Canzo

Canzo(Italian:[ˈkantso];Lombard:Canz,Lombard:[ˈkãː(t)s];locally:Lombard:[ˈkaːnts]) is acomune(municipality) of the Italianprovince of Como. It is the last town north of the historicalBrianzaregion ofLombardy, capital of theLake ComoTriangle community and a regional tourism destination.
It has 5,192 citizens and an area of 11.8 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi), a density of 445 persons/km(1,100/sq mi).
Its history began in the 5th century BC, when it was founded byCeltsandGaulishInsubres. Prehistoric settlements date to theMesolithicperiod and theCopper Age. The name of the town comes from theLatinCantius, itself from theCelticroot meaningedge.
It is known inLombardyfor its mountains, particularly theCorni di Canzo(Canzo's Horns) and theCornizzolo.The surroundings are rich in watercourses and springs.Lago del Segrinois aglacial lakefed by underground springs.Canzo hostsBIOFERA, one of the mainorganic farmingevents in Italy.
According to astatisticof the majorfinancial newspaperof Italy,Canzo is a leader place ofhobbiesandsecurityand the 1st borough forsocial vitalityin theItalian mountains.
The first settlements were betweenCornizzolo, Mount Raj andSegrino Lake. This site remained inhabited until the 1950s, under the later names ofCanzaandSitt di Budracch. The laterCelticand firstRomanfoundation were transferred to the valley under theCorni di Canzo(Canzo's Horns), formed by the course of the river Ravella.
The ancient town was on the right side of this river. The oldest extant streets are:Lunaa(from aCelticroot meaning "swampland" was nearest to the river);Casargh(probably fromCasearium, place for production of cheese and milk-derivatives) was where people lived andSumbich(summum vicum– the elevated camp) was where the Roman cohorts settled.
The presence of Roman soldiers and their integration within theInsubric/Lepontian (partially Orobic) population is still evidenced by toponyms such asCastelmarte("the Castle ofMars", theRoman godof war) and Martesana (possibly the root of the cult ofSt. Michael, as in thelazzarettonear to the springs of the river Valett). Evidence of pre-Roman cults is found at mountain sites, including stones dedicated to propitiatoryfertility ritesand to female divinities of the waters (seewater sprite).
A legend says that theChurch of Milanwas founded bySt. Barnabas. This is commonly rejected by historians (because apparentlySt. Barnabasnever leftCyprusafterSt. Paul's departure),archaeologicalproof of a Christian presence inMilanduringapostolic timeshas been found. The conversion of rural areas came after that of the cities: missionaries were sent into the country where they founded religious colleges calledpievethat supplied priests and deacons for the countryside.
From the 3rd to the 5th centuries, Christianity was consolidated across Canzo. A church was dedicated toSt. Stephen. Another product of this period was widespread veneration ofSt. Maternus, one of the bishops under whom the area had been converted. During the 3rd century, BishopMonasorganized the diocese.
At this time Canzo probably belonged toIncino'spieve, but later theCurtis Casalensis(or Canzo's Team) confederation was established and retained relative political autonomy throughout theMiddle Ages. This pieve or confederation of communes comprised the villages ofCaslino,Castelmarte,Proserpio,Eupilio,Longoneand somefrazioni(hamlets) of the currentcommuneofErba, with Canzo as its capital.
The Old Town of Canzo preserves the sites of the ancient communal and pieval system: the seat of the governor and of the federal jails were in the street later namedCuntrada dal pretòri; the communal assembly was in a place that gave its name to theCuntrada dal cuèrc(street of the porch); a fort, later occupied by the Spanish rulers in their first phase, was probably not far from thepretòri, in the street now known asTurèta(little tower street); another tower was on an elevated site looking towardCrannand the little valley in front of it.
The coat of arms of Corte di Casale was similar to others of the zone (such as pieveVallassina), with diagonal white and red stripes, forming peaks with the top upward and the imperial eagle at the top.
During these centuries the rule of Corte di Casale continued.  On 27 April 1162, in an act signed inPavia,Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, recognized that the possessions of St. Peter's Abbey (built on the east side of mountCornizzolo) included some fields in Canzo. Contemporaneous documents attest that other acreages formally belonged toMonza's chapter; one of them was rented by Nicola Prina. Most of the toponyms remained unchanged until modern times, such asGèpp longhandRavèl(a). The documents testify to the limitation of the feudal power of thedukesandarchbishopsofMilanin favour of the communal autonomy of the Corte di Casale, until 1414. This is the reason why this pieve had a different name from the others of western Lombardy: "corte" is the term for a system of families, farms and possessions established from below, rather than a district established by a superior power.
