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St. George and the Princess 1433-1438 (Antonio di Puccio Pisano, known as Pisanello 1390-1455) - Pellegrini Chapel - Church Sant'Anastasia - Verona
La chiesa di Sant’Anastasia è uno splendido esempio di gotico italiano. Fu eretta a partire dal 1290 con il contributo della famiglia che governava la città, gli Scaligeri, e di altre famiglie veronesi. Prima dell’attuale edificio qui esistevano due chiese dedicate, una a Sant'Anastasia e l’altra a San Remigio.
Nel 1290 i domenicani chiamati a custodirle, decisero di costruire al loro posto un’unica chiesa dedicata a San Pietro da Verona detto anche San Pietro Martire, ma il popolo continuò a chiamarla Sant'Anastasia. Accanto alla chiesa i monaci domenicani avevano un grande convento.
L’opera di costruzione del sacro edificio continuò per tutto il 1300 e il 1400 e finalmente nel 1500 si ebbe l’ultima fase dei lavori per il suo completamento. La facciata è l'unico elemento mai portato a termine.
Sant’Anastasia è la chiesa più grande di Verona. La basilica si sviluppa in tre grandi navate sorrette da 12 imponenti colonne di marmo rosso di Verona. Sul transetto si aprono 5 cappelle. Sul lato sinistro si apre l’antico oratorio del convento, Cappella Giusti.
La chiesa, ricchissima di opere d’arte, custodisce anche il celebre affresco del Pisanello San Giorgio e la Principessa, tornato nella sua collocazione originaria sopra la Cappella Pellegrini.
All’esterno la facciata incompiuta con lo splendido portale gotico e la zona absidale, posta sulla riva del fiume Adige. All’interno: gli altari con le cappelle con opere di Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, Liberale da Verona, Girolamo Dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero, e Pisanello. All’ingresso i singolari gobbi che reggono l'acquasantiera.
The church of St. Anastasia is a fine example of Italian Gothic architecture. It was designed by two Dominican friars and work began on it as from 1290 AD. Work lasted throughout the 14th and 15th centuries and by the early years of the 16th century the final stages of building showed that the end was in sight. The only thing never to be completed was the façade. St. Anastasia is the largest church in Verona.
The Basilica extends over three large aisles supported by twelve impressive pillars in red Veronese marble. To the left of the transept a splendid marble entrance opens onto the Giusti chapel which was at one time the oratory of the Dominican monastery.
The church soars to a great height and the interior is impressive; it is virtually an art gallery which contains many of the works of art Masters often mentioned in art history books. The most important is Pisanello’s well known fresco (St. George and the Princess) above Pellegrini Chapel. Note outside he unfinished façade with the splendid Gothic portal. Inside, you can see altars and chapels with works by Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, LiIberale da Verona, Girolamo dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero and Pisanello; at the entrance the singular hunchbacks of the holy water stoup.
Hunchback holds the holy water - dating back to 1495 and attributed to Gabriele Caliari (Paolo's father, said "the Veronese") - Church of St. Anastasia Verona
La chiesa di Sant’Anastasia è uno splendido esempio di gotico italiano. Fu eretta a partire dal 1290 con il contributo della famiglia che governava la città, gli Scaligeri, e di altre famiglie veronesi. Prima dell’attuale edificio qui esistevano due chiese dedicate, una a Sant'Anastasia e l’altra a San Remigio.
Nel 1290 i domenicani chiamati a custodirle, decisero di costruire al loro posto un’unica chiesa dedicata a San Pietro da Verona detto anche San Pietro Martire, ma il popolo continuò a chiamarla Sant'Anastasia. Accanto alla chiesa i monaci domenicani avevano un grande convento.
L’opera di costruzione del sacro edificio continuò per tutto il 1300 e il 1400 e finalmente nel 1500 si ebbe l’ultima fase dei lavori per il suo completamento. La facciata è l'unico elemento mai portato a termine.
Sant’Anastasia è la chiesa più grande di Verona. La basilica si sviluppa in tre grandi navate sorrette da 12 imponenti colonne di marmo rosso di Verona. Sul transetto si aprono 5 cappelle. Sul lato sinistro si apre l’antico oratorio del convento, Cappella Giusti.
La chiesa, ricchissima di opere d’arte, custodisce anche il celebre affresco del Pisanello San Giorgio e la Principessa, tornato nella sua collocazione originaria sopra la Cappella Pellegrini.
All’esterno la facciata incompiuta con lo splendido portale gotico e la zona absidale, posta sulla riva del fiume Adige. All’interno: gli altari con le cappelle con opere di Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, Liberale da Verona, Girolamo Dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero, e Pisanello. All’ingresso i singolari gobbi che reggono l'acquasantiera.
The church of St. Anastasia is a fine example of Italian Gothic architecture. It was designed by two Dominican friars and work began on it as from 1290 AD. Work lasted throughout the 14th and 15th centuries and by the early years of the 16th century the final stages of building showed that the end was in sight. The only thing never to be completed was the façade. St. Anastasia is the largest church in Verona.
The Basilica extends over three large aisles supported by twelve impressive pillars in red Veronese marble. To the left of the transept a splendid marble entrance opens onto the Giusti chapel which was at one time the oratory of the Dominican monastery.
The church soars to a great height and the interior is impressive; it is virtually an art gallery which contains many of the works of art Masters often mentioned in art history books. The most important is Pisanello’s well known fresco (St. George and the Princess) above Pellegrini Chapel. Note outside he unfinished façade with the splendid Gothic portal. Inside, you can see altars and chapels with works by Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, LiIberale da Verona, Girolamo dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero and Pisanello; at the entrance the singular hunchbacks of the holy water stoup.
Porlezza (Co), sul lago di Lugano
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Seen in Porlezza, an italian resort on the shores of Lugano's Lake (near the Swiss border)
Ceiling with representations of St. Peter Martyr - Church Sant'anastasia - Verona
La chiesa di Sant’Anastasia è uno splendido esempio di gotico italiano. Fu eretta a partire dal 1290 con il contributo della famiglia che governava la città, gli Scaligeri, e di altre famiglie veronesi. Prima dell’attuale edificio qui esistevano due chiese dedicate, una a Sant'Anastasia e l’altra a San Remigio.
Nel 1290 i domenicani chiamati a custodirle, decisero di costruire al loro posto un’unica chiesa dedicata a San Pietro da Verona detto anche San Pietro Martire, ma il popolo continuò a chiamarla Sant'Anastasia. Accanto alla chiesa i monaci domenicani avevano un grande convento.
L’opera di costruzione del sacro edificio continuò per tutto il 1300 e il 1400 e finalmente nel 1500 si ebbe l’ultima fase dei lavori per il suo completamento. La facciata è l'unico elemento mai portato a termine.
Sant’Anastasia è la chiesa più grande di Verona. La basilica si sviluppa in tre grandi navate sorrette da 12 imponenti colonne di marmo rosso di Verona. Sul transetto si aprono 5 cappelle. Sul lato sinistro si apre l’antico oratorio del convento, Cappella Giusti.
La chiesa, ricchissima di opere d’arte, custodisce anche il celebre affresco del Pisanello San Giorgio e la Principessa, tornato nella sua collocazione originaria sopra la Cappella Pellegrini.
All’esterno la facciata incompiuta con lo splendido portale gotico e la zona absidale, posta sulla riva del fiume Adige. All’interno: gli altari con le cappelle con opere di Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, Liberale da Verona, Girolamo Dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero, e Pisanello. All’ingresso i singolari gobbi che reggono l'acquasantiera.
