Pisano
Pisano is located about 10 minutes from Meina and a couple of kilometres from Nebbiuno. It’s about 400 metres asl and is entirely covered with woods descending from Mount La Guardia (above Colazza) and extending to the Tiasca Valley. This area, which is characterised by a sunny, mild climate, is fertile thanks to numerous waterways - ideal for thriving orchards.
Pisano in history
It has been inhabited from time immemorial, however the year it was founded is not known but it is believed that the town’s nucleus already existed in the Roman period. Such a hypothesis is also proven by the discovery (in the 1810’s) of some 30 amphoras probably used as funeral urns. Unfortunately these have been lost. The theory is further supported by the analogy with the towns and villages close to Pisano, where the penetration of Roman civilisation was certainly early.
As for documents in hand today, the town was referred to for the first time in 1282 in three different parchments. In fact a Guido Notarius de Pesano e Alberto e Otone e Casaro de Pesano was found. The Church of S. Eusebio de Pexsana appeared two years prior in the Liber Notitiae Sanctorum Mediolani. Pisano’s later history is common with that of the entire Vergante area, and the town was a fief first under the Visconti and then the Borromeo families. As for its toponymy, the root Pis is typical of Gaul-Roman names in northern Italy and may come from Pisius or Pisone, while the suffix – ano would appear to indicate an agricultural belonging.
Tourism in Pisano
The village’s charming atmosphere is easily experienced in Via Gramsci, when coming from Piazza della Repubblica: there are many narrow medieval alleys characterised by loggias and inner courtyards and massive bare-stone buildings appear under the plastered walls.
The dwellings dating back to the 15th century are also interesting, as shown by a walled stone inside a home in Via Picensi, indicating the date of construction. Piazza Vittorio Veneto, which joins the two nuclei forming the village, is home to Town Hall and the church dedicated to Sant’Eusebio and to Saints Maccabei. The latter was significantly renovated in the 17th century when it was given the title of parish church.
Lovers of devout art should visit the votive chapels dedicated to the Virgin Mary. One of them still has a fresco of the Madonna with Holy Child in the wall of a farmhouse located on trunk road Statale Vergante. There is a votive aedicule (middle of 17th century) dedicated to Madonna di Loreto in Via Umberto I: the dress and a rich painted necklace are of particular value.
