volume 70).
Patron saint of the village is St. Bernard.
Attractions
- Heritage Museum (Museo Casa Walser Alts Walserhüüs Van Zer Borfuggu ): in the coming 17th centuries parsonage more than 650 objects can be visited, which tell of the everyday life of the Walser population at home and at work.
- Mountain Museum: exhibition of objects from the past of climbing around Macugnaga. In two sections in particular the history of mountain guides and the smugglers are treated.