Lomazzo
Encyclopedia
Lomazzo is a town and comune
in the province of Como
, in the Italian region of Lombardy
. It is situated halfway between Como
and Milan
. The ancient historical center of the town was founded on the top of a hill situated in the valley on the right bank of Lura. The municipal territory contains a large portion of the Lura Park. Lomazzo received the title of Città (City) with a presidential decree on July 11, 2006.
Lomazzo borders the following municipalities: Bregnano
, Cadorago
, Cirimido
, Guanzate
, Rovellasca
, Rovello Porro
, Turate
, also called Lomazzo di Sotto or, in dialect, Lumazz de Sott) and Lomazzo Milanese (parish of San Vito, also called Lomazzo di Sopra or Lumazz de Sura).
In the Middle Ages
the border between the communes of Como
and Milan
already passed through Lomazzo. Still in the 16th century the custom duties were collected at the passage of Lomazzo border, for the feudal rights granted to the Carcano family by the Spaniards, who at the time controlled the Duchy of Milan
.
The division of Lomazzo originated during the barbarian invasions. The Lombard
people settled down near the existing inhabited nucleus, remaining separate from the existing community so they could practice their Arian
religion. Probably, when they were converted to Catholicism
, they maintained a separate church. The missionaries were sent from towns of the diocese of Milan, so the first community continued to be in the diocese of Como and the new community remained faithful to the diocese of Milan.
Ghibelline Como and Guelph
Milan warred bitterly during the medieval period. This conflict was contemporary with the war between the Lombardy free cities and the Holy Roman emperor
Frederick Barbarossa
.
Due to its double administration, the town of Lomazzo was always declared neutral ground by the two factions. After the wars, the ambassadors met here and here they proclaimed the peaces.
The first peace treaty was signed in 1249, but war renewed and years of disagreement continued.
In 1282, Giovanni De Avvogadri, expelled by the Ghibellines from his bishopric in Come, excommunicated them from Lomazzo, starting the war between Como and Milan. In 1286, after four years of intense war, representatives of the republics of Lombardy and of northern-Italy free cities, arrived to Lomazzo to sign the Peace of Lomazzo, at the presence of Loterio Rusca, Lord of Como, and Ottone Visconti, Lord of Milan.
.
Lomazzo is connected with all towns around by bus services (S.P.T. buses: bus line C64/C66 Lomazzo – Appiano – Olgiate; bus line C84 Lomazzo – Cantù; F.N.M.A. buses: bus line Lomazzo – Cislago).
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Como
Province of Como
The Province of Como is a province in the north of the Lombardy region of Italy and borders the Swiss cantons of Ticino and Grigioni to the North, the Italian provinces of Sondrio and Lecco to the East, the Province of Milan to the south and the Province of Varese to the West...
, in the Italian region of Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
. It is situated halfway between Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
and Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. The ancient historical center of the town was founded on the top of a hill situated in the valley on the right bank of Lura. The municipal territory contains a large portion of the Lura Park. Lomazzo received the title of Città (City) with a presidential decree on July 11, 2006.
Lomazzo borders the following municipalities: Bregnano
Bregnano
Bregnano is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km northwest of Milan and about 13 km south of Como. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,508 and an area of 6.2 km²....
, Cadorago
Cadorago
Cadorago is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 30 km northwest of Milan and about 12 km southwest of Como...
, Cirimido
Cirimido
Cirimido is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan and about southwest of Como. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,052 and an area of 2.6 km²....
, Guanzate
Guanzate
Guanzate is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about northwest of Milan and about southwest of Como...
, Rovellasca
Rovellasca
Rovellasca is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km northwest of Milan and about 15 km south of Como....
, Rovello Porro
Rovello Porro
Rovello Porro is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 25 km northwest of Milan and about 20 km south of Como...
, Turate
Turate
Turate is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km northeast of Milan and about 30 km southeast of Como...
History
For more than one thousand years, the central street of Lomazzo was the political and religious border that cut the town in two parts, from south to the north. The communal administration was divided as well, so the town of Lomazzo was governed separately by two municipalities: Lomazzo Comasco (parish of San SiroSyrus of Pavia
Saint Syrus of Pavia is traditionally said to have been the first bishop of Pavia during the 1st century.His legend, according to the 14th century source known as the De laudibus Papiæ , states that Syrus was the boy with the five loaves who appears in the Gospels...
