CAI – Scientific Committee, Varallo and Milan branches

16–24–25 October 2015
In Varallo, Milan and the Val Vogna: a conference entitled ‘The names of mountains before cartographers! and mountaineers’
The systematic naming of the highest peaks in mountain ranges began with their survey for cartographic purposes and became established with the scientific and mountaineering exploration of the mountains, when peaks, hills and
ridges were generally given the names of the first explorers. Late-medieval documents, drawn up around the time of the founding of permanent settlements, offer insight into the place-names attributed to mountain peaks before the advent of cartographers and mountaineers. During this period, the Alpine region was characterised by an extreme wealth of macro- and microtoponymy within the area of permanent settlements; this wealth gradually diminished in the area of mountain pastures, becoming increasingly sparse along the mountain ridges.

The Scientific Committees of the CAI branches in Milan and Varallo are organising a conference dedicated to the names of mountains as recorded by cartographers and mountaineers prior to their time, a symposium and a hike, which will analyse the historical place-names of the Alpine region, focusing on the rare toponymic records of peaks and passes in the Alps.

Friday 16 October 2015
Varallo (Valsesia, Vc), Palazzo d’Adda, Piazza Antonini, Varallo
THE NAMES OF MONTE ROSA

Saturday 24 October 2015
Milan, Milan CAI Branch, Via Duccio di Boninsegna 21/23
THE NAMES OF THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE MAPPERS AND MOUNTAINEERS

Sunday 25 October 2015
Hike in Val Vogna (Riva Valdobbia, Vc)
THE MICROTOPONYMY OF AN ALPINE VALLEY: THE VAL VOGNA (UPPER VALSESIA)

You can download the full programme here