Omegna

Omegna
Comune
Comune di Omegna

Coat of arms
Omegna
Location of Omegna in Italy
Coordinates: 45°52′39″N 8°24′32″E / 45.87750°N 8.40889°E / 45.87750; 8.40889
Country Italy
Region Piedmont
Province Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (VB)
Frazioni Bagnella, Borca, Crusinallo, Cireggio, Santa Rita, Agrano, Gattugno, Sant'Anna
Government
 • Mayor Maria Adelaide Mellano (PD)
Area
 • Total 30.78 km2 (11.88 sq mi)
Elevation 295 m (968 ft)
Population (31 December 2012)[1]
 • Total 15,591
 • Density 510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Omegnesi
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 28887
Dialing code 0323
Patron saint Saint Ambrose
Saint day 7 December
Website Official website

Omegna [oˈmɛ:ɲɲa] is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) northeast of Turin and about 13 kilometres (8 mi) southwest of Verbania at the northernmost point of Lago d’Orta and traversed by the Nigoglia, the lake's sole outflow.

A lively street market is held every Thursday morning along the lakeside boulevard. A daily ferry service connects Omegna with towns and villages around the lake.

History

Omegna and Monte Mottarone.

The presence of ancient settlement in the area has been proved by excavations held in the frazione of Cireggio, archaeological findings dating from the late Bronze and Iron Ages. Omegna is mentioned in 1221 AD, when the population gave itself to the commune of Novara.

In the 19th and early 20th century it became an industrial center (it was for many years the main centre for production of pots and small home appliances in Italy) and the population was increased by immigrants. In 1913 Omegna was connected with Pallanza by an electrical tramway line. It was declared a city in 1939. During World War II it was a center of partisan resistance against the German-Fascist occupation.

Main sights

A view of the centre of Omegna.
  • Church of Sant'Ambrogio. It is a late-Romanesque building with a nave and two aisles, with side chapels. The bell tower is still mostly the medieval one. The interior is now in Baroque style, and houses an altarpiece by Fermo Stella da Caravaggio (1547) and an urn with the relics of St. Vith, patron saint of Omegna.
  • Ponte Antico ("Ancient Bridge", 15th century), over the Strona river.
  • Porta della Valle ("Valley Gate", c. 1100 AD), also known as Porta Romana. It is the only surviving one among the five medieval gates of Omegna.
  • Museum of Arts and Industry Forum.

Twin towns

References

  1. ↑ Istat, Omegna:Tavola Bilancio demografico Anno 2009. (Other statistics also from Istat.)


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