In the 14th century Canzo's history was dominated by the life of the Blessed Mir, ahermitandpilgrimrecognized as a saint by the population of Canzo and by those he visited during his travels. He was born in Canzo, in the mountainous frazione ofSegunt Alp,to the family of Paredis (meaningrelatives), probably a hybrid ofWelshwith the local people who settled on Canzo's Horns and still widely present. After the death of his elderly parents, he was educated by an older hermit who lived in the frazione named Scarenna. In Canzo he served as a spiritual father and peacekeeper, living in the mountains near the springs of the River Ravella, where a church was posthumously dedicated to him. He dedicated a long period to a walking pilgrimage in total poverty to Rome, where he is said to have visited the Pope and (possibly) SaintBridget of Sweden. He then returned to Canzo, passing by the Lomellina region nearPavia, where he worked his first attested miracle, summoning rain by his prayers. He worked the same miracle in Canzo when he started toward the north side ofLake Como(where his mother was born). He died inSorico, where another church was dedicated to him. He may have belonged to the newborn movement ofSt. Francis of Assisi.
On 7 July 1414,Filippo Maria Visconti, duke of Milan, brought the former Corte di Casale under the temporal jurisdiction of theArchbishop, and it ceased to be an autonomous authority. This happened with the consent of the men of Canzo, who swore fidelity to the legitimate Archbishop,Giovanni Viscontiand provided him a refuge after he was forced to flee by a pretender to his office. Thus Canzo became the seat of the Archbishop and his court for at least five years.
Canzo's economy had been based on wool weaving, but under itsvassalshipto the Negronis family, nicknamed "Missaglia", it became the official source of iron for theDuchy of Milan's army, enriching the town. Two schools were established. In this period the commune devised acoat of arms(which had previously used that of the Corte di Casale): a blue field (also found in Prina's coat of arms) with golden stars and hooves for iron transformation, shaped like beehives.
WhileLeonardo da Vinciwas paintingThe Last SupperinMilan, the artistic wave of theRenaissancewas represented in Canzo by wood carver Giovanni da Canzo and his colleagues Giovanni Ambrogio da Longone, Cristoforo da Proserpio and Francesco Vignarca. They were employed in the construction of thepipe organfor theDuomo of Milan. Other wood artists of the former Squadra di Canzo were the Contis from Mariaga and Stefano de Bernardi from Caslino.
The wealth of Lombardy attracted the armies of France andAustriainto a lengthy battle there in the late 15th and early 16th century. In this period Niccolò Pelliccione, the Canzese captain of afree company, fought under the sight ofFrancesco SforzaandGian Giacomo Medici. In 1526 Canzo was the theatre of a clash between his company and thearquebusierssent byAntonio de Leyva. After the decisiveBattle of Pavia, the Duchy of Milan became a possession of theHabsburgs. Canzo became part of "the empire where the sun never sets" (after the conquest of the Americas). The new rulers did little to improve the economy, instead imposing taxes to support their wars. Spanish soldiers had a base in Canzo. Three tales of rebellion against Spanish rule by Canzo's population have been handed down from this period. One tells about a man who became a hero,Mornerin, whose name is preserved as the name of a street in the Old Town.
Canzo became a centre of iron production for Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Thereafter Canzo became an art centre known for itsquality of life. In 1728 the construction of thebaroqueParochialBasilicastarted, expanding an existing church. Its realistic woodencrucifixwas praised bySt. Charles Borromeoof Milan during his pastoral visit. The church displayed marble confessionals, three monumental marble statues by Elia Vincenzo Buzzi (an artist of theDuomo of Milan), a triumphal arch andfrescosrepresenting theTrinity,St. Stephenand thefour evangelists. It also had three portals, two pulpits, two sacristies, many marble balusters and severalreliquarybusts. In the 19th century it was enriched by its pipe organ (1828) provided by Serassi from Bergamo and by the mural pictures of David Beghè. On 21 April, the pope enlarged the titles granted to the parish, giving its vicars the titles ofprovostandmonsignoreand encouraging the Archbishop of Milan,Andrea Carlo Ferrari, to revive Corte di Casale's rule in matters of ecclesiastical administration. Two important painters of the later 19th century, Carlo Gerosa andGiovanni Segantini, lived and worked in Canzo. Artistic chapels and monumental graves of the 18th and 19th century are visible in the cemetery. Poets and writers likeAlessandro ManzoniandCarlo Portawere inspired by this place during visits to their friends'villas.
Canzo became one of the major sites of silk production in the Western world, led by the Marques Crivelli. Spinning mills belonging to the Gavazzi and especially the Verza families were central to this development. Entire families moved there fromBresciaandVenetoas manpower for these factories, receiving an education in the small workers' city created by Giuseppe and Alessandro Verza.
In the 19th century the Vallassinese Bank arose from the capital of the Prina family and silk worker Magno Magni who pioneered the Italian chemical industry. InVicenzahe founded the society that later invented commercial plastics.
