Formazza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Formazza
Púmâtt (Walser)
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| Comune di Formazza | ||
Mountains in Formazza
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| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Piedmont | |
| Province | Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (VB) | |
| Frazioni | Foppiano, Antillone, Fondovalle, Chiesa, Valdo, San Michele, Ponte (communal seat), Brendo, Grovella, Canza, Sotto Frua, La Frua, Riale | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 130.65 km2 (50.44 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,280 m (4,200 ft) | |
| Population
(30 June 2017)
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| • Total | 438 | |
| • Density | 3.352/km2 (8.683/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Formazzini | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
28030
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| Dialing code | 0324 | |
Formazza (also called Púmâtt in Walser, Formassa in Ossolano, and Pomatt in German) is a small, beautiful village located high up in the mountains of Italy. It's found in the Piedmont region, close to the border with Switzerland. This special place is known for its stunning mountain views and its unique history.
Contents
What is Formazza?
Formazza is a comune, which is like a municipality or a local area, in Italy. It's part of the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Piedmont region. The village is about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Turin and about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Verbania.
Where is Formazza Located?
Formazza is right on the border with Switzerland. It shares its borders with several other towns and villages. These include Baceno and Premia in Italy, and Bedretto, Bignasco, Binn, Bosco/Gurin, Cavergno, Reckingen-Gluringen, and Ulrichen in Switzerland.
Who Lives in Formazza?
The village of Formazza was founded by a group of people called the Walser. They were a German-speaking community who settled in high mountain areas. Even today, the Walser German language is still spoken in Formazza, making it a unique cultural spot in Italy.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1861 | 656 | — |
| 1871 | 683 | +4.1% |
| 1881 | 654 | −4.2% |
| 1901 | 515 | −21.3% |
| 1911 | 499 | −3.1% |
| 1921 | 517 | +3.6% |
| 1931 | 659 | +27.5% |
| 1936 | 748 | +13.5% |
| 1951 | 732 | −2.1% |
| 1961 | 648 | −11.5% |
| 1971 | 577 | −11.0% |
| 1981 | 547 | −5.2% |
| 1991 | 461 | −15.7% |
| 2001 | 448 | −2.8% |
| 2011 | 442 | −1.3% |
| Source: ISTAT 2012 | ||
Weather and Nature
Formazza is located on a high plateau in the Formazza valley, about 1,200 meters (nearly 4,000 feet) above sea level. Being so high up and surrounded by tall mountains in the western Alps means the weather is quite special.
Formazza's Climate
The area gets a lot of rain and snow, usually more than 1.3 meters (over 4 feet) of precipitation each year. The climate is known for its humid conditions, with cool and short summers. There isn't a dry season here.
The average yearly temperature is around 4°C (39°F). January is usually the coldest month, with daily average temperatures around -4°C (25°F). It can get very cold, sometimes reaching -20°C (-4°F). July is the warmest month, with an average temperature of about 13°C (55°F). Summer in Formazza lasts for less than three months.
Small Villages in Formazza
Formazza is made up of several smaller villages or subdivisions called frazioni. Each of these has both an Italian name and a Walser name. Here are some of them:
- Antillone / Puneigä
- Brendo / In dä Brendu
- Canza / Früttwald - Früduwald
- Chiesa - Alla Chiesa / Zer Chilchu - Andermatten - An där Mattu - In där Mattu
- Fondovalle / Stafelwald - Schtaafuwaald
- Foppiano / Untermstalden - Unnerum Schtaldä
- Frua / Uf der Frütt
- Sotto Frua / Unter der Frütt
- Grovella / Gurfelen - Gurfelä
- Morasco / Moraschg
- Ponte - Al Ponte / Zum Steg - Zumstäg - Zumschtäg - Zer Briggu
- Riale / Kehrbäch(i) - Cherbäch
- Valdo / Wald - Waald
- San Michele / Tuffwaald - Tuffalt
Famous People from Formazza
- Mario Bacher (born in 1941) is a well-known ski mountaineer and cross-country skier who comes from Formazza.
See also
In Spanish: Formazza para niños
