Agrate Conturbia
An overview of Agrate Conturbia
Hello everyone! Today I'll be talking about Agrate Conturbia, a municipality located in the heart of the province of Novara, in Piedmont. With a population of around 1500 inhabitants, this municipality is mainly divided into two parts: Agrate and Conturbia. Both of these towns are situated on slightly hilly terrain between Cressa and Borgo Ticino, south of Lake Maggiore.
The history of Agrate Conturbia
The origin of the toponym Agrate dates back to the ancient Roman name "Acrius", to which the suffix "-atum" was added. Some historians, however, believe that the name derives from "agr-et-atum", which means "place of fields". There is also much evidence to suggest that Agrate was an ancient Roman mansio, as evidenced by the discovery of artifacts and inscriptions. The earliest descriptions refer to the fifth Roman legion, commanded by Pallante (a freedman) and friend of Caligula, who stopped here.
Conturbia, on the other hand, may have been an ancient pile-dwelling settlement, less ancient than that of Mercurago near Arona, just a few kilometers away. During the 10th century, the "Da Conturbia" lords were considered "boni homini," meaning they were counselors to the bishop of Novara.
Later on, Agrate was part of the Counts of Castello, then passed to the Gattico family and in 1412 to Lancellotto and Ermes Visconti. Subsequently, Filippo Maria Visconti assigned the feud to the Borromeo family, who held it until the 18th century. Agrate and Conturbia each had their own castle, which underwent various transformations over the centuries.
What to see in Agrate Conturbia
If you're visiting Agrate Conturbia, there are a few interesting things to see. First of all, there are the castles of Agrate and Conturbia. Although there aren't many original parts of Agrate castle left, you can still see the coat of arms of the Counts of Castello, lords of Agrate in the 11th century. Conturbia castle, on the other hand, appears to have originally been a quadrangular structure and due to its strategic location, was fortified. Both have been rebuilt or transformed into villa gentes, so it's not possible to establish their original form today.
Additionally, there's the Parish Church of San Vittore, documented as early as 976 as "Basilica sanctis Victoris constructa infra castro Agedade". The church is located in the center of Agrate and is a particularly interesting building that has undergone significant restoration work over the centuries.
Conclusions
Overall, Agrate Conturbia is a very interesting place to explore. There are some historical sights to see, such as the castles and the church, but also the natural beauty of the hilly land makes Agrate Conturbia an ideal destination for anyone who wants to take a quiet walk. Thanks for your attention and I hope to see some of you here visiting this wonderful municipality!
