Country Italy Province / Metropolitan city Novara (NO) Demonym(s) Aronesi Local time Wednesday 11:06 PM | Region Piedmont Elevation 212 m (696 ft) Province Province of Novara Patron saint Felinus and Gratian | |
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Frazioni Campagna, Dagnente, Mercurago, Montrigiasco Weather 9°C, Wind N at 8 km/h, 53% Humidity Points of interest Museo Archeologico, Palacongressi “Marina e Marcello Salina”, Antico porto commerciale | ||
Arona ([aˈroːna]; Aruna [aˈruna] in Western Lombard) is a town and comune on Lake Maggiore, in the province of Novara (northern Italy). Its main economic activity is tourism, especially from Milan, France and Germany.
Contents
- Map of 28041 Arona Province of Novara Italy
- History
- Main sights
- Transport
- Surrounding municipalities
- Twin towns Sister cities
- References
Map of 28041 Arona, Province of Novara, Italy
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 Celts, the Romans and the Lombards.
In the 11th century the Benedictine abbey of Saints Gratianus and Felinus, Martyrs, was founded.
After the siege and destruction of Milan in 1162 by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, many of the exiled took refuge in Arona.
Later the city was a possession of the Torriani and (from 1277) of the Visconti families. In the early 14th century the city became a free commune under the suzerainty of the abbey. In 1439 it was acquired by Vitaliano Borromeo and, as a result, the House of Borromeo.
Main sights
Arona's main attractions include:
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 ancient wheels.
Transport
Arona is 25 kilometres (16 miles) north of Milan's Malpensa International Airport, actually closer than Milan itself. It is also connected to the railway network, being one of the main stops in the important link between Milan and Switzerland that passes Domodossola (another parallel link travels through Como). Arona is also the last station for two minor rail lines, connecting Arona to Novara and to Santhià; the latter uses single-car diesel 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 to Domodossola and continues into Switzerland). 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 Navigazione Lago Maggiore (Lake Maggiore's ferry company) are located in Arona, along with its shipyard. Arona is the southernmost port on Lake Maggiore, and transport by boat or hydrofoil is available to both sides of the lake up to the Swiss city of Locarno.
Surrounding municipalities
Twin towns – Sister cities
Arona is twinned with: