Arsago Seprio
Arsago Seprio: a medieval village in Lombardy
Arsago Seprio is a municipality in the province of Varese in Lombardy with a population of 4765 inhabitants. The village has a long history dating back to Roman times, when the "via Severiana Augusta" passed through it connecting Milan to Lake Maggiore. Later, it became the capital of the homonymous ecclesiastical parish and was annexed to the territories of the Visconti family, to whom it belonged until 1751. The town underwent several annexations and detachments of neighboring territories, but today it houses some monuments and places of interest that testify to its cultural and artistic richness.
The Basilica of San Vittore and other monuments
The Basilica of San Vittore is one of the most important monuments in Arsago Seprio. Dating back to the 9th century, it has a very particular Romanesque architectural style and houses frescoes and works of art of considerable value inside. The church was built together with the baptistery, dating back to the 11th century, which together constitute a center of artistic value. Other notable monuments are the oratory of Saints Cosma and Damiano and the Romanesque church of Santa Maria in Monticello. In addition, the town houses the Civic Archaeological Museum and Paleontological Collection "G.C. Politi", which preserves fossils and archaeological finds of various eras.
Demographic evolution
Arsago Seprio had an interesting demographic evolution over the centuries. In 1751 it had only 600 inhabitants, but over time the number increased to reach 1617 in 1809 due to the temporary annexation of Casorate Sempione and Mezzana Superiore. After the annexation to Somma Lombardo in 1811, the number of inhabitants dropped to 1022 in 1853.
Municipal administration
The first municipal council of Arsago was elected in 1829. Over the decades, the village underwent several annexations and detachments of neighboring territories. For example, in 1869 Besnate and Casorate Sempione were annexed, but the latter was detached two years later along with Mezzana Superiore. The same fractions became an integral part of Arsago again only in 1901.
The Pieve of San Vittore
The Pieve of San Vittore in Arsago is a very important monument from a historical point of view. In fact, it is believed to be one of the first rural parishes of the Diocese of Milan. According to several historians from Gallarate, including Melzi, Bellini, Sironi, and Bombognini, the construction of the Pieve took place in the 13th century to establish a hierarchical decentralization of surveillance. Therefore, the first diocesan parishes were those of Arcisate, Casorate Primo, Corbetta, Missaglia, Porlezza, Varese, and precisely Arsago. Today, the Pieve of San Vittore is an important testimony of the religious history of the town.
In conclusion, Arsago Seprio is a medieval village that preserves a cultural and artistic heritage of great value. The Basilica of San Vittore, the Pieve of San Vittore, and the other monuments make the town a magical and fascinating place, rich in history and tradition.