The church of St. Anastasia is a fine example of Italian Gothic architecture. It was designed by two Dominican friars and work began on it as from 1290 AD. Work lasted throughout the 14th and 15th centuries and by the early years of the 16th century the final stages of building showed that the end was in sight. The only thing never to be completed was the façade. St. Anastasia is the largest church in Verona.
The Basilica extends over three large aisles supported by twelve impressive pillars in red Veronese marble. To the left of the transept a splendid marble entrance opens onto the Giusti chapel which was at one time the oratory of the Dominican monastery.
The church soars to a great height and the interior is impressive; it is virtually an art gallery which contains many of the works of art Masters often mentioned in art history books. The most important is Pisanello’s well known fresco (St. George and the Princess) above Pellegrini Chapel. Note outside he unfinished façade with the splendid Gothic portal. Inside, you can see altars and chapels with works by Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, LiIberale da Verona, Girolamo dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero and Pisanello; at the entrance the singular hunchbacks of the holy water stoup.
detail of the tomb of Federico Cavalli (1390) Cappella Cavalli - Santa Anastasia - Verona
La chiesa di Sant’Anastasia è uno splendido esempio di gotico italiano. Fu eretta a partire dal 1290 con il contributo della famiglia che governava la città, gli Scaligeri, e di altre famiglie veronesi. Prima dell’attuale edificio qui esistevano due chiese dedicate, una a Sant'Anastasia e l’altra a San Remigio.
Nel 1290 i domenicani chiamati a custodirle, decisero di costruire al loro posto un’unica chiesa dedicata a San Pietro da Verona detto anche San Pietro Martire, ma il popolo continuò a chiamarla Sant'Anastasia. Accanto alla chiesa i monaci domenicani avevano un grande convento.
L’opera di costruzione del sacro edificio continuò per tutto il 1300 e il 1400 e finalmente nel 1500 si ebbe l’ultima fase dei lavori per il suo completamento. La facciata è l'unico elemento mai portato a termine.
Sant’Anastasia è la chiesa più grande di Verona. La basilica si sviluppa in tre grandi navate sorrette da 12 imponenti colonne di marmo rosso di Verona. Sul transetto si aprono 5 cappelle. Sul lato sinistro si apre l’antico oratorio del convento, Cappella Giusti.
La chiesa, ricchissima di opere d’arte, custodisce anche il celebre affresco del Pisanello San Giorgio e la Principessa, tornato nella sua collocazione originaria sopra la Cappella Pellegrini.
All’esterno la facciata incompiuta con lo splendido portale gotico e la zona absidale, posta sulla riva del fiume Adige. All’interno: gli altari con le cappelle con opere di Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, Liberale da Verona, Girolamo Dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero, e Pisanello. All’ingresso i singolari gobbi che reggono l'acquasantiera.
The church of St. Anastasia is a fine example of Italian Gothic architecture. It was designed by two Dominican friars and work began on it as from 1290 AD. Work lasted throughout the 14th and 15th centuries and by the early years of the 16th century the final stages of building showed that the end was in sight. The only thing never to be completed was the façade. St. Anastasia is the largest church in Verona.
The Basilica extends over three large aisles supported by twelve impressive pillars in red Veronese marble. To the left of the transept a splendid marble entrance opens onto the Giusti chapel which was at one time the oratory of the Dominican monastery.
The church soars to a great height and the interior is impressive; it is virtually an art gallery which contains many of the works of art Masters often mentioned in art history books. The most important is Pisanello’s well known fresco (St. George and the Princess) above Pellegrini Chapel. Note outside he unfinished façade with the splendid Gothic portal. Inside, you can see altars and chapels with works by Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, LiIberale da Verona, Girolamo dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero and Pisanello; at the entrance the singular hunchbacks of the holy water stoup.
Schweiz / Tessin - Luganer See
seen from Monte San Giorgio
gesehen vom Monte San Giorgio
Lake Lugano (Italian: Lago di Lugano or Ceresio, from Latin: Ceresius lacus; Lombard: Lagh de Lugan) is a glacial lake which is situated on the border between southern Switzerland and northern Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated between Lake Como and Lago Maggiore. It was cited for the first time by Gregory of Tours in 590 with the name Ceresio, a name which is said to have derived from the Latin word cerasus, meaning cherry, and refers to the abundance of cherry trees which at one time adorned the shores of the lake. The lake appears in documents in 804 under the name Laco Luanasco.
There are various mountains and tourist destinations on the shores of the lake including Monte Brè to the east, Monte San Salvatore west of Lugano, and Monte Generoso on the south-eastern shore. The World Heritage Site Monte San Giorgio is situated south of the lake. Also located to the south is the Cinque Vette Park.
The lake is drained by the Tresa, which empties into Lake Maggiore, the latter being drained by the Ticino and the Po.
History
The first certain testimony of a political body governing the shores of the lake is from 818. Occupying an area of strategic importance, the lake was then part of the feudal dominion of the County of Sperio. Circa 1000, it came under the control of the Bishop of Como. The region was the site of the war between Como and Milan over control of Alpine traffic from 1218 to 1227. As the lake and its shores became progressively incorporated into the Duchy of Milan they became the subject of political and territorial contention during the 15th century, and Lugano became the lake's main town.
The lake definitively ceased to belong to a single sovereign political entity following the establishment of the transalpine bailiwicks of the Swiss cantons at the beginning of the 16th century. The Italian-Swiss border was fixed in 1752 by the Treaty of Varese, and has since remained virtually unchanged.
In 1848, the Melide causeway was built on a moraine between Melide and Bissone, in order to carry a road across the lake and provide a direct connection between Lugano and Chiasso. Today the causeway also carries the Gotthard railway and the A2 motorway.
Geography
The lake is 48.7 km2 (18.8 sq mi) in size, 63% of which is in Switzerland and 37% in Italy. It has an average width of roughly 1 km (0.62 mi) and a maximum width of about 3 km (1.9 mi) at the bay of Lugano. A maximum depth of 288 m (945 ft) is found in the northern basin. The culminating point of the lake's drainage basin is the Pizzo di Gino summit in the Lugano Prealps (2,245 m; 7,365 ft).[3] Bathing in the lake is allowed at any of the 50 or so bathing establishments located along the Swiss shores.
The Italian exclave of Campione d'Italia and parts of the waters of the lake are considered by European Customs Law as non-territorial for fiscal purposes and as such enjoy a special tax status as a duty-free area, exemption from EU VAT and offer residents other advantageous tax privileges.
The Melide causeway separates the northern (27.5 km2; 10.6 sq mi) and southern (21.4 km2; 8.3 sq mi) basins, although a bridge in the causeway permits water flow and navigation. The lake retention time is an average of 8.2 years; that of the northern basin (11.9 years) is considerably higher than the southern one (2.3 years).
Navigation
The lake is navigable, and used by a considerable number of private vessels. Passenger boats of the Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano (SNL) provide services on the lake, principally for tourist purposes, but also connecting Lugano with other lakeside communities, some of which have no road access.
Fishery in the lake (and Lake Maggiore) is regulated by a 1986 agreement between Switzerland and Italy. The current agreement on navigation dates from 1992.
Pollution
Pollution has long been a problem in Lake Lugano. In the 1960s and 1970s it was officially forbidden to bathe in the lake.[6] Despite the continued introduction of sewage treatment plants, such as in Gandria, factors, such as lake retention time and lack of oxygen and increasing phosphorus concentrations, means it is unclear if the lake will recover.
