Dagnente
Dagnente: a fraction of Arona with a historical heritage
Hi friends! Today I want to talk to you about Dagnente, a fraction of the municipality of Arona with a very interesting historical heritage. Until 1928, Dagnente was actually an autonomous municipality. Nowadays it is mainly known for its cemetery, where two famous personalities are buried: Mike Bongiorno and Felice Cavallotti.
The cemetery of Dagnente and its famous personalities
Let's start with the cemetery. It is here that we find the resting place of the popular television presenter Mike Bongiorno. Unfortunately, his remains were stolen and have never been returned to Dagnente. Then there is Felice Cavallotti, known as the "Bard of Democracy", an Italian writer and politician who founded the Italian Radical Party. In order to commemorate his figure, an exceptional monument was erected in the cemetery, created by Paolo Troubetzkoy and Luigi Conconi.
Valorization of the monument to Felice Cavallotti
In July 2008, the municipality of Arona collaborated with the Pro Dagnente "Felice Cavallotti" association and the Red Tronics company from Castelletto Ticino, to give new splendor to the monument of Cavallotti. Thanks to a state-of-the-art LED system, the monument and the memory of the "Bard" now have a new life.
The church of San Giovanni Battista
In Dagnente we also find the church of San Giovanni Battista, dedicated to the patron saint. It is known that the church has existed since 1159, but what immediately catches the eye is the beautiful square, dating back to the early 1900s. Inside, the church houses some works depicting the life of the saint. The bell tower is separate from the main building, creating a very suggestive and fascinating atmosphere.
Restoration of the church and the Via Crucis
The church of San Giovanni Battista underwent expansion works between 1714 and 1719, followed by other renovation works in 1839. In that year, the fourteen stations of the Via Crucis were erected near the church, but today only four remain. Despite this, the church is still a much-loved and frequented place of worship by the faithful of Dagnente.
External links
If you want to learn more about Dagnente and its history, I recommend taking a look at the website of the municipality of Arona. You can also visit the website of the parish, where you will find detailed information about the church of San Giovanni Battista. Finally, to see wonderful images of the village and its natural beauty, visit AronanelWeb.it. And if you are interested in the life and work of Felice Cavallotti, take a look at the website of the Pro Loco di Dagnente, dedicated to the "Bard of Democracy".