The strong moral ideas ofGiuseppe Parini, educated in this district, encouraged economist Verri to explain the laws ofsupply and demandand elaborate the system of modern revenue service, later adopted across the globe. He was a precursor of bothAdam Smithandmarginalism.Philosopher Beccaria published his theory about "punishment as reeducation", proposing the abolition ofcapital punishment. The linguistic work ofManzoniand the syndical/political work ofFilippo Turati, born in Canzo in 1857, contributed to the moral unification of Italy that followed the 1861 political change. Many Canzese soldiers participated in the unification under the orders ofGiuseppe Garibaldi. During the 1848 revolution against Austria, Duroni, a patriot from Canzo, was the first to hoist theItalian flagon the highest spire of theDuomo di Milano.
In 1904, deputyFilippo Turati's party's support in Parliament toGiovanni Giolitti's Italian Government led to the approval of important innovations: laws for the protection of female and young workers, on work accidents, illness, old age, data collection/analysis and acceptance of cooperative societies. In 1915, Italy entered theWorld War Iin alliance with France and Great Britain, reconquering the Italian territories of Trentino and Friuli, then occupied by the Austro-Hungarian empire. Many Canzeses died and a monument to them was built in Garibaldi square. Patriotism was strong just after the war. In 1924 veterans' club Gruppo Alpini Canzo was founded, serving as a major cultural, recreational and social feature. It is also involved in ministering to the natural environment.
Theautarkystimulated the creation of many urban vegetable gardens in Canzo. AfterMussolini's alliance withHitler, Italy enacted race laws, but the population of Canzo, like those of many other Italian cities, acted to protect their Jewish neighbors. Orlando Prina, official of theAlpini, served in theGreek campaign, then returned to Canzo after the armistice. He worked clandestinely in theResistanceagainst German occupation, in spite of the presence of two headquarters of SS corps. After the Nazi's retreat he organized the new Commune, providing fordisplaced persons(sfollati) bombed out of their homes. The Canzese welcomed those searching for refuge. A moral example was given by parish priest don Pozzoli, when he assisted deserters destined for execution just a few days before Liberation.
After the war, the educated class of Canzo restored its quality of life, adding infrastructure and restarting production. Despite a national battle between Catholics and Marxists, in Canzo moderate and peacefulfreedom of thoughtwas maintained, together with honest collaboration in social matters. The population grew and its density increased, so new districts and houses were built, especially in the plain of the River Ravella, in the areas known asParisùnandGerètt. New enterprises were opened, such as the Porroni stone carving company (which created the capitals for Como's Portici Plinio), and manufacturing industries, such as iron scissors. Canzo became Italy's centre of this kind of production together with the nearby village ofPremana. Every street had at least one scissor maker.
At the same time sensibility to nature grew. In particular,Lake Segrinowas protected by ceasing an internationalwater skiingcompetition, at the expense of immediate financial advantage.
In the last quarter of the century Canzo became a centre for organic farming. In 1984 the first example of what would become theBIOFERAbegan.In 1987, the oldest of Italy's three major "organic festivals" launched.
Historic buildings were restored, including St. Francis church, St. Mir's hermitage and Villa Meda. A new chapel was built by the Hunters' Association near the site of the hamlet where Blessed Mir was born.
In the 2000s the Alpini founded a polyphonic chorus, and a solidarity fund was established for people touched by the international financial crisis.
The borough of Canzo is situated in front of the Valassina valley, beginning at the foot of theCorni di Canzomountain, so called (Corni meaning Horns) for its crest, as bifurcate and rocky, ash-grey, in the shape and color of two horns. After the plain of Erba, Canzo is at the confluence of the two small valleys formed by Mount Barzaghino, Mount Scioscia and Mount Cornizzolo. The first is the site ofLake Segrino, formed by glacial movements. The second hosts the town ofCaslino. An intermittent spring rises from the side of Corni di Canzo and flows into the riverLambro, whose waters flow south to theBrianzaregion, passMilanand reach thePo River. Elevations range from 360 to 1,371 m above sea level.
Geographically, Canzo is roughly the centre of the Larian peninsula (or Lake Como Triangle). The land lies between the two ramifications of Lake Como. One leads toComoand one goes straight south and, within the boundaries ofLecco, transforms itself into the second part of theAddaRiver. The third side of the triangle consists of many small lakes, of whichLake Segrinois smallest. The mountains of the triangle are pre-Alpine, topped by Mount San Primo at 1,686 m.
The classification of the Larian peninsula's mountain range is: Western Alps > North-Western Alps > Lugano Pre-Alps > Como Pre-Alps > Larian Triangle. The chain is divided into three groups: the MountPalanzonegroup;Mount San Primo's massif (with sub-group Oriolo) and the Corni group, comprising theCorni di Canzo(with the surrounding mountains) and the sub-group ofMount Barroand Mount Crocione (situated over the boundaries of the Larian peninsula). Other mountains are MountBollettone,Mount Moregallo, Pizzo dell'Asino, Mount Raj, Mount Boletto, Punta Tre Termini and Mount Broncino.