The Federal Office for the Environment's last published report on Lake Lugano dates from 1995. To summarise that report:
at that time measurements indicated some improvement, but this was unlikely to continue at the same pace
there were almost permanent polluted layers at the bottom of the very deep lake
oxygen was scarce and could not be found below 100 m (330 ft) depth
as a result phosphorus levels were increasing at this depth
phosphorus levels in the northern basin were six times too high and in the southern basin twice too high
will take many decades to clean
the lake could be said to be "chronically sick"
in the Italian part of the lake only 20% of the population were connected to sewage treatment plants with phosphorus filters (not that all Swiss areas were connected either).
The Swiss-Italian organisation CIPAIS in its most recent published report says:
Considering the results obtained in 2009 it can be affirmed that, notwithstanding the observed improvement, Lake Lugano is still in a state of high eutrophication, the highest among Swiss lakes.
The Italian environmental group Legambiente, in its 2007 study of all northern Italian lakes, found Lake Lugano to be the most polluted of all.
All water samples were well beyond the legal limits. The polluted sites should not be bathed in for health reasons. Bacteria can cause in the worst case, skin infections, diarrhoea and vomiting.
According to Legambiente, the only reason swimming was not banned on the Italian Lakes was because the state of Lombardy changed the law. They state that pollution levels in the lakes do not conform to European rulings and the lack of sewage treatment is illegal.
Their 2010 measurements found samples taken at Ponte Tresa, Osteno and Porto Ceresio to be "heavily polluted" (more than 1,000 UFC/100 ml intestinal enterococci and/or greater than 2000 UFC/100 ml E. coli).
Fauna
The lake is full of fish. Apart from a few protected areas, such as the mouth of the River Cuccio in Porlezza, fishing is allowed anywhere, although according to various regulations. Protected species are the bleak and the white clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes). The bleak is almost extinct here, unlike in Lago Maggiore, and planning is under way for the controlled repopulation of the lake, particularly around Ponte Tresa.
In 1895 the brook trout was introduced from Lake Zug, while between 1894 and 1897 the common whitefish was introduced. Since 1950 attempts have been made to introduce the whitefish Coregonus macrophthalmus from Lake Neuchâtel, but it has not established itself effectively.
The Common Roach is present in large numbers and took around ten years to colonise the entire lake, thereby replacing the bleak. Still present are the European chub, tench, carp and a few examples of European perch, largemouth bass, zander and burbot. Recently the wels catfish and pigo have been spotted.
Fossils
The whole area behind the southern shores of Lake Lugano is rich in fossils. The focal point of these fossil deposits is Monte San Giorgio, where since the 19th century many fossils have been found dating from the mid-Triassic (around 220 million years ago). The deposits on Monte San Giorgio stretch towards the west into Italian territory and the deposits of Besano. Fossils dating from the early Jurassic (around 180 million years ago) have also been found along the southern shores but more towards the east and Osteno.
(Wikipedia)
Monte San Giorgio is a Swiss mountain and UNESCO World Heritage Site near the border between Switzerland and Italy. It is part of the Lugano Prealps, overlooking Lake Lugano in the Swiss Canton of Ticino.
Monte San Giorgio is a wooded mountain, rising to 1,097 m (3,600 feet) above sea level. It has a roughly pyramidal shape, with a steep north edge sloping towards Lake Lugano and a more shallow South Slope extending towards the Po Plain. The eastern (Swiss) side of the mountain, between the municipalities of Brusino Arsizio, Riva San Vitale, and Meride, was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2003. This was in recognition of its cultural, biological, and especially paleontological significance. The site is renowned for its fossil content, one of the best known records of marine life in the Middle Triassic period. The Italian region west of Poncione d'Arzo (Porto Ceresio) was added as an extension to the World Heritage Site in 2010.
History and cultural heritage
Humans have inhabited Monte San Giorgio at least since the area's equivalent of the Neolithic Period, around 6,000 years ago. The south side of the mountain is home to Tremona-Castello Archaeological Park, a fortress and settlement which was continuously inhabited by artisans from the Neolithic up until the 14th century. Artifacts, architecture, and other evidence of Roman and medieval activity are abundant on and around the mountain. Productive limestone quarries were active during this period and beyond in Italy (Viggiù and Saltrio) and Switzerland (Arzo).
Fossil and oil exploitation
The mountain's fossil fuel deposits were exploited more recently. Motivated by a search for furnace and lamp oil for Milan, mining projects attempted to establish themselves in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, focusing on the bituminous shale of the Grenzbitumenzone (Besano Formation). Though these early efforts did not last very long, exploitation of the Grenzbitumenzone ramped up in the early 20th century once its pharmaceutical properties were discovered. In 1908, the Spinirolo plant was built for the purpose of processing the shale into saurol, an ichthyol-like skin ointment. Saurol production and mining continued until the 1950s, and operations went bankrupt in 1960. Minerals such as barite, fluorite, and galena were also prospected on the mountain during the 20th century.
Italian paleontologist Giulio Curioni first mentioned that fossils were present on the mountain in 1847. The first paper focusing on Monte San Giorgio fossils in particular was published by Emilio Cornalia in 1854. Small excavations by Milanese paleontological societies in 1863 and 1878 provided more specific context on the paleontology of Monte San Giorgio. Shale extraction brought the fossil deposits to the attention of University of Zurich paleontologist Bernhard Peyer in 1919. Peyer and his associates began a series of large and systematic excavations in 1924, greatly expanding both the number of known fossil sites and the number of geological layers known to preserve fossils. Peyer's excavations continued until 1938, discovering many new species of fossil animals in the process. World War II paused both Saurol production and fossil collection. The Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano (Milan Civic Museum of Natural History, MSNM) was bombed in 1943, destroying its collection of Monte San Giorgio specimens. Fossil excavations resumed in 1950 under the helm of Emil Kuhn-Schnyder, Peyer's successor and former student. Kuhn-Schnyder established the Palaeontological Institute and Museum of the University of Zurich (PIMUZ) in 1956, which now hosts over 15,000 specimens of Monte San Giorgio fossils. Collection campaigns have continued intermittently up until the present day, managed by the MSNM, University of Milan (UNIMI), and the Museo Cantonale di Storia Naturale di Lugano (Cantonal Museum of Natural History, MCSN). Over 21,000 fossil specimens have been collected in total by 2010.
UNESCO listing
In 2003, the Monte San Giorgio was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 849 ha (hectares) of protected land from the Swiss communes of Meride, Brusino Arsizio, and Riva San Vitale. This protected area was surrounded by a 1389 ha buffer zone overlapping six additional communes. The nomination of Monte San Giorgio was inspired by its exceptional paleontological value, with multiple fossiliferous levels preserving among the best records of Middle Triassic life in the world. Monte San Giorgio also presents a link between local geology and culture, as well as unique ecological heritage relative to the rest of Switzerland.
In 2010, the World Heritage Site was expanded further, adding 240.34 ha of land from the Italian communes of Besano, Porto Ceresio, and Viggiù. These communes, alongside Clivio and Saltrio, were also included within an 1818.45 ha Italian buffer zone. This additional land brings the total area of UNESCO protected property to 1089.34 ha and the total buffer zone area to 3207.45 ha. Inclusion of the Italian territory was motivated for its paleontological heritage.
