Perledo
Municipality of about 900 inhabitants, located on the eastern shore of Lake Como, inserted in the territory of the Northern Grigna Park. The elevation of the entire territory varies from 199 m s.l.m (Olivedo) to 1350 m s.l.m (Monte San Defendente).
Origin of the name
The origin of the name “Perledo” is uncertain, but the most widespread and suggestive hypothesis at the popular level, ties it to the union of the words “Per” “Eden”, that is “for paradise”. Probably because Perledo, is located on the road towards Esino Lario and towards the Grigna (2410 s.l.m.), beloved mountain and therefore towards the paradise.
History
Perledo was originally a modest village, connected to Varenna, the first mentions of which date back to the year 769 AD. In 1395 it was incorporated into the territories of the Duchy of Milan remaining under the jurisdiction of the Holy Roman Empire.
Territory
Anthropic Geography
The municipal area of Perledo extends over a very large area and includes the following hamlets: Bologna, Cestaglia, Gisazio, Gittana, Riva di Gittana, Regoledo, Regolo, Tondello (where Casa Valeria is located), Vezio, Olivedo, Portone, Panighetto.
Quarries
Once upon a time, in the hamlet of Regolo, a quarries was active, from which marble blocks were extracted: “Nero di Varenna”, of an intense black color and very compact. The black color is due to the fact that the original material, rich in organic remains deriving especially from phytoplankton, is deposited in an underwater environment devoid of oxygen in the form of sludge in slow putrefaction (sapropelite).
Fossils
There are many findings of fossil in the area. At the end of the 19th century fossils of fish were found, from which Perleido (gen. Perleidus), a genus of extinct fish belonging to the class of actinotterigi. Given the importance and copiousness of the Perledo findings and more generally the Grigne area is the subject of scientific studies by the University of Milan.
Mule Tracks
The entire municipal territory of Perledo is crossed by mule tracks, pedestrian paths that join the various hamlets, crossing woods and countryside. The typical architecture of mule tracks consists of a smooth rock pavement flanked by dry stone walls made by stones founded on the site.
I Crotti (typical tavern)
They are the characteristic taverns of Lake Como. These are ambients derived in part from natural ravines (the name is a dialectal variant of a cave), which were once used as cold rooms for food storage. Subsequently, to the side or above the caves, spaces were built used as halls and transformed into taverns. Today, some are still functioning and remaining faithful to their rustic soul, with a unique charm, they are ideal for immersing in the culinary tradition of the territory.
Monuments and interesting sites
Religious architecture
The oldest church in the municipal area is the Church of San Martino located in the historic center of Peledo. Of it we have mentions of the end of the thirteenth century.
Military architectures
The fascinating Castle of Vezio. Located in the hamlet of Vezio on the top of a promontory, in a militarily and commercially strategic position, given the wide visibility guaranteed over a large part of the lake. It is a fortification consisting of a boundary wall, a central tower with an internal iron staircase, a drawbridge and a smaller tower on the south side. The place is privately owned and can be visited upon payment of an entrance ticket. It houses a training area for birds of prey with falconry shows.
Civil architectures
On the path “Sentiero de Viandante” in Campallo, near the Esino creek, there is a mill built in the 16th century. Today it is no longer functioning, it was used by the Perledo community to produce flour, in particular of buckwheat and chestnuts, and remained in operation until the post-war period.
Washhouse
Numerous and distributed throughout the territory, were born to meet the needs of an agricultural population and were a place of meeting and development of social relations.
Curiosity
Languages and dialects
Among the locals it is a well-established habit to favor the Lombard dialect, rather than the use of the Italian language.
Religion
The main religious confession in Perledo is the Catholic one with an Ambrosian rite,which differs from that typical of most of the Catholic world. Among the various peculiarities there are: the adoption of a lectionary, a missal and a liturgical calendar different from those of the Roman liturgical rite.
Cuisine
The local cuisine is based on the food resources of the territory, that is, lake fishing, alpine sheep farming and agriculture. Typical dishes are risotto with perch, lavender in “carpione” (fried and marinated in vinegar with the addition of onion and wild thyme), the fry of alborelle and the famous “misultin”, o “missultitt” (autochthonous agons, without innards, salted, dried in the open air, then grilled and eaten with polenta). Polenta is a must at the table to accompany fish, but also meats, game, cheeses and sausages.
Perledo olive oil Lariosauro Territory
The pride of the agricultural production, historically present in the territory, for the particular favorable climatic conditions that here meets is the olive oil!
The “Olio di Perledo” trademark with a protected designation of origin (DOP) has become a trademark recognized by the Ministry of Economic Development, as a collective quality brand.