Arena Po
Arena Po: a brief introduction
Hello friends, today I'm going to talk to you about Arena Po, a small municipality located in the province of Pavia, Lombardy. This village of only 1504 inhabitants is located in the Oltrepò Pavese, right on the right bank of the Po and close to the border with the province of Piacenza.
History of Arena Po
The history of Arena Po dates back to the 10th century, when the monastery of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro in Pavia owned property in this place. Over time, Arena was under the jurisdiction of Piacenza, but then in 1164, it passed under that of Pavia.
The city was often subject to contrasts with Piacenza, but in the end, in 1188, the borders were definitively established. During its history, Arena Po was the seat of podesteria, and the lordship was acquired by the Beccaria family in 1290. However, due to some contrasts with the Visconti family, the feudal estate of Beccaria in Arena was confiscated and reduced only to Bosnasco.
Later, in 1441, the municipality was enfeoffed to the Sanseverino family, and later to the Speciani family. Arena Po had large fortifications and could control an important river trade route thanks to its position on the Po River. That is why the city was besieged by Milanese and Piacentines in 1216 and, in 1356, by the Visconti forces, but in both cases, it was not conquered.
Later, during the war between the French and the Spanish in 1655, the castle of Arena was occupied by the former. However, it was then captured by the Spanish general Caracena after the failed attempt of a surprise attack by the soldiers of Pavia and the Spanish. Once captured, the fortress was demolished by the governor of Milan, Trivulzio.
Parpanese and the municipality of Arena Po
Another area near Arena Po that has a long history is Parpanese. This place was an important crossing point on the Po River. In 1021, it was donated to the monastery of San Bartolomeo in Strada di Pavia, which maintained possession of it until the 18th century.
The territory of Parpanese was quite extensive, but with the passage of the area under Pavia in 1164, a part of it remained in Piacenza with the "Pieve di Parpanese". Before the 18th century, the municipality of Parpanese was also extended to the north of the Po, but then it was reduced and finally aggregated to Arena Po.
Aero field in Cascina Vaga
During the Second World War, there was an airfield of the Regia Aeronautica in Cascina Vaga. This area was used as a base for many military flights, but now it is a peaceful area that you can visit without any problem.
Conclusion
Here, friends, this is the brief history of Arena Po and its surrounding area. I hope you enjoyed this little journey into the past. If you are also in Lombardy, do not hesitate to visit this beautiful municipality and discover its fascinating history.
