The Lucia Regata – Regata di Lucie

July 23, 2010 in Alessandro Manzoni, Events, I Promessi Sposi, Lecco, Photos of Italy, The Betrothed by admin | 1 comment

Boat races
Usually late June, early July

Once a common fisherman’s boat and used as everyday transportation by the inhabitants of Lake Lecco and Lake Como,  The Lucia, was immortalized in Alessandro Manzoni’s  romantic tragedy, The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi). Manzoni describes Lucia’s sentimental and moving departure from the banks of the Adda River in the chapter “Farewell to the mountains”  (“ Addio ai Monti”) when Lucia rows her boat away escaping  from the terrible villains, L’Innominato and Don Rodrigo,  and searches for her true love, Renzo.

The Lucia (La barca di Lucia)  is made of wood and is easily recognized by its three wooden arches much like those used on wagons in the early exploratory days of America. The arches served as a frame to hang fishing nets, or in bad weather, a tarp to cover and protect the passengers. There are no motors or sails, they must be rowed.

Every year in Lecco and the surrounding towns, Lucia boat races are held. It’s a beautiful sight to see the old –fashioned boats floating peacefully across the lake at sunset. The participants often dress in period costumes as well. Afterwards there are celebrations and a small festival in the main plaza.

You can read more about The Betrothed on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Betrothed_(Manzoni_novel)

It’s July, it’s sunny and it’s hot!

July 20, 2010 in Lecco, Weather, Seasons and Climate by admin | No comments

Actually, last week was worse, up to 39°, but it’s still hot! 30° C and 77% humidity!
We have had quite a few evening thunder and hail storms (which is normal for this time of year). The best times to visit lecco are June and July or September and October. The winters get cold, rainy and windy.

 

See METEO.it for info on weather reports

http://www.meteo.it/previsioni/Lecco/istat-97042

Or WEATHER.COM for10 day  reports

http://www.weather.com/weather/today/ITXX0207

Lecco

July 13, 2010 in Lecco by admin

Lecco is an Italian city of c. 47,000 inhabitants set in Lombardy, 50 kilometres north of Milan, and is the capital of the province of Lecco. It lies at the end of the south-eastern branch of Lake Como (the branch named Lake of Lecco). The Prealps rise to the north and east, cut through by the Valsassina of which Lecco marks the southern end. The lake narrows to form the river Adda, so bridges were built to improve road communications with Como and Milan. There are three bridges crossing the river Adda in Lecco: the Azzone Visconti Bridge (1336-1338), the Kennedy Bridge (1956) and the Alessandro Manzoni Bridge (1985). Its economy used to be based on industry (iron manufacturers), but now it is mainly tertiary.

History of Lecco

Piazza XX Settembre, in the centre of the town, and the San Martino mountain.
View of Lecco from Piani d’Erna, under mount Resegone. Archaeological finds demonstrate the presence of Celtic settlement in the area before the arrival of the Romans. The latter built a castrum here and made it an important road hub. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Lombards captured the town in the 6th century; they were followed by the Franks, who made Lecco the seat of a countship and, later, of a frontier Mark.

Emperor Otto I spent a long time in Lecco, quenching the 964 revolt against the Holy Roman Empire led by Lecco’s count Attone. Later it became a possession of the Milanese monastry of St. Ambrose. Conrad II also stayed in Lecco, in the attempt to free it from the church, but as the result of the ensuing wars the city was subjected by Milan. It subsequently followed the history of the Duchy of Milan and of Lombardy. In the early 16th century it was briefly ruled by the condottiere Gian Giacomo Medici.

During World War II it was an important centre of the partisan war against the German occupation.