Castiglione
Olona boasts an old history......
The evidences of art, faith and
history are still noticeable and make this town in the province of
Varese a unique and precious place.
According to
legend Castiglione Olona was born in 401 AD when the roman general
Stilicone set up a camp and on its remains a village first, and after, a
little town were built.That’s the reason why many people believe that
the name of Castiglione comes from latin ”Castrum Legionis”.
In 1873 the
town adopted the name Castiglione Olona by royal decree.
The first
important document about Castiglione dates back to 1028.
In 1071 tha
castle of Castiglione was besieged by the Milaneses because Goffredo da
Castiglione had refuged in and they didn’t accept his election as
archbishop of Milan.
During this
campain a huge part of Milan was destroyed by an enourmous fire, known
as “fouco di Castiglione” (Castiglione’s Fire).
In 1161
Castiglione was besieged once again by the Milaneses because the whole
Seprio, and so Castiglione, as well as Como and Lodi, had come down on
the side of Federico Barbarossa against the hegemony of Milan.
In the XIIIth
and XIVth centuries many other fights and sieges took place in
Castiglione, even if the castle had lost importance, due to the changes
in the political scene.
In 1350 Branda
Castiglion was born in Milan: he will be a cardinal and Castiglione will
owe to him its fame and glory.
Among the most
important and influential men of his time, he was friend and counsellor
of four Popes and of the emperor Sigismondo, who called him “my dearest
friend”.
Branda
Castiglioni was a patron of arts with an uncommon love for his land who
decided and carried out a makeover of the town building palaces and
churches worthy of a big city.
So the village
became an example of Renaissance town which reflected the architectural
rules of the ideal city.
Also patron of
artists and literates, Masolino da Panicale on top, Cardinal Branda
Castiglioni died on 3rd February 1443 in Castiglione, after a wonderful
life, at the age of 93.
His wits and
his greatness still live today in the beautiful monuments of Castiglione
Olona.