Each side of the site is managed by separate Swiss and Italian organizations, as well as a transnational board which moderates between the management organizations. The site is not in any particular danger from overutilization or degradation, so management is mainly related to closely-regulated fossil excavations, promotion, and maintenance of low-impact tourism facilities. Monte San Giorgio fossils are collected, curated, and displayed by a small number of museums, primarily the PIMUZ, MSNM, and MCSN. Local museums in Besano, Meride, and Induno Olona also play a role in promotion of the site and its fossils. The Museo dei fossili del Monte San Giorgio (Museum of fossils from Monte San Giorgio) in Meride was first opened 1973, receiving a 2012 redesign and expansion courtesy of Ticinese architect Mario Botta.
Geology
The geological layers of Monte San Giorgio span more than 100 million years, from the Permian to Jurassic periods. The rocks forming the mountain dip southwards, with older rocks exposed as one travels north and younger rocks exposed as one travels south. The oldest rocks are Permian volcanic basement material on the mountain's steep north slope. These are followed by Triassic sediments and carbonates at higher elevations on the mountain. Middle Triassic layers are the most fossiliferous and extraordinary from a global perspective, and are encompassed by the protected area north of Meride. South of Meride, they are replaced by Late Triassic coastal sediments which give way to Early Jurassic limestone overlooking the Po Plain.
Permian volcanics and Triassic transgression
The stratigraphically lowest rocks exposed on Monte San Giorgio are Lower Permian in age, around 290-280 Ma (million years old). They are remnants of early rifting and volcanic activity in the aftermath of the Variscan orogeny. These volcanic rocks are mainly reddish rhyolite and andesite with a porphyritic texture, produce large crystals of quartz, barite, and fluorite. The Permian basement rocks are terminated by an unconformity, an erosional surface succeeded by Triassic sediments.
These following Triassic sediments are siliciclastic and terrestrial in origin, mainly sandstone and conglomerate eroded from the underlying volcanic material. "Servino" is the name given to older sediments from the Early Triassic (about 252-247 Ma). Slightly younger sediments from the late Anisian (the first stage of the Middle Triassic, 247-242 Ma) are called the Bellano Formation. The Servino and Bellano Formation can be difficult to differentiate, but together they reconstruct a period of transgression (rising sea levels) encroaching onto a sandy coastline dotted with deltas and floodplains.
As the Anisian stage continued, the coastal sandstone of the Bellano Formation was replaced with calcareous marine deposits. These were the first of many massive carbonate platforms building up on a branch of the Tethys Sea which was expanding westwards. The shallow carbonate platform of Monte San Giorgio and surrounding areas is known as the Salvatore platform, which is now preserved as the San Salvatore Dolomite. It reconstructs a warm, tropical environment, with the most common fossils belonging to algae and shelled invertebrates. Only the lower portion of the San Salvatore Dolomite is preserved on Monte San Giorgio, corresponding to a particularly shallow and saline period in the history of the platform. Stromatolites and other algal laminations are generally the only fossils found in the Lower Salvatore Dolomite.
Grenzbitumenzone / Besano Formation
Near the end of the Anisian, the southern edge of the Salvatore platform deepens abruptly, giving way to a more sterile basin developed between carbonate platforms. The basin is now preserved as a relatively narrow band of dark dolomite and shale, running east to west along the edge of Monte San Giorgio. This formation has been called the Besano Formation (in Italy) or the Grenzbitumenzone (in Switzerland). It represents the first of several sections on the mountain enriched with well-preserved fossils. The Grenzbitumenzone, especially its shale layers, is enriched with organic material derived from cyanobacteria. This accumulation of organic material presumably made the bottom of the basin anoxic or dysoxic, with low oxygen levels in the seawater. The only fossils of seabed-living organisms belong to Daonella, a thin-shelled bivalve adapted to low oxygen. Fossils of free-swimming animals are more diverse, with marine reptiles, fish, and shelled cephalopods being the most prominent. Terrestrial and shallow-water organisms such as shrimps, conifer branches (Voltzia), and land reptiles (Ticinosuchus) were occasionally washed into the basin as well.
Meride Limestone
The basin responsible for the Grenzbitumenzone continued to persist through the Ladinian, though the Grenzbitumenzone itself transitioned into a less fossiliferous formation known as the San Giorgio Dolomite. This formation has lower organic content, no shale, and only a few fragmentary fossils. Higher organic content and finer laminations return a short while later, forming the lower part of the fossil-rich Meride Limestone. The Meride Limestone probably represents a period of increased instability on the growing carbonate platforms, sending surges of carbonate grains into the basin. Skeletons tend to be even better preserved than in the Grenzbitumenzone, suggesting that the basin deepened further or acquired extensive microbial mats. A section of dolomite, the "Dolomitband", forms the top of the Lower Meride Limestone. It also marks the start of the Upper Meride Limestone, which is similar to the lower part of the formation but has only a few fossiliferous sections. The Upper Meride Limestone eventually becomes dominated by very finely-laminated marls and shales with increased clay content. This clay-rich interval, indicative of increased terrestrial runoff within the shrinking basin, is known as the "Kalkschieferzone".
Late Triassic
By the beginning of the Late Triassic, a major marine regression (sea level fall) threatened the fossil-rich basin and carbonate system of the Middle Triassic. During the Carnian (around 237 to 227 Ma), the first stage of the Late Triassic, carbonate platforms were replaced by shallow-water and coastal sediments. This formation, the Pizzella Marls, is diagnosed by a higher amount of siliciclastics (sediments eroded down from terrestrial rocks) and evaporites (mineral deposits from dried water), such as gypsum. In the succeeding Norian stage (around 227 to ~208 Ma), carbonate platforms and rising sea levels were renewed with vigor, depositing a massive expanse of carbonate known as the Dolomia Principale or Hauptdolomit. The Dolomia Principale is a brittle, crystalline rock mass which was fractured by normal faults not long after it was first formed. This is an early pulse of an overall extensional tectonic regime, a period of rifting which would eventually break up Pangea. By the time of the Rhaetian stage (~208 to 201 Ma), the Dolomia Principale was buried by a shorter but more stable sequence of shallow-water marl and carbonate, the Tremona Series.
Early Jurassic
Rifting continued into the Early Jurassic, alongside marine sedimentation. From the Hettangian to Pliensbachian stages (201 to 183 Ma), the area reacquired a deeper basinal environment. These basin sediments are preserved as the Moltrasio Limestone, a thick sheet of micrite (fine-grained limestone) with abundant cherty and marly beds created by turbidites (mudslides). Jurassic sediments are preserved to the east, south, and west of Monte San Giorgio; the position of the modern mountain would have been an island or shallow environment during the Jurassic. Its Jurassic sediments are now eroded away to reveal older Triassic and Permian rocks. Conversely, Monte Generoso, immediately to the east of Monte San Giorgio, is composed mostly of Jurassic basinal sediments. Outcrops of Jurassic sediments are also seen close to the Po Plain, at the south edge of Monte San Giorgio (in a broad sense). The productive "marble" quarries found south of Monte San Giorgio actually mined non-metamorphosed limestone, rather than true marble. These limestone units were formed at the same general time as the Moltrasio Limestone.
