Tignale

HISTORY OF TIGNALE

Once a time agricultural economy prevailed in Tignale, but nowadays it has become a wonderful tourist centre, too. The first inhabitants were Galli Cenomai, then the village was ruled by several powerful sovereigns…Romans, Scaligery, the Visconti Dukes… In 1426 Tignale was inserted among the dominations of the  Republic of Venice “Serenissima” and in 1797, “Il Patto di Campoformio”, the river Gardola became natural frontier between Austria and the Republic of Cisalpina.

ARTS

The most important historical monument is no doubt the pilgrimage “Santuario della Madonna di Montecastello” (altitude: 700 m) with its wonderful church, high on the rock, which falls perpendicularly for 700 m to the lake. The first notices date back to 802, the original name was “Casa Santa”.

It passed under the rule of several sovereigns and was used like a fortress, enlarged and strengthened by San Carlo Borromeo  during the 16th. century.The church was finished in 1599. Two wonderful pieces by Andrea Celesti are to admire on the left side wall of the nave. On the right side you can find a masterpiece of Andrea Bertanza, representing the captivity of Giovanni Beatrici, better known as Zanazanù. The legend told about Zanazanù, an unwounded man, he was able to block patrons of a gun with the naked hand! The inner side of the Romanesque Gothic church keeps beautiful frescoes of the Renaissance. There is a wonderful altar made of golden wood with a statue of Our Lady by an unknown artist (1400). The statue is framed by 4 medals, masterpieces by Palma il Giovane, representing: “Presentazione al tempio”, “Lannunciazione”, “La Nascita di Gesù” and “La Visita dei Magi”.The official capital of Tignale is Gardola, the seat of the administration.

ATTRACTIONS

On the coast, there is a landscape called “Pra della Fam”. In 1985, nearby the little ancient port, some destroyed greenhouses were completely restored, the “limonaia”, “Giardino Nuovo” with many old lemon trees.

– Chiesa di San Bartolomeo
– Rifugio degli Alpini
– Eremo di San Michele
– Chiesa San Giovanni Battista