The terrain is mainly composed oflimestonestrata, rich in caves and caverns, the most famous of which is the "Lead Hole" (Bus del Piomb, Buco del Piombo in Italian). A particular characteristic of this area is the presence of isolatederratic boulders, pushed down by glaciers that inprehistoryoccupied the Valmasino and Valmalenco valleys. Some were excavated by the primitive population to make tombs ("massi avelli").
Canzo lies on a boundary between three climatic typologies:continental climateof Brianza,alpine climateproduced by the presence of mountains over 1,500 m, andMediterranean climateof Lake Como.
Rains are abundant, exceeding 2 m a year. The rainfall is caused by theStau effectthat occurs within depressions, causing strong southern winds and forcing air to rise along the slopes of mountains and to release its humidity as precipitation. During the winter precipitation often falls as snow. Winter is a relatively drier season, while the other three seasons have a uniformly high humidity, with the exception of the dry month of July. Fog may appear for a few days a year.
The most frequent winds are from the West. During the spring and autumn, southern winds are responsible for massive precipitation. During winter, winds from the north or east bring dry and cold days; sometimes their interaction with wet tepid masses from the Atlantic or Mediterranean creates the conditions for heavy snowfall.Foehnis a fall or winter wind that can provoke sudden higher temperature. The main local winds are:Breva dal Segrin(from the south),Breva da Caslin(from the west),Vent dal Sant Prim(from the north), andAriasc di Alp(from the east).
Summer is warm, with temperatures around 30 °C. Winters are cold on the whole, and by night the temperature goes below 0 °C, but the protective effect of surrounding mountains and the mitigating effect of Lake Como make the winter cold less severe, with temperatures only a few degrees below 0. During spring and autumn temperatures vary suddenly, but generally are moderate.
The flora is composed of oaks, chestnut trees, ironwoods, alders, elms, maples, spruce and firs, with a particularly rich underbrush: strawberries, blueberries and mushrooms. Veronica is relatively warm and suitable for cultivation of grapevines.
The rocks of Lake Segrino arecalcareous, produced by the gradual solidification of an ancientseabed. Afterwards, with the continents' geological motion and with the push of Africa against the European plate, the rocks were raised into mountains. "Flutes" are signs of the channels of sediment flow that formed these rocks. Lake Segrino was appreciated byLeonardo da Vinci, and by the Italian writersIppolito NievoandAntonio Fogazzaro, who set some of their romances there. At the bridge calledPunt d'Inach, the habitat is rich in plant and animal species. In June and August waterlilies bloom on the surface and a community of reed-maces diffuses on the shores. In a place calledSchiuntina, on the eastern side of the lake, water birds such as coots, gallinules, wild ducks, herons,night herons,cannareccione, dunnocks, nightingales and bitterns live.Emis orbicularisis the indigenousgreen turtle. Myriophylla in the deeper water offer food for birds and a nesting site for perch, jackfish, rudd,savettas, tench, carp and eel. In late summer, myriophylla bloom on the surface. The shelter in the middle of the road offers a panoramic view of the lake's western part. This lake is one of the few habitats of theLataste frog(protected by the EU and UN). The former presence of the sea is revealed by fossils ofradiolariansandammonites. TheFons Sacer, or sacred spring, the main underground source of Lake Segrino's water, gave its name to the entire lake. In this part of the lake common toads nest, and grebes (or loons) swim with their joeys and nightingales sing. In the air are kestrels (or windhovers), hawks and buzzards and eagles. This lake is the clearest and least polluted lake in Europe, due to the absence of influent rivers and the advanced plant-based purification system installed on the northern side. The north end of the lake is marked by the Romanmilestone, on which a two sided niche has been constructed, a memorial of the time (in the early 19th century, during the so-calledLittle Ice Age) when a carter fell asleep and his oxen carried his wagon, loaded with stone, onto the ice-covered lake, but the ice did not break.
The River Lambro rises in the mountains of the Mt. San Primo group, not far fromMadonna del Ghisallo. The springs arekarsticand their nameMenarestameans "flows and stops". They rise from a particular stone siphon, situated underground in calcareous rock. Every eight minutes, as observed byPliny the Elder, the water fills the siphon and then flows out, producing an intermittent stream for the village ofMagreglio.
The first affluent of Lambro is called Lambretto (coming from Crezzo). It enters Lambro by the village ofLasnigo. It then runs faster and "cuts" the Vallassina valley, leading toAsso, where it drives three old flour mills. The Vallassina ends when it receives the flow of the River Foce (coming from Valbrona), which descends in an unexpected waterfall that also marks the beginning of the commune of Canzo.
