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Italy
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Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a unitary parliamentary republic in Europe. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares open land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino, Italy covers an area of 301,338 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate and Mediterranean climate. Due to its shape, it is referred to in Italy as lo Stivale. With 61 million inhabitants, it is the fourth most populous EU member state, the Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom, which eventually became a republic that conquered and assimilated other nearby civilisations. The legacy of the Roman Empire is widespread and can be observed in the distribution of civilian law, republican governments, Christianity. The Renaissance began in Italy and spread to the rest of Europe, bringing a renewed interest in humanism, science, exploration, Italian culture flourished at this time, producing famous scholars, artists and polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. The weakened sovereigns soon fell victim to conquest by European powers such as France, Spain and Austria. Despite being one of the victors in World War I, Italy entered a period of economic crisis and social turmoil. The subsequent participation in World War II on the Axis side ended in defeat, economic destruction. Today, Italy has the third largest economy in the Eurozone and it has a very high level of human development and is ranked sixth in the world for life expectancy. The country plays a prominent role in regional and global economic, military, cultural and diplomatic affairs, as a reflection of its cultural wealth, Italy is home to 51 World Heritage Sites, the most in the world, and is the fifth most visited country. The assumptions on the etymology of the name Italia are very numerous, according to one of the more common explanations, the term Italia, from Latin, Italia, was borrowed through Greek from the Oscan Víteliú, meaning land of young cattle. The bull was a symbol of the southern Italic tribes and was often depicted goring the Roman wolf as a defiant symbol of free Italy during the Social War. Greek historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus states this account together with the legend that Italy was named after Italus, mentioned also by Aristotle and Thucydides. The name Italia originally applied only to a part of what is now Southern Italy – according to Antiochus of Syracuse, but by his time Oenotria and Italy had become synonymous, and the name also applied to most of Lucania as well. The Greeks gradually came to apply the name Italia to a larger region, excavations throughout Italy revealed a Neanderthal presence dating back to the Palaeolithic period, some 200,000 years ago, modern Humans arrived about 40,000 years ago. Other ancient Italian peoples of undetermined language families but of possible origins include the Rhaetian people and Cammuni. Also the Phoenicians established colonies on the coasts of Sardinia and Sicily, the Roman legacy has deeply influenced the Western civilisation, shaping most of the modern world
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Valley
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A valley is a low area between hills, often with a river running through it. In geology, a valley or dale is a depression that is longer than it is wide, the terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys. Most valleys belong to one of two main types or a mixture of them, with respect to the cross section of the slopes or hillsides. A valley in its broadest geographic sense is known as a dale. A valley through which a river runs may also be referred to as a vale, a small, secluded, and often wooded valley is known as a dell or in Scotland as a glen. A wide, flat valley through which a river runs is known in Scotland as a strath, a mountain cove is a small valley, closed at one or both ends, in the central or southern Appalachian Mountains which sometimes results from the erosion of a geologic window. A small valley surrounded by mountains or ridges is sometimes known as a hollow, a deep, narrow valley is known as a cwm. Similar geological structures, such as canyons, ravines, gorges, gullies, chines, a valley formed by erosion is called an erosional valley, a valley formed by geologic events such as drop faults or the rise of highlands is called a structural valley. A valley formed by flowing water, or river valley, is usually V-shaped, the exact shape will depend on the characteristics of the stream flowing through it. Rivers with steep gradients, as in mountain ranges, produce steep walls, shallower slopes may produce broader and gentler valleys. However, in the lowest stretch of a river, where it approaches its base level, it begins to deposit sediment, in prehistory, the rivers were used as a source of fresh water and food, as well as a place to wash and a sewer. The proximity of water moderated temperature extremes and provided a source for irrigation, most of the first civilizations developed from these river valley communities. In geography, a vale is a river valley, usually with a particularly wide flood plain or flat valley bottom. In Southern England, vales commonly occur between the escarpment slopes of pairs of chalk formations, where the dome has been eroded, exposing less resistant underlying rock. Rift valleys, such as the Albertine Rift, are formed by the expansion of the Earths crust due to tectonic activity beneath the Earths surface, there are various forms of valley associated with glaciation that may be referred to as glacial valleys. A valley carved by glaciers is normally U-shaped, the valley becomes visible upon the recession of the glacier that forms it. When the ice recedes or thaws, the remains, often littered with small boulders that were transported within the ice. Floor gradient does not affect the shape, it is the glaciers size that does
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Piedmont
