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Arona (NO)

Arona
Comune
Città di Arona
Largo Garibaldi in winter. The castle in the background is Angera.
Largo Garibaldi in winter. The castle in the background is Angera.
Coat of arms of Arona
Coat of arms
Arona is located in Italy
Arona
Arona
Location of Arona in Italy
Coordinates: 45°45′N 08°33′E / 45.750°N 8.550°E / 45.750; 8.550Coordinates: 45°45′N 08°33′E / 45.750°N 8.550°E / 45.750; 8.550
Country Italy
Region Piedmont
Province / Metropolitan city Novara (NO)
Frazioni Campagna, Dagnente, Mercurago, Montrigiasco
Government
 • Mayor Alberto Gusmeroli (since March 30, 2010) (LN)
Area
 • Total 14.90 km2 (5.75 sq mi)
Elevation 212 m (696 ft)
Population (31 December 2010)
 • Total 14,547
 • Density 980/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Aronesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 28041
Dialing code 0322
Patron saint Sts. Felinus and Gratian
Saint day March 13
Website Official website

Arona (Italian pronunciation: [aˈroːna]; Aruna [aˈruna] in Western Lombard) is a town and comune on Lake Maggiore, in the province of Novara (northern Italy). Its main economic activity is tourism, especially from Milan, France and Germany.

Archaeological findings have shown that the area of what today is Arona was settled from the 18th–13th centuries BC. Later it was a possession of the Celts, the Romans and the Lombards.

In the 11th century the Benedictine abbey of Saints Gratianus and Felinus, Martyrs, was founded.

After the siege and destruction of Milan in 1162 by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, many of the exiled took refuge in Arona.

Later the city was a possession of the Torriani and (from 1277) of the Visconti families. In the early 14th century the city became a free commune under the suzerainty of the abbey. In 1439 it was acquired by Vitaliano Borromeo and, as a result, the House of Borromeo.

Arona's main attractions include:

The frazione of Mercurago is home to Lagoni Park, a protected area including a peat-bog, pastures dedicated to the breeding of thoroughbred horses and a woodland area. There are also some archeological findings from the Bronze Age, including ancient wheels.


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