The Virgin of the Fountain, Dormello
Itineraries From the Park all around
Minitour Dormello (1/3) 
This moraine range dominating the lake gave shelter to a small village called Dormello, now disappeared, whose name originally indicated its present-day chief town, Dormelletto. Its territory included Dormello Inferiore, downhill to the lake, and Dormello Superiore, the biggest community, uphill towards the Park.
During the first half of the 19th century it enjoyed the status of indipendent municipality.
While downhill, near the 18th century church of Madonna della Motta, only a 1st century AD Roman altarpiece was found, in Dormallo Superiore there is a greater presence of Roman artifacts: another altarpiece, Roman brickwork later used on the walls of "Madonna della Fontana", and a bronze spoon lost in the plain towards the Lagoni Park.
Thanks to the "Fountain" the place was considered sacred in pre-Christian times. The wallbuilt altarpiece might refer to such worshipping. On the two visible side a bas-relif shows a plate with offering and a ritual jug. Later on two mysterious human figures were painted over in red.
In the plain dominating the curve to Dormello were the remains of the village church, first mentioned in 1252, but probably older because of its dedications to St. Gaudentius, patron of Novara's diocese. The stones from this church were used to build Madonna della Motta in Dormello Inferiore.
Info
Other informations about itineraries From the Park all around are available on this web site, and nearby the described monument, in English.
Information provided by GASMA (Arona's Archeological, Historical, Mineralogical Group)
For guided tours please contact Associazione ProntoGuide
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Last updated: March 7th 2004