BRUNATE - ENGLISH

HOME

 



maps

From Cabiate we lead to Arosio and go on to Mirovano and Fabbrica Durini and then Anzano del Parco. From here we go straight on to Alserio and Carcano. At the traffic light, after the church, we go on to Albavilla. At the first crossroads we turn left and then straight on. We’ll see Pomerio castle on the right, after half a km. We still go straight on till to Como Brunate directions. We leave then the major street and go up a steep road on the right. Steepness is almost 10%.

We’ll cycle along level road at the entrance of the village. But again road becomes steeper and then more level. Sightseeing is beautiful.

In the village square we can see the huge mechanism that makes move the funicular.

We can also reach Brunate going down to Como, instead of climbing up to the steep road. Then we catch the funicular.

Brunate is a village of celtic origin, on the hill in front of Como town. It was one of the most famous resort. From the middle of the village a path leads to Monte San Primo. Along the way we’ll see several mountain retreats.

Brunate patron is S.Andrea, on the 30th of November. The 3rd Sunday in September S. Maurizio feast is celebrated by member of the Italian alpine troops.

The present lighthouse was made in 1927 in honor of Alessandro Volta. In May 1899 was made the first lighthouse, a special experiment for Volta exhibition. It has 100 ampères and 50.000 candles force. It has

octagonal platform, 29 mt height, by a project of Engineer Andrea Giussani. Light of its lantern is visible for 50 km. from the top of the lighthouse, after a climb 143 steps, we can see sightseeing of Como town, Cernobbio manors, Chiasso town and the Alps.

The funicular was projected the 3rd of November 1891 with an initial capital of L. 350.000. works began in 1893 by Villoresi Engineers. Its first run was in 1894, it was inaugurated and blessed by Bishop in Como. The small station in Brunate was finished in Januar 1895. The two cabs, called Como and Brunate, worked with a huge steam machinery, they had a rail lift with powerful brakes. The mechanism operates the cable made of 150 steel wireds that can withstand 5 time the effort required. 3949 steps climb up beside the rail. Once mainteneirs went up and down twice a day. Rail is 1075 mt. long. At the beginning slope is 33% and up at the end is 55%. It goes up to a level of 500 mt.