Ecological heritage
The fauna and flora of Monte San Giorgio are diverse, with some species found nowhere else in Switzerland. The prevailing ecosystems are mixed broadleaf forests and meadows influenced by the mountain's sub-Mediterranean climate. Monte San Giorgio is one of the southernmost areas of Switzerland, with mild winters, high humidity, and many hours of sunshine. Due to the variation in underlying geology, both acidic and alkaline soils are developed, supporting different vegetation communities. The rhyolite-based northern slope is mostly covered by Castanea sativa (sweet chestnut), Quercus petraea (sessile oak), and Fraxinus excelsior (European ash). The dolomite-based southern slope is more diverse in its plant life and soil quality, with common plants including Carpinus betulus (common hornbeam), Ostrya carpinifolia (European hop-hornbeam), Tilia (linden), Asperula taurina, Quercus pubescens (pubescent oak), and Fraxinus ornus (manna ash).
The driest and most alkaline soils of Monte San Giorgio are home to the Ticino dry meadows, a unique biome with over 100 plant and species, 38 of which are rare or endangered within Switzerland. Carex humilis (dwarf sedge) and Molinia caerulea arundinacea (tall moor grass) are the most common grasses, while Monte San Giorgio supports the few Swiss populations of wildflowers such as Adenophora liliifolia, Gladiolus imbricatus, Iris graminea, Lotus herbaceus, and Danthonia alpina.
102 species of vertebrates are found on Monte San Giorgio, 37 of which are endangered in Switzerland. The mountain is the only Swiss stronghold for Microtus savii (Savi's pine vole), and hosts breeding sites for amphibians such as Bufo bufo (common toad), Rana temporaria (common frog), Rana dalmatina (agile frog), Hyla intermedia (Italian tree frog), and other species. Invertebrates are even more diverse, including some species which are very rare in Switzerland, such as Pyrgus armoricanus (Oberthur's grizzled skipper), Euchorthippus declivus (Jersey grasshopper), and Pholidoptera littoralis insubrica (littoral dark bush-cricket). The dry meadows are especially diverse, hosting several species of previously undiscovered or undocumented spiders. Isolated populations of crustaceans and millipedes inhabit the deep karst and cave systems found on the mountain. Monte San Giorgio is considered a "mycological wonder", with over 500 species of fungi, several of which are endemic.
(Wikipedia)
Der Luganersee (Schreibweise in Deutschland und Österreich Luganer See), italienisch Lago di Lugano oder Ceresio (eine Italianisierung des lateinischen Namens Ceresius), deutsch veraltet Lauisersee (nach der früheren deutschen Bezeichnung Lauis für Lugano), ist einer der oberitalienischen Seen.
Lage
Der See befindet sich zu 63 % im Schweizer Kanton Tessin. Zu 37 % liegt die Seefläche in italienischem Gebiet. Er ist nach der Schweizer Stadt Lugano benannt. Seine Oberfläche liegt 271 m über dem Meeresspiegel und misst 48,8 km², von denen 30,7 km² zur Schweiz und 18,1 km² zu Italien gehören. Seine tiefste Stelle liegt bei 288 m, und sein Volumen beträgt 5,9 km³. Der wichtigste Zufluss ist der Vedeggio mit 4 m³/s.
Seine Form erklärt sich durch seine Entstehung nach der Eiszeit in einem Gebiet, in dem zwei Gletscher zusammentrafen. Durch den künstlichen Seedamm von Melide wird der See in ein Nord- und ein Südbecken geteilt. Das Nordbecken hat eine Fläche von 27,5 km², das Südbecken 20,3 km², dazu kommt das kleine Becken, genannt Laghetto (deutsch ‹kleiner See›), von Ponte Tresa mit 1,0 km².
Einige Ausläufer des Sees reichen nach Italien, dazu befindet sich die durch ihr Spielkasino bekannte italienische Exklave Campione d’Italia an seinem Ufer, was zu einem komplizierten Grenzverlauf führt. Südlich von Lugano überqueren die Autobahn A2 und die Gotthardbahn den See auf dem Seedamm von Melide.
Tourismus
Bekannte Aussichtsberge am Ufer sind der Monte Brè (925 m ü. M.) im Osten, der Monte San Salvatore (912 m ü. M.) im Süden von Lugano und der Monte Generoso (1701 m ü. M.) am südöstlichen Ufer. Zwischen den beiden südlichen Armen liegt das UNESCO-Weltnaturerbe Monte San Giorgio (1097 m ü. M.).
Da der See durch seine Lage an der Südspitze der Schweiz in einem mediterranen Klima liegt, ist er ein beliebtes Touristenziel.
Rund um den See haben sich verschiedene deutsche Komponisten zurückgezogen, wie Michael Jary, Martin Böttcher oder auch Peter Thomas. Der Schriftsteller Hermann Hesse lebte ab seinem 42. Lebensjahr bis zu seinem Tod in Montagnola bei Lugano. Zu seinen Ehren gibt es dort seit 1997 ein ihm gewidmetes Museum im alten Torre Camuzzi.
Limnologie
Der See ist aufgrund seiner Schichtung ein meromiktisches Gewässer.
(Wikipedia)
Der Monte San Giorgio ist ein Berg im Tessin in der Schweiz. Er ist 1097 m ü. M. hoch und liegt zwischen den beiden südlichen Armen des Luganersees. Der Monte San Giorgio ist eine der weltweit bedeutendsten Fundstellen für marine Fossilien aus der Mitteltrias (245 bis 230 Mio. Jahren). Im Jahr 2003 wurde das Gebiet rund um den Monte San Giorgio von der UNESCO zum Welterbe erklärt. 2010 wurde die Welterbestätte um den südlichen, zu Italien zählenden Teil erweitert.
Der pyramidenförmige Berg ist stark bewaldet. Die Naturlandschaft bietet vielen seltenen Pflanzen eine Heimat. Ausserdem liegen im Berg diverse Höhlen verborgen.
Geologie
Der Berg ruht auf einer Basis kristallinen Grundgebirges aus Gneis. Darauf liegen Schichten aus Andesit (Rhyolith) und Tuff. Es folgen Sedimentschichten aus der Trias, darunter wiederholt Dolomit und Kalk sowie Schichten mit bitumenhaltigem Ölschiefer. Die Schichten fallen nach Süden ab, so dass das älteste Gestein im Norden am Seeufer zutage tritt.
Eine Besonderheit ist die enorme Menge von gut konservierten Fossilien, die insbesondere in der 16 Meter dicken Grenzbitumenschicht gefunden wurden. Vor 200 Millionen Jahren bildeten die Gesteine des Monte San Giorgio ein rund 100 Meter tiefes Meeresbecken in einer subtropischen Region. Das Wasser muss am Boden sehr sauerstoffarm gewesen sein, so dass viele Wirbeltier-Leichen darin weder von Aasfressern noch von Strömungen zerstört wurden.[3] Die Fossilien, die am Monte San Giorgio gefunden wurden, sind deshalb oft vollständig erhaltene Skelette, die für die Forschung durch ihre weltweite Einzigartigkeit und Qualität von grosser Bedeutung sind.
So können heute auf dem Berg Versteinerungen von Fischen, Reptilien und wirbellosen Tieren wie Insekten – darunter einige mit einer Länge von bis zu sechs Metern und mehrere hundert Exemplare des Ichthyosauriers Mixosaurus – gefunden werden. Der Berg, der über weltweit einmalige fünf Fundschichten verfügt, zählt zu den wichtigsten Fundorten für die mittlere Trias.
Geschichte
Im 12. Jahrhundert lebte der Einsiedler Manfred von Riva auf dem Monte San Giorgio.
