Dervio
| Dervio | |
|---|---|
| Comune | |
| Comune di Dervio | |
  Dervio Location of Dervio in Italy | |
| Coordinates: 46°5′N 9°18′E / 46.083°N 9.300°ECoordinates: 46°5′N 9°18′E / 46.083°N 9.300°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Lombardy |
| Province / Metropolitan city | Province of Lecco (LC) |
| Frazioni | Corenno Plinio |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.7 km2 (4.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 220 m (720 ft) |
| Population (Dec. 2004) | |
| • Total | 2,743 |
| • Density | 230/km2 (610/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Derviesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 23824 |
| Dialing code | 0341 |
| Website | Official website |
Dervio is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region Lombardy, located on the eastern shore of Lake Como, about 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Milan and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of Lecco. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,743 and an area of 11.7 km².[1]
The municipality of Dervio contains the frazione (subdivision) Corenno Plinio.
Dervio borders the following municipalities: Bellano, Cremia, Dorio, Introzzo, Pianello del Lario, San Siro, Sueglio, Tremenico, Vendrogno, Vestreno.
DERVIO is located on the derviese peninsula jutting out into the waters of Lake Como, is positioned at the mouth of Valvarrone Valley and is marked by the Varrone River. It origins are very old as it was once an important fortified village due to its strategic position dating back to the Roman period. Thanks to its natural and artistic attractions and to recent interventions on its infrastructures, Dervio has become an important tourist destination on Lake Como and is considered a “Sailing Paradise” due its outstretched and constantly airy position on the lake and its four sailing schools. The significantly long lake, numerous beaches and beautiful equipped exercise course surrounded by nature offer an elegant and natural landscape where walking becomes a moment for fun and relaxation. The mountains surrounding Dervio are perfect for hiking in uncontaminated environments and offer charming views. This town is very active and has many entertaining events and initiatives for its inhabitants and tourists.
TO SEE : At the foot of the mountain is the small Church of St. Quirico and Giulitta, one of the oldest religious buildings in the area and mentioned in documents as early as 814. Its Romanesque stone bell tower was built about 1080. The parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (11th century) and its Romanesque bell tower are in the Borgo district overlooking the lake. The Orezia Castle is perched on a cliff dominating the town. It was built in the late Middle Ages to block the road to Valvarrone Valley. This tower is still in good condition and is flanked by the ruins of ancient dwellings. The first mention of it dates back to 1039 when it sustained a long period of siege by the armies of the Three Larian Parishes. The ruins of Castelvedro (5-6th centuries) are located in Mai (400m ASL) on the headland dominating the southern part of Dervio. The fortification is in a dominating position and the ruins of its massive walls are an indication of its significant size.It was part of a defence system created on the shores of Lake Como due to the raids by the barbarians of Rhaetia. The hamlet of Corenno Plinio is one of the most characteristic corners of Lake Como, a place where it is still possible to feel a strong presence of history and imagine the vicissitudes of the lake during the Middle Ages. This medieval village is positioned around the castle and church on top of the headland. The old houses and uniform details with the porticoes and decorations make Corenno a unique, one-of-a-kind place. The most charming panorama is offered when arriving from the lake, with the old patrician homes dominating the cliff, steep stairways and their characteristic steps eroded in the rock climbing up to the cobblestone square. Although its history is much older, the fate of Corenno was tied to the family of counts Andriani. It is recorded that Archbishop Ottone Visconti declared Jacopo Andriani feudal lord of Corenno, granting him on 30 May 1271 a fief that included Corenno and part of the mountain of Varenna. Over time, the family fortified the town by building a castle fortress (Castello Andriani) on the ruins of a former Roman fortification. It wasn’t originally meant to be inhabited but to be used as a fortress-enclosure against the numerous attacks, especially in the 14th century when the part of Corenno towards the lake was destroyed by fire. The name Plinio was added in 1863 in honor of Roman consul Caio Plinio Cecilio Secondo. Once an outpost for the Visconti family (Dukes of Milan), the fortress is now the property of the Marietti family, successors to the Andriani family. Its outer quadrilateral walls (still in good condition), a sail-type entrance tower facing the piazza and a square tower added later (on the mountain side) allowed the old “Sentiero del Viandante” to be controlled. Another example of historic fortifications in Corenno is the Cadorna Line or Northern Border with trenches, machine gun posts and galleries built in 1916-18 that can be reached with the path that starts from the main road in front of the castle. A church (initially a private family chapel) dedicated to St. Thomas Canterbury (12th century) overlooks the piazza behind the castle. Consecrated as a true church in 1327, it was ordained a parish in 1566 by Archbishop Carlo Borromeo. It houses ancient remnants of frescoes from the Lombard school (14-16th centuries). Grave monuments of the counts Andreani (originally spelt Andriani), feudal lords of Corenno, are on the façade on the sides to the entrance. These works from the 13-14th centuries are enhanced with sculptural elements of particular interest.
Demographic evolution
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