In Canzo the peripheral course of the River Lambro is an important source of irrigation for the Canzese plain frazione of Terra Rossa and for the Canzese part of Scarenna, extending to the edge of Caslino. In Canzo, as in many boroughs of Brianza, the wordLambarbecame a synonym of "river". Its clarity is proverbial. "Clear asLambro" is a common saying. Its waters are relatively fresh and constant, compared with those of Ravella.
Ravella is a stream from the southern side of theCorni di Canzo, at about 1,000 m altitude, on the lower edge of Colma dei Corni, where glacial clay crops out from under a mantle of alluvial sediment. It flows down into the Old Town of Canzo. Its basin, lengthened in an east-west direction, is bounded by Cranno's crest, Colletta, Corni, Colma dei Corni (north), and by Maschèrpa and Mt. Prasanto (east). To the south, thebasinof Ravella includes parts of Mount Raj, Mount Cornizzolo and Pesora. Its affluents are the small rivers of St. Mir and of Valett, the last flowing down from Pesora and entering Ravella not far from St. Francis' church, passing between theconvent's lands and thecurt di Sant, flowing under an ancient bridge and entering Ravella between the former Prina and Arcellazzi palaces. The River Ravella, in its upper course, often flows through steep limestone canyons, resulting in small waterfalls and with characteristic "giants' mufflers", produced by the action of glaciers, parallel to theanticlineandsynclinefolds forming the structure of the Lombard pre-Alps.
The environment is completely wild as far as Gajum, and is made up ofcoppices; the quality of its waters is demonstrated by the presence of streamtrout, sometimes also visible under the town bridges in Canzo. The view of the river valley is dominated by the promontory namedCepp da l'AnguaorScalfìn dal diaul, in the shape of an enormous heel, while on the right side you can see, although covered by vegetation, the terraces of the moraines, wherePrim Alp,Segunt AlpandTerz Alpare built. A geological nature trail traces the valley, whose attractions are the green rocks ("massi erratici") ofserpentiteandserizz. After passing the town, the River Ravella flows through the plain of Lambro, and in the frazione ofCastelmarte, also called Ravella, it flows into the Lambro River.
The springs of Gajum at 485 m are a source of quality drinking water, in the past bottled by a local cooperative. Their water is distributed freely to the local population from two fountains, one near to the source and one in Villa Meda. The springs have been a famous resort for excursionists since the 19th century. Tables and chairs were carved from rocks, built by early tourists. In the woods above the source an ancient chapel is dedicated toOur Lady of Sorrows(Madòna di Sètt Duluur). The springs are at the crossroads of theAlppath and St. Mir's path. Their name comes from the localLombardwordgaumm/ga'ym/ (from Celticga-, womb), meaning "husk, walnut husk or hull", because a walnut tree overlooked the main fountain. Its nuts fell into the basin of water, floating on it and when ripe, coloring it black. The water attracts people from southernBrianzaand theProvince of Milanto take quantities home with them.
Villa Meda is composed of two neoclassical courtyards. St. Francis square features buildings from many architectural periods, particularly theBaroque church, thecurt da Pinòla(a medieval poor courtyard), and the ramparts and arch of Villa Meda.
The chapel of St. Stephen's church hosts relics and a Renaissance crucifix.
The area has two war memorials. City Hall was designed as a modernBrolettowith a massive freestone civil clock towerlinked to the ancient Palazzo Tentorio and its park.Old Town is formed by streets calledcuntrada, of different ages. Structures feature a variety of portals and other particulars such asmullionedwindows, ogives, ribbings, tower-shaped garrets and the Old Theatre.
The surviving 18th-century silk factory is informally known asFilandùn(with the annexed Villa Verza). Other factories include the Pellizzoni factory and the spinning mill near to the water hammer, now a YouthOratoryand Park.
Nearby land is terraced with farm cottages namedFabrica,Cà Quarantina,Cà DugliaandCà Miglia,Cà Bianca. Notable sights include the old market's facade andporticoand the block of houses facing the church. The church's main part is now the Convent of the Nuns, but in the past was composed of notables' palaces (generally 18th century businessmen).
Notable villas include Villa Zucchelli, Villa Conti-Ponti, Villa Raverta, Villa Arcellazzi, Villa Gavazzi.
Local lifestyles include a reproduction of Milanese living, as in cafés such as Albergo Canzo, Ponti and Citterio. Neoclassical villas span the last three centuries, especially near the boundaries of the southern train station. The stations themselves are neoclassical, with Liberty influences, built around 1900. Another major building of this style is the Teatro Sociale (Social Theatre), built at the end of the 18th century (during Austrian domination) by the architects and artists ofMilan'sLa Scala. Many palaces in the Old Town preserve on their walls accurate engravings and the typicalochrecolour. The Magno Magni villa (1903–1906), built into a park extending fromMirabèlaandGrimèll, is a product of the architect Pietro Fenoglio, in a neo-medieval style; the exterior is characterized by its Vicentine stones and by the garden, which contains structures such as medieval-style towers surrounding an elaborate interior. Another style is that of "new urbanization", calledParisùnorParisone.