In der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts wurden die Bitumenschichten (Ölschiefer) industriell abgebaut und zu Öl oder Salbe („Saurolo“), mit pharmazeutischer Anwendung, verarbeitet. Marmor war ein weiterer bedeutender Rohstoff, welcher abgebaut wurde. Der letzte Marmorsteinbruch in der Gemeinde Arzo stellte 2011 seinen Betrieb ein.
Ab 1924 führte die Universität Zürich unter der Leitung des Paläontologen Bernhard Peyer und ab 1956 durch Emil Kuhn-Schnyder eine Reihe von wissenschaftlichen Ausgrabungen durch. Diese förderten über 10'000 Funde zutage, und viele neue Gattungen wurden entdeckt. Einige davon tragen Namen mit lokalem Bezug; wie zum Beispiel Helveticosaurus (benannt nach Helvetier), Ticinosuchus (benannt nach dem Kanton Tessin) oder Ceresiosaurus (benannt nach dem Ceresio, der italienischen Bezeichnung des Luganersees).
1977 kam der Monte San Giorgio in das Bundesinventar der Landschaften und Naturdenkmäler von nationaler Bedeutung.
Tourismus
Der Monte San Giorgio ist heute ein beliebtes Ausflugsziel für Radfahrer und Wanderer. Ein Naturlehrpfad führt Besucher in die Besonderheiten des Welterbes ein. Der Hauptteil der Funde befindet sich im Paläontologischen Museum in Zürich. Eine Auswahl bedeutender Funde sowie Replikate sind im neuen Fossilienmuseum des Monte San Giorgio in Meride ausgestellt.
Fossilienmuseum des Monte San Giorgio in Meride
Das vom Tessiner Architekten Mario Botta umgebaute und erweiterte Fossilienmuseum des Monte San Giorgio in Meride (Kanton Tessin) wurde am 13. Oktober 2012 eingeweiht. Die Struktur zeigt eine Auswahl von versteinerten Tieren und Pflanzen aus dem weltweit einmaligen UNESCO-Weltnaturerbe des Monte San Giorgio. Eine 2,5 Meter lange Rekonstruktion des Landsauriers Ticinosuchus begrüsst die Besucher im neuen Fossilienmuseum im Dorfzentrum von Meride. Er lebte vor rund 240 Millionen Jahren am Rand eines reich belebten subtropischen Meeres, gleichzeitig mit vielen anderen, ans Wasserleben angepassten Meeressauriern und Fischen. Die ausgezeichnet erhaltenen Skelette aus der Mitteltrias des Monte San Giorgio haben den „Berg der Saurier“ als UNESCO-Weltnaturerbe weltberühmt gemacht. Auf vier Stockwerke verteilt wird die grosse Vielfalt an Lebewesen vorgestellt, die zwischen 245 und 180 Millionen Jahren vor heute das damalige Meer und seine Küste im Südtessin bevölkerten. Illustrationen und Modelle machen dem Publikum diese längst ausgestorbene Welt verständlich, deren Fossilien seit 1850 von schweizerischen und italienischen Fachleuten ausgegraben, präpariert und wissenschaftlich beschrieben wurden.
Erschliessung
Von Süden über Mendrisio kann das Gebiet des Monte San Giorgio auf der Strasse erreicht werden. Eine weitere Strasse führt von Riva San Vitale dem See entlang bis nach Brusino Arsizio und weiter nach Porto Ceresio in Italien. Von Brusino gibt es eine Luftseilbahn zur Aussichtsterrasse von Serpiano (650 m ü. M.), wo auch die Strasse von Mendrisio endet. Von hier aus hat man eine sehr schöne Aussicht über den verzweigten Luganersee.
(Wikipedia)
interior of the church of St. Anastasia - Verona
La chiesa di Sant’Anastasia è uno splendido esempio di gotico italiano. Fu eretta a partire dal 1290 con il contributo della famiglia che governava la città, gli Scaligeri, e di altre famiglie veronesi. Prima dell’attuale edificio qui esistevano due chiese dedicate, una a Sant'Anastasia e l’altra a San Remigio.
Nel 1290 i domenicani chiamati a custodirle, decisero di costruire al loro posto un’unica chiesa dedicata a San Pietro da Verona detto anche San Pietro Martire, ma il popolo continuò a chiamarla Sant'Anastasia. Accanto alla chiesa i monaci domenicani avevano un grande convento.
L’opera di costruzione del sacro edificio continuò per tutto il 1300 e il 1400 e finalmente nel 1500 si ebbe l’ultima fase dei lavori per il suo completamento. La facciata è l'unico elemento mai portato a termine.
Sant’Anastasia è la chiesa più grande di Verona. La basilica si sviluppa in tre grandi navate sorrette da 12 imponenti colonne di marmo rosso di Verona. Sul transetto si aprono 5 cappelle. Sul lato sinistro si apre l’antico oratorio del convento, Cappella Giusti.
La chiesa, ricchissima di opere d’arte, custodisce anche il celebre affresco del Pisanello San Giorgio e la Principessa, tornato nella sua collocazione originaria sopra la Cappella Pellegrini.
All’esterno la facciata incompiuta con lo splendido portale gotico e la zona absidale, posta sulla riva del fiume Adige. All’interno: gli altari con le cappelle con opere di Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, Liberale da Verona, Girolamo Dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero, e Pisanello. All’ingresso i singolari gobbi che reggono l'acquasantiera.
The church of St. Anastasia is a fine example of Italian Gothic architecture. It was designed by two Dominican friars and work began on it as from 1290 AD. Work lasted throughout the 14th and 15th centuries and by the early years of the 16th century the final stages of building showed that the end was in sight. The only thing never to be completed was the façade. St. Anastasia is the largest church in Verona.
The Basilica extends over three large aisles supported by twelve impressive pillars in red Veronese marble. To the left of the transept a splendid marble entrance opens onto the Giusti chapel which was at one time the oratory of the Dominican monastery.
The church soars to a great height and the interior is impressive; it is virtually an art gallery which contains many of the works of art Masters often mentioned in art history books. The most important is Pisanello’s well known fresco (St. George and the Princess) above Pellegrini Chapel. Note outside he unfinished façade with the splendid Gothic portal. Inside, you can see altars and chapels with works by Pietro da Porlezza, Cattaneo, Michele da Firenze, LiIberale da Verona, Girolamo dai Libri, Giolfino, Brusasorzi, Altichiero and Pisanello; at the entrance the singular hunchbacks of the holy water stoup.
Tra il sonno e il sogno
tra me e colui che in me
è colui che mi suppongo,
scorre un fiume interminato.
E' passato per altre rive,
sempre nuove, più in là
nei diversi itinerari
che ogni fiume percorre.
E' giunto dove oggi abito
la casa che oggi sono.
Passa, se io mi medito;
se mi desto, è passato.
E colui che mi sento e muore
in quel che mi lega a me
dorme dove il fiume scorre:
questo fiume interminato.
(F: Pessoa)
Close to Lake Como is Lake Lugano, and the picturesque town of Porlezza - great pizza was had looking out over the lake!
Photo created on: 14.03.13
Camera: NIKON D90
Lens: 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6
Exposure: ¹⁄₂₅₀ Sek. bei f/5,0
As always, I'm very interested in your opinion and suggestions.
Thanks a lot for your visit!
03.08.2024
Per la prima volta provo lo spot tra Lugano Paradiso e Melide, poco dopo Capo S. Martino e rimango da subito meravigliato per il perfetto scenario composto dal lago Ceresio e le montagne attorno e l'inquadratura appare come un quadro.
