Airuno
Airuno: Its Name and History
Hello friends, today I want to talk to you about Airuno, a municipality of 2,782 inhabitants located in the province of Lecco, in Lombardy. The name of this small village has a very interesting history, ranging from ancient legends to etymological theories.
Physical Geography
Airuno extends from the foothills of Colle di Brianza to a wide plain near the Adda River. This unique characteristic means that the town enjoys a unique natural beauty, making it an unmissable destination for nature and tranquility lovers.
Origin of the Name
There are several theories about the origin of the name Airuno. According to some sources, the name would derive from an animal, the heron or the badger. Others, however, support a Celtic interpretation of the name, which means "hidden location". Finally, there are also theories that refer to ancient legends, which we will talk about later.
The Legend of the Heron
The most rooted theory in the oral tradition of the inhabitants of Airuno claims that the town took its name from the heron, a bird that lived in the swamp that included the Adda territory beyond the current state road. According to this legend, Airuno was specifically referred to as "A'irone" in some documents preserved at the Archdiocese of Milan, compiled in 1574 and related to the "Status Animarum" of the Parish of Airuno. However, a will written in Latin in 960, as well as all subsequent Latin documents, already suggested "Ayruno", leading to the belief that the oral tradition of the heron derivation is the most unfounded theory, or at least an incorrect translation of the original name.
The Celtic Origin of the Name
In addition to the heron theory, the etymology of Airuno finds a legitimate meaning in the Celtic roots "aan" = place and "run" = secret, that is, "hidden location". This perfectly describes the first inhabited nucleus, hidden in the basin carved by the Tolsera River and sheltered by the Rocca hill.
The Gothic Witches
According to other historical sources, the name Airuno was attributed to the women who followed the Gothic army, the "alirune", so called because they wore amulets and talismans engraved with runes. These warriors were able to practice witchcraft thanks to the runic alphabet: a set of sixteen letters in the form of sticks and arrows, coming from the word "runk", which means "magic". The Arilune took refuge in this basin at the foot of the hills, sheltered from the winds, waiting for their men to finish conquering the Po Valley.
The History of Airuno
The origin of the name of this municipality is just one of the curiosities that distinguish it. Airuno boasts in fact a millennial history, testified by the discovery of a funerary lanceolate stele, with Latin inscriptions dating back to the late Roman period.
In the Middle Ages, the town was included in the parish of San Genesio, which was part of the feudal territory of Merate. In the fifteenth century, Airuno passed under the control of Venice, until being definitively annexed to the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom.
Conclusions
As you have understood, Airuno is a municipality rich in history and ancient legends, making it an unmissable destination for those who want to discover the roots of our culture. I hope that this brief excursus has made you curious and perhaps has motivated you to visit the splendid Brianza land, rediscovering the traditions of the past and the beauty of our cultural and artistic heritage.
