Alzate Brianza

The story of Alzate Brianza

Hello everyone! Today we will talk about Alzate Brianza, a small municipality in the province of Como, Lombardy. The city has been called different names throughout the centuries, such as "Alzate" until 1864, "Alzate con Verzago" until 1919, and "Alzaa" in the Brianza dialect.

Origins of the name

The name derives from the Latin toponym "alcius" or "altius" with the addition of the suffix -ate. It is known that in the 10th century the city was called "Alzae", as reported in a document of that time.

Brianza: History and Trivia of the Lombard Town

History

The presence of the Romans in Alzate is attested by some archaeological excavations carried out in the area, which brought to light two gravestones dedicated to the goddess Minerva. The city was part of the lordship of the Sforza family, after having supported the Guelfs and the Ghibellines in a previous conflict for the control of Milan.

The localities of Fabbrica Durini and Verzago have an interesting history of their own. Fabbrica Durini was founded in 1600 and was part of the eponymous noble family for many years. Verzago, on the other hand, was a fiefdom of the Archdiocese of Milan before passing to the Giovio family. The two cities merged in 1864.

Symbols of the city

The coat of arms and the flag of Alzate Brianza were granted by decree of the President of the Republic in 1960. The coat of arms features a temple with four columns, which could be a reference to a temple dedicated to Minerva that once stood in the area. The flag is blue.

Monuments and places of interest

The church of Saints Peter and Paul was built on the foundations of an ancient temple dedicated to Minerva Orobiade. The church is mentioned in the Liber Notitiae Sanctorum Mediolani and initially covered the area of the main altar and the B chapel.

The Alzate Brianza airport is located in the Verzago area and is important for the city.

Conclusions

Here is the brief history of Alzate Brianza. The city has a long history, dating back to Roman times, and it is interesting to see how the city has evolved over the centuries. If you are in Como, you can visit Alzate Brianza and discover its history and places of interest. Thank you for reading!

Martina Caruso
Updated Friday, Jun 24, 2022