Attendo qui il transito del materiale vuoto del GoPEx giunto quasi alla fine della sua giornata e nel mentre colgo l'occasione per fotografare un paio di treni merci presi a carico da BLSC e di un paio di treni regionali per l'Italia.
03.08.2024
Zum ersten Mal versuche ich die Stelle zwischen Lugano Paradiso und Melide, gleich nach dem Capo S. Martino, und bin sofort begeistert von der perfekten Kulisse, die sich aus dem Luganersee und den umliegenden Bergen zusammensetzt, und die Aufnahme wirkt wie ein Gemälde.
Hier warte ich auf die Durchfahrt der leeren GoPEx-Ausrüstung, die fast am Ende ihres Tages angelangt ist, und in der Zwischenzeit nutze ich die Gelegenheit, ein paar von der BLSC abgeholte Güterzüge und ein paar Regionalzüge nach Italien zu fotografieren.
Only one return journey is left of the former three daily Palm Express services connecting St. Moritz with Lugano via Italy. The bus nowadays starts in the morning in St. Moritz and runs back the same day, arriving back after sunset during half of the year. The Setra autobus just passed the Swiss-Italian border on the back journey some minutes ago and is running along the shores of the italian Part of Lago di Lugano.
----------------------------
Operator: PostAuto Gebiet Ost, St. Moritz garage
Vehicle: 5613 / GR 168'801, Setra S 415H (2013)
Route: 90.631 Lugano - Menaggio - Chiavenna - St. Moritz ("Palm Express")
Public domain photo of Porlezza, Italy in the late nineteenth century that was altered with the Topaz Adjust plug-in (boost effect), the Topaz Adjust plug-in (relative contrast effect), then the Topaz Lens Effects plug-in (reflector gold effect), then the Topaz Detail plug-in (soft and dreamy effect), then the Topaz Adjust plug-in (French countryside effect), then the Topaz ReStyle plug-in (red bricks and blue skies effect then the sapphire and gold effect), and then the Topaz Impression plug-in (van Gogh effect), then the Alien Skin Exposure plug-in (Kodak Porta 160VC and vignette effects). Public domain image courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Italien / Lombardei - Lago di Piano
A natural oasis between two lakes
Lago di Piano Natural Reserve is located in Val Menaggio, between Lake Como and Lake Lugano.
The small fishing lake, with a coast somewhere jagged, is marvellous during the summer, when the water lilies cover it almost completely. Magic and spectral during the winter, when the place gets grey tinges and the surface of the lake becomes ice.
Lago di Piano Natural Reserve is a great stop for an excursion in the area around Porlezza, just before reaching the coasts of Lake Lugano.
During the summer is possible to stop on the shore, enjoy the peaceful moments of this place and the warm temperature that characterizes the area. But in the winter everything changes: the iced surface is polish, but you can’t skating on. Everything freezes up and mutes: here is the magic of the winter on Lake Como.
(lakocomo.is)
Der Lago di Piano liegt auf der Strecke Menaggio-Lugano gut zwei Kilometer vor den Toren Porlezzas im gleichnamigen Naturschutzgebiet. Ein 1,5-stündiger Fußmarsch von Croce (weiter nach Bene Lario) oberhalb von Menaggio führt sie zum Naturschutzgebiet. Natürlich ist auch eine Anfahrt mit dem Auto möglich.
Am See beim Parkplatz befinden sich ein Restaurant, der Anfang der Rundwanderung, eine Bootsvermietung und eine Infotafel. Etwas weiter östlich tauchen schnell der Campingplatz und weitere touristische Angebote auf. Im Frühjahr und Herbst kann man hier seltene Vogelarten beobachten.
(comersee-info.de)
Italien / Lombardei - Lago di Piano und Luganer See
seen from Monte Grona
gesehen vom Monte Grona
Lake Lugano (Italian: Lago di Lugano or Ceresio, from Latin: Ceresius lacus; Lombard: Lagh de Lugan) is a glacial lake which is situated on the border between southern Switzerland and northern Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated between Lake Como and Lago Maggiore. It was cited for the first time by Gregory of Tours in 590 with the name Ceresio, a name which is said to have derived from the Latin word cerasus, meaning cherry, and refers to the abundance of cherry trees which at one time adorned the shores of the lake. The lake appears in documents in 804 under the name Laco Luanasco.
There are various mountains and tourist destinations on the shores of the lake including Monte Brè to the east, Monte San Salvatore west of Lugano, and Monte Generoso on the south-eastern shore. The World Heritage Site Monte San Giorgio is situated south of the lake. Also located to the south is the Cinque Vette Park.
The lake is drained by the Tresa, which empties into Lake Maggiore, the latter being drained by the Ticino and the Po.
History
The first certain testimony of a political body governing the shores of the lake is from 818. Occupying an area of strategic importance, the lake was then part of the feudal dominion of the County of Sperio. Circa 1000, it came under the control of the Bishop of Como. The region was the site of the war between Como and Milan over control of Alpine traffic from 1218 to 1227. As the lake and its shores became progressively incorporated into the Duchy of Milan they became the subject of political and territorial contention during the 15th century, and Lugano became the lake's main town.
The lake definitively ceased to belong to a single sovereign political entity following the establishment of the transalpine bailiwicks of the Swiss cantons at the beginning of the 16th century. The Italian-Swiss border was fixed in 1752 by the Treaty of Varese, and has since remained virtually unchanged.
In 1848, the Melide causeway was built on a moraine between Melide and Bissone, in order to carry a road across the lake and provide a direct connection between Lugano and Chiasso. Today the causeway also carries the Gotthard railway and the A2 motorway.
Geography
The lake is 48.7 km2 (18.8 sq mi) in size, 63% of which is in Switzerland and 37% in Italy. It has an average width of roughly 1 km (0.62 mi) and a maximum width of about 3 km (1.9 mi) at the bay of Lugano. A maximum depth of 288 m (945 ft) is found in the northern basin. The culminating point of the lake's drainage basin is the Pizzo di Gino summit in the Lugano Prealps (2,245 m; 7,365 ft).[3] Bathing in the lake is allowed at any of the 50 or so bathing establishments located along the Swiss shores.
The Italian exclave of Campione d'Italia and parts of the waters of the lake are considered by European Customs Law as non-territorial for fiscal purposes and as such enjoy a special tax status as a duty-free area, exemption from EU VAT and offer residents other advantageous tax privileges.
The Melide causeway separates the northern (27.5 km2; 10.6 sq mi) and southern (21.4 km2; 8.3 sq mi) basins, although a bridge in the causeway permits water flow and navigation. The lake retention time is an average of 8.2 years; that of the northern basin (11.9 years) is considerably higher than the southern one (2.3 years).
Navigation
The lake is navigable, and used by a considerable number of private vessels. Passenger boats of the Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano (SNL) provide services on the lake, principally for tourist purposes, but also connecting Lugano with other lakeside communities, some of which have no road access.
Fishery in the lake (and Lake Maggiore) is regulated by a 1986 agreement between Switzerland and Italy. The current agreement on navigation dates from 1992.
Pollution
Pollution has long been a problem in Lake Lugano. In the 1960s and 1970s it was officially forbidden to bathe in the lake.[6] Despite the continued introduction of sewage treatment plants, such as in Gandria, factors, such as lake retention time and lack of oxygen and increasing phosphorus concentrations, means it is unclear if the lake will recover.
