Pettenasco
Discovering Pettenasco: The Village on Lake Orta
Pettenasco, also known as "Pitnasch" in Piedmontese and Lombard, is a beautiful village in the province of Novara that overlooks the waters of Lake Orta. With its 1326 inhabitants, Pettenasco still preserves many elements of its ancient history dating back to Roman times. Here, below, I'll tell you all there is to know about this little gem of Piedmont.
History
In Pettenasco, tombs from ancient Rome have been discovered, but the village's history is also linked to the figure of Saint Julius of Orta. According to legend, in the 4th century AD, the prefect Audenzio lived here and helped the saint in evangelization. In medieval times, Pettenasco was part of the Riviera of San Giulio, and its statutes are a valuable testament to that period.
In addition to the remains of some medieval houses with inscribed stone portals, Pettenasco also preserves a small Romanesque bell tower that belonged to the ancient church dedicated to St. Audenzio. Next to the church, we find the bell tower of the parish of Santa Caterina, built in 1792 and decorated with 17th-century paintings.
Finally, Pettenasco is known for its milling activity, which has been present since the 9th century. As early as the mid-19th century, many mills were converted into hydraulic lathes, where local artists created wooden objects that were sold throughout Italy. One of these lathes has been transformed into the Museum of Woodturning Art, a must-see for craft lovers.
The Vineyards of Luneglio
Thanks to a document from 1622, we can know what goods were owned by the Parrocchiale and the Confraternita of San Spirito in the village of Pettenasco. Among others, we find some vineyards: in Portigaro, Canossa, in the field of the church, and in the territory of Crabbia, where there is a field with white vineyards in Capopiano. There is also a field with red vineyards in the territory of Lunelio, where there is a tower/fortress that is said to have belonged to the Lombard queen Theodolinda.
In the statutes of Pettenasco from 1433, there are also prescriptions on viticulture, such as the one that imposed a forced arrest of dogs in the months of August and September to preserve the grapes intact in the vineyards. Today, thanks to the new railway line to the Sempione Tunnel, some historic vineyards of Pettenasco have been brought back to life.
Society
From a demographic point of view, Pettenasco has seen a rather contained evolution over the years. Today, the village has 1326 inhabitants.
Sports
In the 80s and 90s, Pettenasco hosted the so-called "mercatino," a football transfer market dedicated to amateur teams from eastern Piedmont and western Lombardy. The event was organized by the local radio station Teleradiosole and the sports newspaper Tribuna Sportiva di Novara.
Administration
Finally, I provide a table with the administrations that have succeeded over the years in Pettenasco:
- 1951-1956: Carlo Alberto Frera
- 1956-1964: Lorenzo Raimondi
- 1964-1971: Lorenzo Raimondi
- 1971-1980: Luigi Polli
- 1980-1985: Raimondo Chimetto
- 1985-1990: Giovanni Re
If you want to discover more about Pettenasco and its history, all you have to do is come and visit us!