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Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.6 million, the capital of Piedmont is Turin. The name Piedmont comes from medieval Latin Pedemontium or Pedemontis, i. e. ad pedem montium, meaning “at the foot of the mountains”. Other towns of Piedmont with more than 20,000 inhabitants sorted by population and it borders with France, Switzerland and the Italian regions of Lombardy, Liguria, Aosta Valley and for a very small fragment with Emilia Romagna. The geography of Piedmont is 43. 3% mountainous, along with areas of hills. Piedmont is the second largest of Italys 20 regions, after Sicily and it is broadly coincident with the upper part of the drainage basin of the river Po, which rises from the slopes of Monviso in the west of the region and is Italy’s largest river. The Po collects all the waters provided within the semicircle of mountains which surround the region on three sides, from the highest peaks the land slopes down to hilly areas, and then to the upper, and then to the lower great Padan Plain. 7. 6% of the territory is considered protected area. There are 56 different national or regional parks, one of the most famous is the Gran Paradiso National Park located between Piedmont and the Aosta Valley, Piedmont was inhabited in early historic times by Celtic-Ligurian tribes such as the Taurini and the Salassi. They were later subdued by the Romans, who founded several colonies there including Augusta Taurinorum, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the region was repeatedly invaded by the Burgundians, the Goths, Byzantines, Lombards, Franks. In the 9th–10th centuries there were incursions by the Magyars. At the time Piedmont, as part of the Kingdom of Italy within the Holy Roman Empire, was subdivided into several marks, in 1046, Oddo of Savoy added Piedmont to their main territory of Savoy, with a capital at Chambéry. Other areas remained independent, such as the powerful comuni of Asti and Alessandria, the County of Savoy was elevated to a duchy in 1416, and Duke Emanuele Filiberto moved the seat to Turin in 1563. In 1720, the Duke of Savoy became King of Sardinia, founding what evolved into the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Republic of Alba was created in 1796 as a French client republic in Piedmont. A new client republic, the Piedmontese Republic, existed between 1798 and 1799 before it was reoccupied by Austrian and Russian troops, in June 1800 a third client republic, the Subalpine Republic, was established in Piedmont. It fell under full French control in 1801 and it was annexed by France in September 1802, in the congress of Vienna, the Kingdom of Sardinia was restored, and furthermore received the Republic of Genoa to strengthen it as a barrier against France. Piedmont was a springboard for Italys unification in 1859–1861, following earlier unsuccessful wars against the Austrian Empire in 1820–1821 and this process is sometimes referred to as Piedmontisation. However, the efforts were countered by the efforts of rural farmers
4.
Varallo Sesia
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Varallo, commonly known as Varallo Sesia, is a comune and town of about 7,400 inhabitants in the province of Vercelli in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is situated in Valsesia, at 450 metres above sea level, once called Varade, it is divided in two boroughs by the Mastallone stream. In 1971 Varallo was awarded the Golden Medal for Military Valor for the deeds of its population against the German occupation in the stages of World War II. The valley of the Sesia is very narrow at this point as it nears its source, Varallo lies on the left bank where the Mastallone flows into the Sesia. The town is surrounded by the foothills of the Alps and is not far from the Monte Rosa, the churches of San Gaudenzio, Santa Maria delle Grazie, and Santa Maria di Loreto, all contain works by Gaudenzio Ferrari, who was born in the neighboring Valduggia. Museums and galleries include the Pinacoteca Civica, the Museo Comola in the frazione Camasco, the Museo Scaglia, the environs are composed of winding paths leading past 45 chapel-like enclosures containing groups of life-size painted terra-cotta figures with backgrounds in fresco. The tableux represent scenes mainly from the life of Jesus, the array was initiated by a Franciscan, Bernardino Caimi, who aimed to reproduce locally images of the passion as a goal of pilgrims. The main pilgrimage church was built by Pellegrino Tibaldi after 1578, in the works mentioned Ferraris whole development may be traced. In the frazione of Arboerio are the old church of Saints Quirico and Giulitta, with a 17th-century polyptych and an altar of the Madonna del Rosario, media related to Varallo Sesia at Wikimedia Commons Official web site for European Sacred Mountains
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Alagna Valsesia
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Alagna Valsesia is a comune and small village high in the Valsesia alpine valley in the province of Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy, a UNESCO World heritage site since 2013. It is a tourist place for mountaineering and winter sports, and it was originally settled by Walser at the beginning of 12th century. It is located at an elevation of 1,191 metres just south of the Monte Rosa, elevation 4,638 metres, It is very close to Milan, since December 2005 a cable car connects Alagna with Gressoney through the Passo dei Salati. This spontaneous architecture has been preserved, the wooden cage around the building was in fact invented for putting the hay to dry out. The Church of Saint John Baptist was built in 1511 and it has got some beautiful sculptures by Giovanni dEnrico a famous Italian artist. At the entrance of the town, there is the house of Tanzio da Varallo. Alagna is one of the Alpine towns which have played a role in the history of the mountaineering. The Guides Association was founded in 1872 and it is the oldest in Italy second only to that of Courmayeur, on 1819 Zumstein reached the third highest Monte Rosa peak. Finally Alagna is the point for reaching the Capanna Margherita. Alagna is internationally known for being the capital of the Alps. Plus, thanks of the difference in form the top of the ridges to the bottom of the valley. The majority of the itineraries are around the Punta Giordani 4,046 metres, there are other itineraries in the Otro Valley, close to Corno Bianco. By Eliski itineraries include Il Cavallo, Rizzetti and Il Turlo, extreme rides are Perazzi Couloir along Punta Parrot and Sesia Couloir between Punta Gnifetti and Punta Parrot. Alagna Valsesia Freeride Paradise Saluti da Alagna Official tourism information Photos of Alagna
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Scopello
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The Commune of Scopello is located in the Valsesia region of the Italian Pennine Alps, in the Piedmontese Province of Vercelli. The municipality covers an area of 18.62 square kilometres and ranges in elevation from 640 to 1,930 metres above sea level. Its main centre of population, and the capoluogo of the commune, is the town of Scopello which stands on the river Sesia at an elevation of 659 metres. Other centres include Casa Pareti, Chioso, Frasso, Villabella, the last of these, as the name ‘Alpe’ suggests, once provided summer pasture for livestock. Today it is a ski resort. Scopello belongs to the Comunità Montana Valsesia, a union of various communes in the Valsesia, the mayor is Paolo Ferraris, who stood on a local slate, and was elected on 28 May 2006. Scopello borders Boccioleto, Campertogno, Caprile, Crevacuore, Guardabosone, Pettinengo, Pila, Piode, Scopa, Trivero, ministero dell’Interno, Comune di Scopello, Statuto. Prometheo, Scopello, Clima e Dati Geografici, Comuni-Italiani. it, prometheo, Comune di Scopello – Italia, Informazioni, Comuni-Italiani. it. Prometheo, Comune di Scopello, Sindaco e Amministrazione Comunale, Comuni-Italiani. it, www. scopello. com, official site of the commune. Chiosovalsesia, a site on one of Scopello’s local centres which includes historical photographs, Alpe di Mera, official site of the Proloco
7.