Parco Barni is the former park of a rich family, separated from the Commune afterWorld War II. It is surrounded by a wall. The original gate is on Via Volta, while two other gates are on Via Roma and on Piazzale Remo Sordo. The interior presents many features of the old villas' parks, such as hiding places, artificial lakes and rivers, and exotic or monumental woods. Its western gate is near to the southern railway station, while the other two gates are near Garibaldi Square. A hidden door links the park with the Social Theatre's yard.
Parco Giochi (Games Park) is situated in front of the new market square, named PiazzaGiovanni XXIII. It contains a game area for children and a sports village with soccer, tennis, basketball and volleyball fields and a café-restaurant-pizzeria. Nearby PiazzettaTuratiis a small park adjoining the park of Villa Meda. Other parks are in the Parisone area, containing two soccer and athletics stadia. The local teams are US Canzese for the former and ATL for the latter. A children's courtyard, the "Campetto", is furnished for basketball and free play. TheJesus with ChildrenChapel and the Holy Cross Chapel are there.
The official language is Italian. About 25% of the Canzese people also speak theLombard language. Other languages areArabic,RomanianandRussian.
Local pronunciation of Italian is similar to that in Milan, with a prevalence of open vowels inclosed sillables, as inquèsto(as against Standard Italianquésto, "this (one)") ormurètto(as against Standard Italianmurétto, "little wall"), the wide use of voiced /dz/ instead of Standard Italian /ts/, as in /ˈdzukːero/ instead of /ˈtsukːero/ ("sugar"), and the softening ofgeminates. In common with Standard Italian, it strongly distinguishes voiceless from voiced consonants. It is unlike Central and Southern pronunciations, which are unbalanced toward voiced ones.
Due to the different pronunciation ofLombard, the people of Canzo do not show the typical Milanese nasal accent. Other regional pronunciations of Italian are also present (especially those ofCentral ItalyandApulia), along withVenetian,NeapolitanandSicilian languagesin a family context.
Latinis also used in plaques and inscriptions and in liturgical and academic contexts. Almost all schools in the region teach English as a first foreign language, with French, German or Spanish as a second. Knowledge ofAncient Greekis widespread. It is taught inliceo classicosecondary schools and because of the presence of Byzantine Greek fixed formulas in theAmbrosian Riteof the Catholic liturgy. Traditional songs inPiedmontese,VenetianandFriulianare sung.
The local speech is calledCanzésorCanzées, a dialect of theInsubric or Western Lombard languageIt is recognized byUNESCOas one of the two branches of Lombard. The central variety of Western Lombard is theMilanese dialect, which is used as alingua francafor all Western Lombard speakers. The Canzés dialect culturally belongs to theBrianzöö dialect's family, as influenced by 19th century Milanese,ComascoandLecchese dialects. Thesubstratumof Canzo's primitive population further separates it from other Brianzöö dialects. For example, in phonetics you can see the prevalence of the vowel /a/ instead of Milanese /e/ or common Brianzoeu /u/. Its lexicon is conservative in comparison with surrounding dialects and modern Milanese. Its grammar employs a wide variety of registers, e.g.noble(similar to Old Milanese, but with strong idioms and conservative pronunciation),commercial(with many influences, especially from Lecchese and southern Brianzöö),peasant(prevalence of idioms and few similarities to Erba and Asso dialects), andalpée(with proper phonetic and lexical idioms). A major difference from Milanese pronunciation is the absence of vowel nasalization, rendered in Canzés with thevelarnasal consonant, and the conservation of /ts/ instead of Milanese /s/, as in the pronunciation of thetoponymCanz, along with the absence of Milanese half-geminates. Like the other conservative Brianzoeu dialects, Canzés has a certain number of original Lombard terminations in /tʃ/ (spelled as "cc"): typically,lacc("milk"),frècc("cold"),tècc("roof"),nòcc("night"),tücc("everybody").
Theatre troupes includeFilodrammatica CanzeseandMobeel. The Social Theatre hosts theatre companies acting in Italian, Venetian, Lombard, Neapolitan, German languages. Every year on the last Thursday of January Cumpagnia di Nost'sGiubianais presented in the streets, with a traditional script in Lombard.
Orchestras and bands includeAmicinbanda,Corale e Coretto S. Stefano,Coro e Orchestra MM. M. e C. Colombo,Coro Alpini CanzoandQuijcacanta. Operetta outdoor concerts take place in Parco Barni.
