Viganella
Viganella was a comune (municipality) in the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 120 kilometres (75 mi) northeast of Turin and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Verbania. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 185 and an area of 13.7 square kilometres (5.3 sq mi).[2]
Viganella | |
---|---|
Comune di Viganella | |
Viganella, 2005 | |
Location of Viganella | |
Viganella Location of Viganella in Italy Viganella Viganella (Piedmont) | |
Coordinates: 46°3′N 8°11′E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Piedmont |
Province | Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola (VB) |
Government | |
• Mayor | Pierfranco Midali |
Area | |
• Total | 13.7 km2 (5.3 sq mi) |
Elevation | 1,012 m (3,320 ft) |
Population (Dec. 2004) | |
• Total | 185 |
• Density | 14/km2 (35/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 28030 |
Dialing code | 0324 |
On 1 January 2016 the municipalities of Seppiana and Viganella merged into the municipality of Borgomezzavalle.
Viganella borders the following municipalities: Antrona Schieranco, Calasca-Castiglione, Montescheno, Seppiana.
Winter lighting
For its extreme landscape position, the town remains shadowed for 83 days per year, between November and January. A giant mirror was set up in November 2006 with controlled orientation above the mountainside, consisting of 14 sheets of steel which together are 8 metres (26 ft) wide and 5 metres (16 ft) high. The mirror functions as a heliostat, tracking the sun so that sunlight always reflects onto the town square.[3][4] The mirror cost €100,000, or approximately €540 per resident.[3]
The town was featured in a 2009 Italian/Canadian film called Lo Specchio (The Mirror).
Demographics
See also
- Rjukan, a town in Norway also uses mirrors to illuminate the town.
References
- "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
- "Brilliant idea: mirror lights up village". The Times, UK. 12 November 2006.
- BBC picture
External links
- Official Viganella site (In Italian)
- Trailer for 'Lo Specchio'
- Articles about Lighting Solution: Article 1, Article 2