Dresano
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| Dresano | |
|---|---|
  |
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| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Lombardy |
| Province | Province of Milan (MI) |
| Elevation | 91 m (299 ft) |
| Area | 3.5 km² (1 sq mi) |
| Population (as of Dec. 2004) | |
| - Total | 2,533 |
| - Density | 724/km² (1,875/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | |
| Dialing code | 02 |
| Postal code | 20077 |
| Website: www.melegnano.net/dresano/index.html | |
Dresano is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 20 km southeast of Milan. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,533 and an area of 3.5 km².[1] It is the smallest municipality in Italy by surface.
Dresano borders the following municipalities: Mediglia, Tribiano, Mulazzano, Colturano, Vizzolo Predabissi, Casalmaiocco.
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[edit] Etymology
The name Dresano is due to the presence, in these swampy areas, of three inlets, three "sinuses", from which the name evolved over the centuries: Tresseno --> Tressano --> Tresano --> Dresano. The three inlets appear in the coat of arms too, surmounted by three poplar trees, the poplar being one of the most typical local trees.
[edit] Local History
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The old village hosts the remains of one of its most ancient buildings: on the East side of Piazza Manzoni the wall of an establishment with a massive wooden double door is found, which was part of the convent of the benedictines, who performed the hard task of draining and cultivating the swampy territories around. In this area malaria (swamp fever) took its toll.
[edit] Climate
The climate in Dresano is characterised by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild and rainy winters. Occasionally, heavy snowfall occurs; in 1995 a particularly heavy snowfall blocked the roads, paralising traffic and forcing schools to close for several days.
The end of August-early September is characterised by violent thunderstorms and heavy sleet which signal the end of summer.
[edit] Topography
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The village is divided into four smaller areas: the old village (Dresano vecchio), Madonnina (built in the sixties), Villaggio ambrosiano (erected in the seventies) and Villaggio Helios (begun in the nineties).
The old village shows one of the oldest farms in the area, Cascina Belpensiero, which displays a secular tree in the middle of the farmyard. This dairy farm is already mentioned in written historical sources dating back to 1500, and it is still surrounded by fields, 1 km from the village.
Every year, in May, the dairy farm holds the traditional "Quater Pass per un Vitel", an amatorial footrace, organised by the local sports group Gruppo Sportivo Marciatori San Giorgio (San Giorgio being the local patron saint). The prize for such race is a live calf. There are three different options for the race: 6 km, 12 km, and 21 km.
[edit] Schools
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The village has schools covering the compulsory schooling cycle:
- 2 nursery schools: one municipality-run (in the Villaggio ambrosiano) and one parish-run (in the old village)
- a primary school ('scuola elementare', 6-11 years)(in the Villaggio ambrosiano)
- a middle school ('scuola media', 11-14 years)(in the Villaggio ambrosiano)
[edit] Free time
Although small, Dresano has a variety of free time associations which, by their effort and enthusiasm, liven up village life, preventing Dresano from becoming a mere satellite of Milan. They are:
- Gruppo sportivo marciatori San Giorgio (walkers' group)
- Auser (providing assistance to the elderly and the disabled)
- Dresano Calcio (soccer team)
- Dresano Basket (basketball team)
[edit] Events
- Carnevale dresanese (carnival): February
- Dresano fiorita (flower show): 2nd Sunday of April
- "Quater pass per un vitel": 1st Sunday of June (footrace)
- Marcia serale Belpensiero (footrace): June (non-competitive footrace by night)
- Festa dell'uva (grapevine fair): 2nd Sunday of September
The gym and the municipal library, managed by volunteers, are located in the school complex of the Villaggio ambrosiano.
[edit] Ecology
Dresano owns a water purification plant. The water purifier can be found along the Addetta floodway, close to Balbiano.
Fields in Dresano territory are intensely farmed. The most popular cultivations are:
- wheat;
- barley;
- fodder maize;
- oilseed rape.
[edit] Biodiversity
Dresano, a farmland tradition town, has shown in the last few years an increased level of biodiversity, thanks to various animal and plant species, that live mainly along waterways.
[edit] Wild animals
Local noticeable wild animal species, expecially on the Addetta floodway banks, include:
BIRDS
- grey heron;
- pheasant;
- finch (fringilla coelebs);
- moorhen;
- little egret;
- mallard (anas platyrhynchos);
- kingfisher;
- blackbird;
- green woodpecker (Picus viridis;
- thrush (turdus philomelos);
- nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos);
MAMMALS
- european rabbit;
- hare (lepus europaeus);
- coypu (nutria);
- bat: the bat is a wonderful living and natural insecticide, being a voracious mosquito hunter;
- frog;
- hedgehog (erinaceus europaeus);
- fox;
INSECTS
- bumble bee: an excellent gauge for environmental pollution level;
- dragonfly;
- glow-worm;
FISHES
- barbel;
- mediterranean barbel (dog barbel, southern barbel);
- crucian;
- carp;
- chub
- pumpkinseed (common sunfish);
- walking catfish;
- redfin perch;
- scardinius erythrophtalmus;
- tench;
AMPHIBIANS
- green lizard;
- frog;
- toad;
CRUSTACEANS
- river mussel (anodonta cygnea)
- a black and red huge crayfish, not yet identified;
[edit] Wild vegetation
- humulus lupulus, also said wild asparagus (in facts, it is the hop plant): it can be added to soups, omelettes, salads, rice, or boiled and dressed with olive oil and lemon. Gather the apex throws (only the last four inches) in March-April. It is purifying, refreshing, and favors kidney drainage.
- evergreen hawthorn;
- roman chamomile;
- horsetail;
- fig (ficus);
- black mulberry;
- hibiscus (scarlet rose-mallow);
- white horse-chestnut tree;
- peppermint (brandy mint);
- walnut;
- hazel;
- onice: women's clogs were once made with its wood, since it doesn't warm feet too much;
- plane tree;
- white poplar;
- black poplar;
- aspen;
- wild plum tree;
- black locust (false acacia): pancakes made with its scented white flowers are very tasty. Gather them when they are not yet fully blossomed;
- Blackberry bush (Blackberry bramble): a delicious blackberry bush infusion can be prepared in spring. Gather soft apex throws (between March and May, when flowers are not yet appeared), and fill a glass jug. Fill with cold water, and let macerate all night long. In the morning, leak out and drinw without food. It is an excellent spring-time diuretic, with a magical fruitlike taste!
- elder: elder infusion is delicious!. Gather the white flowers when they are not yet fully blossomed, fill a glass jug and add 2 washed and sliced natural lemons. Add cold water and let macerate all night long. In the morning, leak out, and drink without food. It is purifying, draining, thirst-quenching;
- grapevine.
[edit] Demographic evolution
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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