Montrigiasco
Montrigiasco: a historic hamlet
Montrigiasco is a small hamlet located 424 meters above sea level in the municipality of Arona, in the province of Novara. Until 1928, the village was an autonomous municipality before being integrated into the municipality of Paruzzaro and then, in 1960, into the municipality of Arona.
The toponym Montrigiasco has Lombard origins, being a modification of the term "Oleggiasco" with the prefix "monte". Montrigiasco is located 4.2 km from the town center of Arona, 0.98 km from the hamlet of Mercurago and 2.3 km from the hamlet of Dagnente.
Churches and Monuments
Montrigiasco is rich in historical buildings, including the church of San Giusto, built in Romanesque style and renovated several times over the years. It stands out for its porch dating back to 1770. The oratory of San Rocco, decorated with sixteenth-century frescoes, is another monument of historical relevance.
In the outermost part to the northwest of the hamlet stands a small church built in 1650 and renovated in the 1950s following the damage of World War II. The cemetery is located near the church of San Giusto.
The Massacre of Montrigiasco
On March 16, 1945, Montrigiasco was the scene of a dramatic event known as the Massacre of Montrigiasco, during World War II. The 93rd Garibaldi Brigade had organized a military initiative that involved crossing the Ticino near Meina to bypass the enemy position on the hill at Montorfano. The crossing was scheduled for March 10, but the river was in flood and the 93rd Garibaldi Brigade decided to postpone the operation. But on March 16, the Swiss Red Cross reported to the Germans that a column of partisans was nearby the border, triggering a military action by the Nazis that caused 57 victims, including women, children, the elderly, and the sick in a building used as a shelter.
Transport
The hamlet is served by the provincial road that connects it to Dagnente and Arona. In addition, there is a bus service managed by Autoguidovie.
Conclusions
Montrigiasco is a small hamlet of the municipality of Arona, offering monuments of historical relevance such as the church of San Giusto and the oratory of San Rocco. The Massacre of Montrigiasco was a tragic event of World War II that left a mark in the collective memory of the community. To reach Montrigiasco, it is possible to use the provincial road or the bus service managed by Autoguidovie.
