Carugo, la rinascita verde della Fontana del Guercio: dai rifiuti alla riserva naturale
- Protezione Civile Carugo
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
(Tratto da: https://brianzacentrale.blogspot.com/)
There's a place in Carugo, in the heart of Brianza, that holds an exemplary history of environmental rebirth and collective memory. A place where crystal-clear water flows in 14 fountains, amidst woods and moorland, where an industrial waste landfill once stood. This is the Fontana del Guercio Nature Reserve, the focus of one of the stops on the tour organized by the CiaoComo team, discovering the area's hidden treasures.
Accompanied by Carugo's mayor Paolo Molteni, deputy mayor Marco Cappellini, and nature guides and local experts, participants experienced a true journey through time and nature, hearing stories of degradation, courage, and rebirth.
Not everyone knows that, between 1964 and 1974, this area was a gigantic open-air landfill. "A huge landfill," says Deputy Mayor Cappellini, showing old photographs collected in a book edited by the "Museo della Brianza nel '900" in Carugo, "where even hazardous industrial waste ended up. It was an ecological disaster for all to see."
It was then that, armed with good will, some citizens formed the Amis della Fontana group. They began cleaning the fountains, excavating and restoring the canals, bringing to light the water that had given life to the area for centuries. A titanic undertaking, subsequently supported by the municipal administration and several local associations.
"Today we can admire this natural spectacle only thanks to those volunteers," emphasizes Mayor Paolo Molteni. "The reserve exists thanks to them. It is a testament to how civic commitment can transform a place condemned to abandonment."
Today, the Fontana del Guercio Nature Reserve is part of the Groane and Brughiera Regional Park, established in 1986. It is an area of exceptional environmental and historical value, where nature has regained its grip thanks to a precious and fascinating water system.
The reserve is home to 14 fountains, small pools of pure water that emerge spontaneously thanks to the pressure of underground aquifers. Three of these have their own names: the Fontana del Guercio, the Fontana del Capun, and the Testa del Nan. And as local historian Zeno Celotto tells us, "These were probably the richest in water, a precious resource for agriculture and community life."
Tiziano Grassi, president of the Groane Brughiera Regional Park Committee, who often leads visitors on guided excursions, explains the mystery of such abundant water. "Beneath our feet lies the Ceppo Lombardo, a rocky conglomerate composed of pebbles cemented together, which acts like a sponge. It absorbs rainwater and releases it slowly, ensuring a constant supply to the springs even in times of drought. The history of the reserve is also intertwined with 17th-century hydraulic engineering. The water that flows from the springs flows into the Roggia Borromea, a hand-dug canal that once stretched for over 15 km, connecting Carugo to Cesano Maderno, all the way to Bovisio. It was vital to the agriculture and economic fabric of Brianza. "The land lapped by the canal quadrupled in value," Celotto explains, "because the water allowed for more productive crops and ensured the survival of entire communities." Walking along the reserve's paths, between wooden bridges and green meadows, it's easy to imagine the toil of those who, centuries ago, dug these canals by hand to bring the precious water resource where it was needed. Today, the Fontana del Guercio Reserve is a true hidden gem. A place where nature, history, and culture meet, immersed in a silence broken only by birdsong and the sound of running water. It can be easily reached from the center of Carugo by leaving your car in the parking lot on Via XXV Aprile, near the schools, and continuing on foot along paths that pass through heathlands, woods, and flower-filled clearings.
The Groane Brughiera Regional Park Committee organizes free guided tours to publicize these extraordinary places and raise awareness of their protection. Anyone interested can find out more on this blog or on the Groane Brughiera Regional Park Committee's official Facebook page, where the dates of the tours are posted. Mayor Molteni makes an appeal: "We invite everyone to discover this wonderful corner, but also to care for it. It is a green lung that belongs to everyone and must remain pristine." The history of the Fontana del Guercio Nature Reserve is proof that, even where all seemed lost, nature can be reborn. But its protection remains a daily task, involving institutions, volunteers, and citizens. And so Carugo reveals itself to be a land of surprises: not only a homeland of furniture and wood, but also a precious treasure trove of natural beauty, culture, and historical memory. A treasure to be preserved, for the future of all.
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