Unlike an ordinary terrace or balcony, the ‘altana’ does not hang out, but soars up over the building.

The Bissone altana was originally located in the garden of Casa Tencalla, which was found just beyond the current Lido, between the main road and the lake. It was moved to its spot in 1961, to ensure that the motorway construction work would not put its existence at risk. The terrace consists of a square-shaped lower body acting as base for a sort of chapel surrounded by an iron railing.

Of note the façade of the upper chapel, whose plasterwork is set with shells, terracotta scraps, tufa and white marble. The black background was made using mineral charcoal grains. On the surface of the tympanum we find the coat of arms of the Tencalla family, distinguishable thanks to its three stars on a red background and a tench (now completely invisible), an emblem probably dating back to the latter half of the 17th century.

L’altana nella sua primitiva posizione nel giardino della villa Tencalla.

Stemma della famiglia Tencalla, con tre stelle nella parte superiore e, sotto, una tinca stilizzata (ora non più visibile).

L’altana, parte superiore.