Live-music genres that are part of the town's cultural heritage include Alpine Polyphonic Chant, Lyric Music,Ambrosian Chantand Baroque music.
Canzese painters includeSalvatore Fiume, Testa, Raverta, Cremonini (two paintings by whom are sited outdoors in Canzo) and Gerosa.Giovanni Segantinipainted some of his works there.
The masterpieces of Canzese literature in the Lombard language are"In ucasiun"by Tiziano Corti, for poetry (monolingual), and"Al föch"by Cinzia Valli, for prose (bilingual with Italian). The former is a collection of circumstance poems, including one bilingual poem (Un restauro preciso e sapiente...), while the latter is an essay on popular wisdom, based on the element of fire.
One of the most traditional events in Canzo is theGiubiana, which is celebrated on the last Thursday of January. It dates to theInsubric people(7th–2nd century BC) and consists of a propitiatory rite for the end of winter. Its name is derived fromJupiter, the Roman "translation" of an unknown Insubric god of spring. The rite immolates a puppet on a bonfire. The puppet carries all the evils of the past year (similar to the Hebrew "scapegoat"). During the last two millennia, the manifestation has absorbed other symbolic values, such as the renunciation of idols and the stigmatization of old age. It is diffused throughoutBrianza, theProvince of Vareseand some parts ofPiedmont. In Canzo this feast experienced a revival in the 1980s, thanks to the ethnological research of Cumpagnia di Nost; and in recent decades Canzo's Giubiana has been imitated by many ofBrianza's villages. The three aspects of the nighttime feast, held in the Old Town are:
In Villa Meda on the first weekend of SeptemberBIOFERAtakes place. It is one of the mainorganic farmingevents in Italy (with over 10,000 visitors) and a festival ofLombardculture. It began in 1988 as an evolution from the Festa di Nost (1983) by the Canzese association Cumpagnia di Nost.BIOFERAoffers organic food and drink, with exhibitors from across Europe. Historical, ethnological and geographical books are for sale. Other events include a dramatization laboratory, a ludoteque, performances of traditional songs and exhibitions, games, theatre shows and music laboratories for children. It has an area dedicated to handicrafts with environmentally compatible items, a refreshment area with both vegan and traditional cuisines, and a wellbeing area. Inside the fair free conferences on cultural or spiritual themes take place.
The oldest tourist event in Canzo is "Fera di üsei", started in 1963 by the Hunters' Association. It occurs in August, in the area of Piazzale Giovanni XXIII. It consists of a bird exposition, with exhibitors from all Europe. Hunting dog competitions, household pet shows and farm animals such as chicken and turkey. On the first morning a competition of singing birds takes place in Parco Barni. It greatly aided Canzo's tourist development in the second half of the 20th century, along with entertainment events of Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno, the local section of the Public Tourism Agency, now extinct (with the participation ofMike Bongiorno,Adriano Celentanoand other stars of the moment). It was later imitated by other towns and villages of Brianza, with minor fairs. Today it attracts people from across Lombardy.
In May, the religious feast of St. Mir takes place on 10 May (according to theMartyrologium Nocomiensis), 21 May (probably the day on which the first recognition of St. Mir's relics occurred) or the second Friday of the month. During the last few decades, the feast has been celebrated on Sunday, with a Mass in the parish church, in which the monastic community of St. Mirett participates. On that occasion, during an evening programme at the Social Theatre, a Committee composed of members of the Commune and of the parish awards a prize to a deserving resident. Every Thursday and Sunday in July and August, a Eucharist is celebrated in the mountain hermitage of St. Mir.
GruppoAlpiniCanzo organizes other public and tourist events, particularly the Chestnut festival in October–November and the meetings on MountCornizzolo, along with concerts of its Polyphonic Choir of Alpine songs. Fireworks, concerts, open-air dramas, comic shows are held during summer. Other yearly events are the Feast of the Volunteers (by SOS Canzo), the Patronal feast ofSt. Stephen(26 December), theMagg(in May, the carrying of a fir from the wood to the town by eighteen-year-olds), the Day of the Sun (Lughnasadh, the traditional men's day and celebration of the agriculture of the mountains) and theCargà i Alp(route in the mountains, recalling the ancient practice of annually moving animals to the upper stables).
The cuisine of northernBrianzais based upon maize (used inpolentaand cakes), Italian vegetables (used especially inminestraandminestrone), pork (salamiis typical), wine (like that of Montevecchia),cheeses, milk and butter (or lard), rice (as inrisotto), game and freshwater fish, and other primary products. Canzo has a time-honoured tradition in salami and cold meat production; Canzo's wine, cultivated in theVeronicadistrict, is calledragett. Local chicken, cow, goat, rabbit and frogs are typical ingredients. Meals includecassoeula,tripe(busecca) andsalmì,carpioneor dry fish; various kinds of soup or broth, sometimes with rice. Birds are eaten with polenta; mushrooms also with polenta, or in a risotto.
