Dumenza
Welcome to Dumenza: the green city of Lombardy
Immersed in the green Val Dumentina, Dumenza is a municipality in the province of Varese in Lombardy that covers an area of about 22 square kilometers. The city is home to 1469 inhabitants and is composed of different hamlets including Runo, Due Cossani, Stivigliano, Trezzino, Vignone and Torbera.
Physical geography: the unspoiled nature of Dumenza
Dumenza is located in the heart of the Val Dumentina, crossed by the Rio Colmegnino. The valley carved by the river is characterized by its green colors and is also called the Emerald Valley. To the north of Colmegnino rises Monte Lema, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view and can be reached by cable car from the Swiss side, in Miglieglia. Dumenza, in fact, borders Switzerland and hosts a pedestrian crossing at Palone.
Origin of the name: curiosities about the toponymy of Dumenza
The name Dumenza has uncertain origins, but according to the most likely theory it derives from a personal name: in the lists of "fuochi" (that is, families) of the municipality, the name of Dugmentio appears among some heads of household. It could come from "dux mensae" or from "loco mensa". Only in another historical document does it appear as "Locomenza".
History: a dive into the past of Dumenza
The history of Dumenza dates back at least to the 10th century, as shown by the two stone shelves adorned with human faces found by the parish priest Parapini in the Church of San Giorgio in Runo, dated 909. In a document from the 700s, reference is made to the granting of the lands of Valtravaglia to the monastery of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro in Pavia by King Liutprand. The bell tower of the Church of San Giorgio seems to have had a military role in the period before 1000, during the barbarian invasions. In the 16th century, Dumenza was under the lordship of the rich and powerful Moriggia family. During the Napoleonic era, the municipality annexed Runo for the first time, while in 1928 fascism gave the municipality its current extension by incorporating Due Cossani and Runo.
Monuments and places of interest: the beauties of Dumenza
Among the monuments of Dumenza, the Church of San Nazario, the Church of the Immaculate (formerly of the Ursuline nuns) and the Church of San Giorgio in Runo deserve a special mention. The historic core of Dumenza is characterized by rural houses with large sunny balconies that give the city a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.
Stivigliano: an unspoiled medieval locality
Stivigliano is characterized by its medieval configuration with narrow alleys and houses leaning against each other. It is still possible to see an old turret overlooking the Val Dumentina, evidently used for military purposes.
Come and discover the natural, historical and cultural beauty of Dumenza and let yourself be fascinated by its unspoiled charm.
