Lomazzo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lomazzo | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Lombardy |
| Province | Province of Como (CO) |
| Mayor | |
| Elevation | m |
| Area | km² |
| Population | |
| - Total | |
| - Density | /km² |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | |
| Dialing code | |
| Postal code | |
Lomazzo is a town in the Italian region of Lombardy. It is situated at about 300 metres altitude, between the cities of Como and Milan. The ancient historical centre of the town was founded on the top of a hill placed on the right bank of Torrent Lura valley. Today, the population of Lomazzo surpasses 8,000 people; the extension of the municipality is about 10 square kilometres and contains a large portion of Lura Park.
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[edit] A city divided
Lomazzo is unique in Italy for being a city in two Catholic dioceses, and thus having two equal parish churches. The parish of Saint Siro (also called "Lomazzo di sotto") belongs to the Diocese of Como; the parish of Saint Vito (also called "Lomazzo di sopra") belonged to the Diocese of Milan. In San Siro, the Roman ritual was practiced; in San Vito, the Ambrosian Rite. Until 30 years ago, the central street in town was a political (and religious) border that bisects the south from the north. The communal administration was divided, so the town of Lomazzo was governed separately by two Commons: Lomazzo Comasco and Milanese. The border divided two parishes, two commons, two pleban districts, two provinces, two dioceses, and (in ancient time) two different metropolitan jurisdictions (Archbishop of Milan and the Patriarch of Aquileia for Como). In the Middle Ages, Como and Milan were free and sovereign city states, bordering inside Lomazzo. Indeed, for all the 1500s, custom tolls were collected by the noble Carcano family (with an annual income of "imperial liras 50 for customs at the passage of Lomazzo"), for feudal rights granted by the Emperor of Spain.
The division of Lomazzo originated during barbaric invasions. The Lombard people settled down near to 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.
[edit] Peace
Ghibelline Como and Guelph Milan warred bitterly during the Medieval period. This conflict was contemporary with the war of the free cities of the Lombardy and the Holy Roman emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The emperor tried to restore the imperial power and the free cities gathered in the Lombard League, but Como remained faithful to the emperor. When the Barbarossa was defeated by the League, the competition between Como and Milan continued for many years. In 1249 the two cities signed a peace treaty in Lomazzo, neutral ground for the factions. Soon after war renewed and years of disagreement continued. Finally, in 1286, representatives of all the republics of the northern-Italy arrived to Lomazzo to subscribe what was called "Peace of Lomazzo". A majestic arch (the ancient "Arch of peace") and a 20th century stone marker remember the great Peace of Lomazzo.
[edit] Reunion
Today the two parishes of Lomazzo are more unified. The union of Lomazzo first started in 1788 under Austrian domination, and civil union was completed in 1816, when the Lombard-Venetian Kingdom unified of the two Commons of Lomazzo Comasco and Milanese in the single administrattive unit of Lomazzo. In 1915 a decree of the Sacred Concistorial Congregation gave a large portion of the territory of St. Siro to St. Vito. In 1962 the Archbishop of Milan Cardinal Montini (who become Pope Paul VI one year later) visited Lomazzo and decided to give a new order to the town. In 1974 The parish of St. Vito was put under the control of the bishop of Como (together with St. Siro parish) and in 1981 the change of jurisdiction became definitive.
[edit] Notable people
The most notable person from Lomazzo was the blessed Michele Carcano (1427 - 1484), a Franciscan monk who founded a modern banking system called "Monti di Pietà" (Montes Pietatis or Mounts of Mercy). The first one was created in Perugia (1462) with Bernardino Da Feltre. The oldest extant bank in the world, the “Monte dei Paschi di Siena” (1472) followed their example. The institutes lend money without fees or with low interest, saving poor people from usury. Michele Carcano also realized the first modern hospitals, in Italy. During the Middle Ages, in every city there were a lot of hospices characterized by the exclusive presence of volunteers: Michele Carcano instituted central hospitals with at least one professional doctor, insuring a qualified medical treatment. Pope Sixtus IV gave him the title of "Universal Preacher of the Church", sending him in Austria, Poland and Bohemia to oversee the Franciscan convents there. He died on March 20, 1484 and is remembered in the Catholic liturgy.
