08/02/2020
History around Casa Cima.
The stunning mountainous terrain around Casa Cima provides magnificent views over Lake Lugano, but turning around is awe-inspiring. The mighty range climbs over 1,200m only a few kilometres from the lake edge itself has a rich, modern history in tales of smuggling, and those from World War II. One of these stories, of a local (Cima-born partisan), Guiseppe "Falco" Selva, is told below.
"The End of the War" - La Fine Della Guerra - Guiseppe "Falco" Selva - a local Cima hero.
Guiseppe "Falco" Selva, born in Cima di Porlezza in 1916, but residing in Milan with his wife and baby daughter, was a military member of the Royal Army. He escaped German deportation on September 8, 1943, and took refuge at his parents' home, gathering around him other local young people who did not want to wear the uniform of the fascist republic.
In the summer of 1944, "Falco" and his men entered in contact with partisan groups born between Mount Galbiga and Piana di Porlezza. The roundups of late November forced the formations to take refuge across the border or to disperse. "Falco" returned in December and established his base at Alpe di Cima. He, his cousin Angelo Selva, Andrea Capra from Carlazzo, Gilberto Carminelli from Milan, seventeen-year-old Ennio Ferrari from Como and Livia "Franca" Bianchi from Rovigo, formed the "Umberto Quaino" detachment. The woman was also called the "Doctor", worked as a messenger and cooked for the partisan group of which she shared choices and destiny. The partisan formation disarmed and seized the assets of several fascist leaders, alarming the authorities and those who, in order to leave in peace, or for their own interests, cooperated with the fascists and Germans.
In January 1945, hunger and cold forced the "Falco" group to head to the village and to hide at the home of a supporter, but their presence was revealed by an informer. The six partisans, surrounded by the Black Brigades of Menaggio, under the leadership of Major Emilio Castelli, and under heavy fire surrendered after being promised amnesty. Beaten and summarily tried, they were shot in the cemetery of Cima at the dawn of January 21, 1945.
- Source - sign at the church, Cima, produced in cooperation between Provincia di Como, Lago di Como and "La Fine Della Guerra" progetto, Regione Lombardia.