, also called Lomazzo di Sotto or, in dialect, Lumazz de Sott) and Lomazzo Milanese (parish of San Vito, also called Lomazzo di Sopra or Lumazz de Sura).
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the border between the communes of Como
Como
Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
and Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
already passed through Lomazzo. Still in the 16th century the custom duties were collected at the passage of Lomazzo border, for the feudal rights granted to the Carcano family by the Spaniards, who at the time controlled the Duchy of Milan
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
.
The division of Lomazzo originated during the barbarian invasions. The Lombard
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
people settled down near the existing inhabited nucleus, remaining separate from the existing community so they could practice their Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
religion. Probably, when they were converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, they maintained a separate church. The missionaries were sent from towns of the diocese of Milan, so the first community continued to be in the diocese of Como and the new community remained faithful to the diocese of Milan.
Ghibelline Como and Guelph
Guelphs and Ghibellines
The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in central and northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the split between these two parties was a particularly important aspect of the internal policy of the Italian city-states...
Milan warred bitterly during the medieval period. This conflict was contemporary with the war between the Lombardy free cities and the Holy Roman emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Frederick Barbarossa
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
.
Due to its double administration, the town of Lomazzo was always declared neutral ground by the two factions. After the wars, the ambassadors met here and here they proclaimed the peaces.
The first peace treaty was signed in 1249, but war renewed and years of disagreement continued.
In 1282, Giovanni De Avvogadri, expelled by the Ghibellines from his bishopric in Come, excommunicated them from Lomazzo, starting the war between Como and Milan. In 1286, after four years of intense war, representatives of the republics of Lombardy and of northern-Italy free cities, arrived to Lomazzo to sign the Peace of Lomazzo, at the presence of Loterio Rusca, Lord of Como, and Ottone Visconti, Lord of Milan.
Reunion
The civil union of Lomazzo was completed in 1816, when Austrian puppet state of Lombardy-Venetia unified the two communities of Lomazzo Comasco and Milanese in the single municipality of Lomazzo. The two parishes were also unified in 1981 under the bishopric of Como.Main sights
- The Arch of the Peace (1875), on the road from SaronnoSaronnoSaronno is a comune of Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Varese. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree in 1960.The place is well known for its apricot kernel biscuits and is also a manufacturing town....
to Como, replacing the medieval one. - Church of St. Syrus (1732). It houses a 16th century panel by MorazzoneMorazzoneMorazzone is a comune of c. 4,000 inhabitants in the province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km northwest of Milan and about 6 km south of Varese....
(Adoration of the Magi). Other good canvasses embellish the small lateral church of Saint JosephSaint JosephSaint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
, built in 1629, with contemporary decoration. - Medieval Tower (1904), one of the symbols of Lomazzo.
- Brolo di San Vito, the square in front of St. Vitus Vito church. A commemorative stone reminds the Peace of Lomazzo
- Church of Saint Vito (19th century), designed by the Swiss Simone Cantoni.
Cultural events
- Re-eanctement feast of the “Peace of Lomazzo – 1286”, in the first week of May.
- CarnivalCarnivalCarnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
of Lomazzo, first Sunday before LentLentIn the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
.
Transportation
Lomazzo is connected by A9 Milano-Como-Chiasso Highway. It is also an important railway station on the line Milano-Saronno-Como of the Ferrovie Nord MilanoFerrovie Nord Milano
450px|thumb|Map of the main branch of the FNM lines. FNM operates also the [[Brescia]]-[[Edolo]] railway in eastern [[Lombardy]], not shown in map.Ferrovie Nord Milano is an Italian public transport company: the second largest railway company in Italy. It operates primarily in the northern Italian...
.
Lomazzo is connected with all towns around by bus services (S.P.T. buses: bus line C64/C66 Lomazzo – Appiano – Olgiate; bus line C84 Lomazzo – Cantù; F.N.M.A. buses: bus line Lomazzo – Cislago).