The painter Giovanni Paolo Lomazzo - also called Giovan Paolo Lomazzo or Gian Paolo Lomazzo, was born in Milan from a family emigrated from Lomazzo. When he became blind, he turned his activity to writing treatises of art criticism. His most famous works, "Trattato dell'arte della pittura, scultura et architettura" and "Idea del tempio della pittura" ("The ideal temple of painting"), are considered milestones in the development of art criticism.
The sculptor Francesco Somaini won in 1959 the International Prize of sculpture at the Fifth Biennial exhibition in St. Paul of Brazil. After this prize he won other competitions, (Paris, Venice, Florence, Sulmona) and he organized an international exhibition in New York, Lubjana, and Belgrad. The fame of Somaini is due to the elaboration of a new innovative technique: the digging of the blocks of wax, chalk or clay with the abrasive action of a pressured sand jet; the dug blocks were used for the bronze castings. His creations are exposed all over the world. Lomazzo created a giant "Anthropomorphic Cross" at the cemetery (a little cross is also put on the priests' tomb) and some creations in the St. Vito church: the beautiful baptistery, the tabernacle, the mosaic of the altar.
[edit] Main sights
- The Arch of Peace (1875), on the road that carries from Saronno to Como.
- The church of Saint Syro (1732). It has a plan on the Latin cross, with five lateral chapels, surmounted by a high dome. The façade was built in baroque style, with three entrances made with white Saltrio stone. The bell tower (1776) shows unusual lines. Internally, the frescos was painted by Carlo Ferrario, professor at the Royal Academy of Milan and famed artist for La Scala theatre. Other walls were painted in 1919 by the most famous Turinese artist of the century, Luigi Morgari. The church holds also a panel by the painter il Morazzone. Other good canvasses embellish the little lateral church of Saint Joseph, built in 1629; all decorations was made in this age.
- The Medieval Tower, the biggest building of the town (1904). Built in tiles as an imitation of Romanesque Magistri Comacini, it has a very slim look; on two opposite sides are mullioned windows.
- The Brolo and the Saint Vitus church. The square in front of Saint Vito church, also called Saint Vito Brolo, often is associated with an episode occurred in 1249, the stipulation of the peace treaty between the cities of Como and Milan, during the Renaissance period. The fact is remembered on a commemorative stone. Saint Vito church project (1800) was planned by the famous Swiss architect Simone Cantoni. The church keeps a marble altar of the great contemporary sculptor Francesco Somaini.
- Carcano-Raimondi Villa. The house is a private residence, so it isn't visible internally. The rooms of Carcano-Raimondi villa are believed the best examples of Lombard Renaissance architecture in Italy. For this reason, in 1939 the villa and its ancient park was declared "national monument" by the Italian State.
- The ancient Somaini factory. This cotton factory was opened in 1883 by the industrialist Francesco Somaini (the grandfather of the contemporary sculptor Francesco Somaini). It is a perfect example of textile industry of the 19th century. All buildings are maintained in the original aspect, and their exterior parts weren't never modified. A bit of attention also for the interesting workers village near the factory.
[edit] Events
- Every Monday morning - Weekly city trade fair in the centre of town
- Sunday before Lent - Carnival of Lomazzo
- June - Lomazzo Red Cross party
- June - Summer concert (by Lomazzo City Band)
- June/July, every weekend - Villager fairs and parties organized by the Associations of Lomazzo
- Second Sunday of September (2001 September 9th) – Traditional September Party: villager fair, ancient jobs exhibition, typical local music happenings (by Pro Loco Lomazzo)
- October/November - "Autumn Theatre" on Saturday evenings
- December - Street Christmas parties of "Natale Insieme" program
- December (all weekends and holydays) - Equitable trade (by St. Syro church)
- Third Saturday of December - Christmas concert (by Lomazzo City Band)
- Third Sunday of December - Sacred music concert (by Lomazzo St. Vito Schola Cantorum)
- January 6 - Living representation of the birth of Jesus (by St. Syro church)