Atypical Canzese dish based on mushrooms isfunghi trifolati. One kind of pasta is made with pumpkin instead of wheat flour. A sweet bread, calledpan meino, is characteristic of northern Brianza, along with a kind of fritter, namedparadèllin Canzo; fruit mustard is usual with meat. Native products featured in Canzo's dishes include roast throstles, little birds with polenta andpoccen de salsa e fongs secch. In theTerz Alpand mountainspulénta e laccand hard hot polenta in cold milk are favored.Coq au vinandboeuf à la modehave special forms there.Témpia cui scigeris the temple of a pig cooked in a soup of chickpeas, a dish forAll Souls' Day.
Canzo is famous for:
The prevalent and traditional religion of Canzo's population isRoman Catholicism.
Canzo has a deep heritage of religious witnesses. It is characterized by theCommunal,Ambrosian,Natural lawand St. Mir's spiritualities.
The main author of the Communal spirituality is Bonvesin de la Riva. One of his verses, transcribed in classic orthography reads:
This hymn is an exemplar of Ambrosian spirituality:
An example of Natural law doctrine is found in the Italian Constitution is:
Saint Mir served as an example of love for the poor. The rock on the River Ravella under which he slept is visible next to the path connecting St. Mir's hermitage toTerz Alp.
Place names help reveal the ethnological topography of the area, which concerns the conservation and analysis of the region'stoponomasticheritage. Some of these names are Celtic, some Latin, and other from Longobard, with a specificWestern Lombardpronunciation.
The Commune of Canzo and the Cumpagnia di Nost created three maps displaying the places of Canzo with their local languagetoponyms. The first map (Mapa di sitt) covers the communal territory and gives the names of the mountains and lesser peaks, of hunting or digging localities, of the springs and rocks, and of ancient main paths and oldfrazioni(hamlets). The second (Mapa di lööch) gives the toponymy of agricultural fields, while the third (Mapa dal paés vecc) portrays streets, quarters and remarkable places of the Old Town. Some of these areCèpp da l'Angua, aliasScalfìn dal Diaul, with a double (Celtic and Christian) denomination, theSass dal Prim Fiöö(stone of the first son), a trace of an ancient cult for successful delivery of children,Crann(a Celtic root meaning "hard"),Alpèt,Alp a vòlt,Repussìnand so on. Some famous fields in Canzo areTèra russa(Red Earth) andLagüsc(Little Lake);ParisùnandGerascia;CastèllandCà bianca;Grimèll,MirabèlaandCèpp;Cà Milia,Cà DuliaandCà növa(Càmeans "house" or "farmhouse").Cuntrada da San Mirètt,Cuntrada dal Cuèrc,Pretòri,Portacinées,Turèta,Bergamasca,Caravazzare a few examples of the Old Town's toponyms.
The oldest surnames of Canzo are Carpani, Masciadri, Pellizzoni, Ponti, Prina and Locatelli. The Carpani were one of the main families in the Corte de Casale administration, and have a house in Caslino; a castle appears in their coat of arms. The Masciadri surname is derived from the vocation of wandering peddler; Pellizzoni, in the modern shape, or Pelliccione, as it was during theCinquecento, is the surname of a famous free captain who acted virtually as a vassal of Canzo during his life. Ponti/Conti-Ponti was a wealthy family linked with the silk industry. Prina is the oldest surname testified to by a written document, in which they appear as the owners of one third of Canzese territory, in name of the Cathedral of Monza's Capitle. They kept the land until the first years of the 20th century. Locatelli is probably the modern form of the surname Catelli/Catella, found in some medieval documents among Canzo's heads of families and also in a female saint, who was born in Canzo. Nowadays, Paredi and Pina are the most widespread and typical surnames: the first may have originally been the common denomination of a Welsh clan established in Canzo's mountains by the emperors as a border defence. It is famous because Saint Mir belonged to this clan. Pina is said to be a hybrid Spanish-Canzese family (Piña), or a Canzese family that had links with the Spanish administration, and became the most common.
Nine sports associations, five performing arts associations and four naturalists' associations exist. Notables:
Moto Club Canzo, existing since the '50s and refounded in 1975, is the most prestigiousmotorcycle trialsinstitution inItaly. It has been a pioneer club in this sport. In 1985 it held the first officialTrial des Nations, who has been consequently expanded, by proposal of the canzese club itself, to an annual worldwide event. In 1988 it also held theWorld Championshipand in 1992Tommi Ahvala, racer of Moto Club Canzo, was world champion in this discipline. Since 1995 it also helds an unofficial European race calledOld Trial Cup.Among its racers,Tommi Ahvala, Xavier Miquel and Donato Miglio.