The Federal Office for the Environment's last published report on Lake Lugano dates from 1995. To summarise that report:
at that time measurements indicated some improvement, but this was unlikely to continue at the same pace
there were almost permanent polluted layers at the bottom of the very deep lake
oxygen was scarce and could not be found below 100 m (330 ft) depth
as a result phosphorus levels were increasing at this depth
phosphorus levels in the northern basin were six times too high and in the southern basin twice too high
will take many decades to clean
the lake could be said to be "chronically sick"
in the Italian part of the lake only 20% of the population were connected to sewage treatment plants with phosphorus filters (not that all Swiss areas were connected either).
The Swiss-Italian organisation CIPAIS in its most recent published report says:
Considering the results obtained in 2009 it can be affirmed that, notwithstanding the observed improvement, Lake Lugano is still in a state of high eutrophication, the highest among Swiss lakes.
The Italian environmental group Legambiente, in its 2007 study of all northern Italian lakes, found Lake Lugano to be the most polluted of all.
All water samples were well beyond the legal limits. The polluted sites should not be bathed in for health reasons. Bacteria can cause in the worst case, skin infections, diarrhoea and vomiting.
According to Legambiente, the only reason swimming was not banned on the Italian Lakes was because the state of Lombardy changed the law. They state that pollution levels in the lakes do not conform to European rulings and the lack of sewage treatment is illegal.
Their 2010 measurements found samples taken at Ponte Tresa, Osteno and Porto Ceresio to be "heavily polluted" (more than 1,000 UFC/100 ml intestinal enterococci and/or greater than 2000 UFC/100 ml E. coli).
Fauna
The lake is full of fish. Apart from a few protected areas, such as the mouth of the River Cuccio in Porlezza, fishing is allowed anywhere, although according to various regulations. Protected species are the bleak and the white clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes). The bleak is almost extinct here, unlike in Lago Maggiore, and planning is under way for the controlled repopulation of the lake, particularly around Ponte Tresa.
In 1895 the brook trout was introduced from Lake Zug, while between 1894 and 1897 the common whitefish was introduced. Since 1950 attempts have been made to introduce the whitefish Coregonus macrophthalmus from Lake Neuchâtel, but it has not established itself effectively.
The Common Roach is present in large numbers and took around ten years to colonise the entire lake, thereby replacing the bleak. Still present are the European chub, tench, carp and a few examples of European perch, largemouth bass, zander and burbot. Recently the wels catfish and pigo have been spotted.
Fossils
The whole area behind the southern shores of Lake Lugano is rich in fossils. The focal point of these fossil deposits is Monte San Giorgio, where since the 19th century many fossils have been found dating from the mid-Triassic (around 220 million years ago). The deposits on Monte San Giorgio stretch towards the west into Italian territory and the deposits of Besano. Fossils dating from the early Jurassic (around 180 million years ago) have also been found along the southern shores but more towards the east and Osteno.
(Wikipedia)
A natural oasis between two lakes
Lago di Piano Natural Reserve is located in Val Menaggio, between Lake Como and Lake Lugano.
The small fishing lake, with a coast somewhere jagged, is marvellous during the summer, when the water lilies cover it almost completely. Magic and spectral during the winter, when the place gets grey tinges and the surface of the lake becomes ice.
Lago di Piano Natural Reserve is a great stop for an excursion in the area around Porlezza, just before reaching the coasts of Lake Lugano.
During the summer is possible to stop on the shore, enjoy the peaceful moments of this place and the warm temperature that characterizes the area. But in the winter everything changes: the iced surface is polish, but you can’t skating on. Everything freezes up and mutes: here is the magic of the winter on Lake Como.
(lakocomo.is)
Der Lago di Piano liegt auf der Strecke Menaggio-Lugano gut zwei Kilometer vor den Toren Porlezzas im gleichnamigen Naturschutzgebiet. Ein 1,5-stündiger Fußmarsch von Croce (weiter nach Bene Lario) oberhalb von Menaggio führt sie zum Naturschutzgebiet. Natürlich ist auch eine Anfahrt mit dem Auto möglich.
Am See beim Parkplatz befinden sich ein Restaurant, der Anfang der Rundwanderung, eine Bootsvermietung und eine Infotafel. Etwas weiter östlich tauchen schnell der Campingplatz und weitere touristische Angebote auf. Im Frühjahr und Herbst kann man hier seltene Vogelarten beobachten.
(comersee-info.de)
Der Luganersee (Schreibweise in Deutschland und Österreich Luganer See), italienisch Lago di Lugano oder Ceresio (eine Italianisierung des lateinischen Namens Ceresius), deutsch veraltet Lauisersee (nach der früheren deutschen Bezeichnung Lauis für Lugano), ist einer der oberitalienischen Seen.
Lage
Der See befindet sich zu 63 % im Schweizer Kanton Tessin. Zu 37 % liegt die Seefläche in italienischem Gebiet. Er ist nach der Schweizer Stadt Lugano benannt. Seine Oberfläche liegt 271 m über dem Meeresspiegel und misst 48,8 km², von denen 30,7 km² zur Schweiz und 18,1 km² zu Italien gehören. Seine tiefste Stelle liegt bei 288 m, und sein Volumen beträgt 5,9 km³. Der wichtigste Zufluss ist der Vedeggio mit 4 m³/s.
Seine Form erklärt sich durch seine Entstehung nach der Eiszeit in einem Gebiet, in dem zwei Gletscher zusammentrafen. Durch den künstlichen Seedamm von Melide wird der See in ein Nord- und ein Südbecken geteilt. Das Nordbecken hat eine Fläche von 27,5 km², das Südbecken 20,3 km², dazu kommt das kleine Becken, genannt Laghetto (deutsch ‹kleiner See›), von Ponte Tresa mit 1,0 km².
Einige Ausläufer des Sees reichen nach Italien, dazu befindet sich die durch ihr Spielkasino bekannte italienische Exklave Campione d’Italia an seinem Ufer, was zu einem komplizierten Grenzverlauf führt. Südlich von Lugano überqueren die Autobahn A2 und die Gotthardbahn den See auf dem Seedamm von Melide.
Tourismus
Bekannte Aussichtsberge am Ufer sind der Monte Brè (925 m ü. M.) im Osten, der Monte San Salvatore (912 m ü. M.) im Süden von Lugano und der Monte Generoso (1701 m ü. M.) am südöstlichen Ufer. Zwischen den beiden südlichen Armen liegt das UNESCO-Weltnaturerbe Monte San Giorgio (1097 m ü. M.).
Da der See durch seine Lage an der Südspitze der Schweiz in einem mediterranen Klima liegt, ist er ein beliebtes Touristenziel.
Rund um den See haben sich verschiedene deutsche Komponisten zurückgezogen, wie Michael Jary, Martin Böttcher oder auch Peter Thomas. Der Schriftsteller Hermann Hesse lebte ab seinem 42. Lebensjahr bis zu seinem Tod in Montagnola bei Lugano. Zu seinen Ehren gibt es dort seit 1997 ein ihm gewidmetes Museum im alten Torre Camuzzi.
Limnologie
Der See ist aufgrund seiner Schichtung ein meromiktisches Gewässer.
(Wikipedia)
ASF Autolinee is operating the public transport system around Lago di Como in northern Italy, comprising of Urban and lakeside bus routes as well as some steep mountain routes as C14 from Menaggio to Val Cavargna valley.
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Operator: ASF Autolinee, Como
Vehicle: 1014/DC048JP, Caetano Optimo on Toyota Coaster chassis
Route: C14 Como - Porlezza - Cavargna