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You are here: Gozzano
Gozzano doesn`t overlook Lake Orta; even though it lies in a plane nearby and it offers its own Lido to the visitors, it has been considered in all respects as a part of the Riviera for many centuries. Once possession of Novara’s bishops, it followed Orta and its lake suburbs’ destiny and, moreover, the artistic testimonies of the small town are related to those of the lake suburbs: Romanesque art and some late-renaissance buildings are evidence of the aristocracy’s presence spending their holidays on the lake.The plane where Gozzano lies is enclosed with the hills on the West side, the last border of the morainic amphitheatre of Cusio, which separates it from Valsesia, while on the East side it’s the Agogna stream that delimitates the territory and separates it from Vergante area.
The roman origin is testified by the ancient toponym “Gaudanum” and by some names that traditionally indicate some places of the centre, such as villa and castello.
The history of Gozzano is related to Jules and Julian’s ones, the two brothers who came to evangelize these places and to build some churches: while Jules arrived just further founding the Basilica on the Island called after him, Julian founded a church consecrated to the Virgin Mary (then rebuilt and consecrated to St. Laurence), and there he died and was buried.
He is the patron saint of Gozzano still today, and his remains were moved from the church of St. Laurence (just outside the village) to the Basilica of St. Julius, a XVIIIth century building on the ancient seat of the parish priest Romanesque church, of which some evidence is left in the capitals and in the portal. Near the Basilica lies the Romanesque bell tower, dated back to the XIth century and the octagonal Oratory of St. Gaetano.
In the same place, called “the Castle”, the ancient XIth century Castrum protecting the suburb stood. The rise was also chosen by Novara’s Bishops as the seat of their Palace, inside the walls, used as summer dwelling and checkpoint of the southern Riviera. The current bishop’s residence is a XVIIth century reconstruction.
At the foot of the hill, in the central San Julian square, is the Palace of the Community, also said Ticial, which is seat of administration of the Consiglio della Riviera Inferiore as well as seat of justice power. The prisons were situated just in front of it, in a building pulled down during the 1950s.
Gozzano is today a flourishing small town thanks to the XXth century industrialisation: in 1926 the Bemberg succeeded in turning the migratory flow and then, after the second half of the century, the taps and fittings industry broke out.
Even tourism has become an importatn activity of this area today: Gozzano, as well as its surprising history, such as the discovery of a fossil ore body and the identification of an unknown species – the “terebratula gozzanensis” – can offer the whole patrimony of Cusio, beginning with Lake Orta, Lido di Buccione (a hamlet of Gozzano), where even the bishops left their trails.
In the neighbourhoods lies the Tower of Buccione and a recently estabilished wildlife reserve. In front of the tower’s hill, with another amazing view over the lake, is the little church of “Madonna di Luzzara”, an ancient oratory which conserves some interesting XVth century frescos on the façade.
Lake, nature and history, traditions and culture, Gozzano can offer so much to the visitors.
From Gozzano you can easily reach all the destinations of the area, leaving behind, maybe at more accessible distance, Novara and Milan.