Mercallo and its “sassi”
The municipality of Mercallo has acquired the addition of the words "dei sassi" to its name, because of the many erratics found in the area. The surrounding environment features some particularly rocky areas, and hills in which megaliths stand in the midst of forests of chestnut, conifers and other plants typical of Lake Maggiore's flora.
These erratics are just some of those that can be found in the province of Varese, and they are evidence of an important geological phenomenon that began about 60,000 years ago. Over the course of successive glaciations, detritus from the Sempione and Gotthard mountains was carried down the valley by the glaciers.
While these vast expanses of ice, which had reached almost to the tops of the mountains, withdrew and thawed, these enormous blocks of rock were left on the land, becoming a feature of the surrounding landscape.
These erratics are just some of those that can be found in the province of Varese, and they are evidence of an important geological phenomenon that began about 60,000 years ago. Over the course of successive glaciations, detritus from the Sempione and Gotthard mountains was carried down the valley by the glaciers.
While these vast expanses of ice, which had reached almost to the tops of the mountains, withdrew and thawed, these enormous blocks of rock were left on the land, becoming a feature of the surrounding landscape.
