Domodossola
Encyclopedia
Domodossola is a city and comune
in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
, in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy
. It was also known as Oscela, Oscella, Oscella dei Leponzi, Ossolo, Ossola Lepontiorum, and Domo d'Ossola (due to its position in the Ossola valley
).
and Toce
Rivers, and is home to 18,500 people.
The city is located at the foot of the Italian Alps, and acts as a minor passenger-rail hub. Its strategic location accommodates Swiss rail passengers, and Domodossola railway station
acts as an international stopping-point between Milan
and Brig
(a Swiss city of German language) through the Simplon Pass
(Italian: Sempione).
when the Romans
conquered the region in 12 BCE.
During World War II
Domodossola was part of an uprising against the Germans, whereby the valley of Ossola declared itself a free partisan republic
in September 1944 and broke away from Fascist Italy. The rebellion was crushed by German troops within less than two months, but was an important symbol for anti-fascist movements
within Italy until the end of the war.
Domodossola is most famous for the Sacro Monte Calvario, a site of pilgrimage
and worship close to it.
as the entry: "D for Domodossola".
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:...
in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
Verbano-Cusio-Ossola is the northernmost province in the Italian region of Piedmont. It was created in 1996 through the fusion of three distinct regions which had previously been part of the Province of Novara...
, in the region of Piedmont, northern Italy
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...
. It was also known as Oscela, Oscella, Oscella dei Leponzi, Ossolo, Ossola Lepontiorum, and Domo d'Ossola (due to its position in the Ossola valley
Ossola
The Ossola is an area of Italy situated to the north of Lago Maggiore. It lies within the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. Its principal river is the Toce, and its most important town Domodossola....
).
Geography
Domodossola is situated at the confluence of the BognaBogna
Bogna - is a Slavic origin female given name and may be a diminutive form of names: Bogdana, Bogusława, Bogumiła . The name is derived from word "bog" and may mean "divine" but also "luck, fate, rich". The name may refer to:...
and Toce
Toce
The Toce is a river in Piedmont, Italy, which stretches the length of the Val d'Ossola from the Swiss border to Lake Maggiore into which it debouches near Fondotoce in the Commune of Verbania. The river is c. 76 kilometres in length and is formed in the upper Val Formazza by the confluence of a...
Rivers, and is home to 18,500 people.
The city is located at the foot of the Italian Alps, and acts as a minor passenger-rail hub. Its strategic location accommodates Swiss rail passengers, and Domodossola railway station
Domodossola railway station
Domodossola railway station serves the city and comune of Domodossola, in the Piedmont region, northwestern Italy. Opened in 1888, it forms a major break of gauge junction between standard gauge lines to Milan, Brig and Novara, and a metre gauge line to Locarno.The station is currently managed by...
acts as an international stopping-point between 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 Brig
Brig, Switzerland
Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:...
(a Swiss city of German language) through the Simplon Pass
Simplon Pass
Simplon Pass is a high mountain pass between the Pennine Alps and the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland. It connects Brig in the canton of Valais with Domodossola in Piedmont . The pass itself and the villages on each side of it, such as Gondo, are in Switzerland...
(Italian: Sempione).
History
Domodossola was the chief town of the LepontiiLepontii
The Lepontii were an ancient people occupying portions of Rhaetia in the Alps during the time of the Roman conquest of that territory. The Lepontii have been variously described as a Celtic, Ligurian, Raetian, and Germanic tribe...
when the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
conquered the region in 12 BCE.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Domodossola was part of an uprising against the Germans, whereby the valley of Ossola declared itself a free partisan republic
Italian Partisan Republics
The Italian Partisan Republics were the provisional state entities liberated from the rule of Nazi Germany and the Italian Social Republic in 1944 during the Second World War...
in September 1944 and broke away from Fascist Italy. The rebellion was crushed by German troops within less than two months, but was an important symbol for anti-fascist movements
Italian resistance movement
The Italian resistance is the umbrella term for the various partisan forces formed by pro-Allied Italians during World War II...
within Italy until the end of the war.
Main sights
- Collegiate church of St. Gervasius and Protasius.
- Palazzo Silva (17th century).
Domodossola is most famous for the Sacro Monte Calvario, a site of pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
and worship close to it.
Economy
Economy is mostly based on services, the working of stones, and mechanics industry. The valleys in the area contain many dams and hydroelectric plants.Culture
Its name is widely known in Italy as part of the local spelling alphabetSpelling alphabet
A spelling alphabet, radio alphabet, or telephone alphabet is a set of words which are used to stand for the letters of an alphabet. Each word in the spelling alphabet typically replaces the name of the letter with which it starts...
as the entry: "D for Domodossola".
External links
- Website in English (Nederlands, Francais, Deutsch, Italiano)
- The First International Workshop in Urban and Environmental Design of Domodossola