Corno Bianco
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Corno Bianco is a mountain of the Pennine Alps. Its a popular climbing destination of Valsesia, the literal English translation of Corno Bianco is White Horn. The mountain is located around 500 m east from the Dora Baltea/Sesia water divide and is included in Valsesia. Italian official cartography, on-line version, www. pcn. minambiente. it Istituto Geografico Centrale - Carta dei sentieri e dei rifugi scala 1,50.000 n.10 Monte Rosa, Alagna e Macugnaga
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Monte Tagliaferro
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Monte Tagliaferro is a mountain of the Pennine Alps. It is one of the most popular hiking destination of Valsesia, the name, which literally means iron cutting, may come from a sharp stone block located not far away from the top. The mountain is located in Valsesia, nearby the mountain, at 2,264 m, is located Rifugio Ferioli, a public mountain hut. Italian official cartography, on-line version, www. pcn. minambiente. it Istituto Geografico Centrale - Carta dei sentieri e dei rifugi scala 1,50.000 n.10 Monte Rosa, Alagna e Macugnaga
9.
Walser German
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The Walser language, also known as Walliser German, is a group of Highest Alemannic dialects spoken in parts of Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Austria. The terms Walser and Walliser are geographic, there is no linguistic divide, specific Walser dialects can be traced to eastern or western dialects of Wallis canton. Conservative Walser dialects are similar to the respective groups of Wallis dialects than to neighboring Walser dialects. The German-speaking immigration to the Wallis started in the 8th century from the canton of Bern, there were presumably two different immigration routes that led to two main groups of Walliser dialects. In the twelfth or thirteenth century, the Walliser began to other parts of the Alps. These new settlements are known as Walser migration, in many of these settlements, people still speak Walser. The dialects are difficult to understand for people who speak Swiss German, because the dialect group is quite spread out, there is rarely any contact between the dialects. Therefore, the dialects that compose Walser German are very different from each other as well, because the people who speak Walser German live in the isolated valleys of the high mountains, Walser German has preserved many archaisms, which makes it nearest to Old High German. The dialect of the Lötschental, for instance, preserved three distinct classes of weak verbs until the beginning of the 20th century, Walser German also shows linguistic innovations, such as the plural Tannu - Tannä, also found in the other Highest Alemannic dialects. Walser German dialects are considered endangered, and language shift to the majority language is occurring, the total number of speakers in the world is about 22,780, with about 10,000 in Switzerland alone. Valais, Simplon, Gondo valleys in the Monte Rosa massif, Aosta Valley, Gressoney-La-Trinité, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Issime, historically in upper Ayas Valley and this section will be about the Walser German dialect of Formazza, or Pomattertitsch. Pomattertitsch is part of the Highest Alemannic German dialect group, which is made up of dialects that share similar features. The Highest Alemannic German group contains German dialects of Valais, Walser German dialects in Italy and Ticino, and eastern Walser German dialects in Grisons, Vorarlberg, the first feature that is shared by this group is the palatalization of Middle High German -s- to -sch-. This is actually typical of Walser German dialects in general. For Pomattertitsch, however, this doesnt apply to every word that contains -s-, su son, sunna sun, the second feature is a change from -nk- to -ch- or -h-, German denken to Pomattertitsch teche think, German trinken to Pomattertitsch triche drink. The final feature is the lack of diphthongs where they are present in German words, German bauen to Pomattertitsch büwe build, again, this section will be about the Walser German dialect Pomattertitsch. Pomattertitsch marks number and gender on nouns, like most dialects of German and it also marks case on nouns, although it has been reduced over time. It also distinguishes between strong and weak nouns, which is becoming blurred over time as well, for adjectives in the attributive position, there is also agreement in strong versus weak nouns, and in case
