Beregazzo
Beregazzo con Figliaro: a bit of history
Beregazzo con Figliaro, or simply Beregazzo as it was called after the unification of Italy, is a small municipality in the province of Como in Lombardy. It is located north of the city and has around 2772 inhabitants spread across the two nuclei of Figliaro and Beregazzo. But what is its history?
The first historical mention of the place Filiaro dates back to a list compiled in 1289 by the then chaplain of Rovello Porro, who was tasked with counting all the churches under the jurisdiction of the Appiano parish. From this census, it is clear that even at that time, Figliaro was a significant community in the area.
Later, in the "Statutes of the Waters and Roads of the Milanese Countryside made in 1346," we find the list of localities in the Appiano parish responsible for maintaining the "road from Bolà." Among these, we find both "el locho da Baragazio" and "el locho da Fitilario," that is, Beregazzo and Figliaro.
During the Duchy of Milan, Figliaro became a fief of the Del Rio Noriega family (1650), and then passed to the Litta family (1739). In 1753, Beregazzo and Figliario merged to form the current denomination. During this period, both nuclei were part of the Appiano parish and in 1786 became a municipality in the province of Varese, which at that time was part of Austrian Lombardy.
Later, in 1807, the decision was made to temporarily aggregate Beregazzo con Figliaro to the municipality of Binago. However, the choice was revoked following the fall of Napoleon and the establishment of the Province of Como by the Austro-Hungarian empire.
After the unification of Italy, the municipality was for some time simply called "Beregazzo," until 1912 when the addition of "con Figliaro" was made. In 1928, Beregazzo con Figliaro merged with Castelnuovo Bozzente, forming the municipality of Mirabello Comasco. The union lasted until 1948.
The symbols of the municipality
The municipality of Beregazzo con Figliaro has an interesting coat of arms that represents the communities of Beregazzo and Figliaro, ideally united by the bridge into a single municipality. The two towers represent these two nuclei joined together.
But the symbolism does not end there: the black pot in which the "pult" (traditional soft polenta made from corn and wheat flour) is cooked is the symbol of the inhabitants of Beregazzo, hence the nickname "i pultat da Beregazz." The rooster, on the other hand, represents the people of Figliaro, or "i galitt da Fíè."
Conclusions
Beregazzo con Figliaro is a small reality located in the hinterland of Como, but it has a fascinating history and an active community proud of its roots. A must-visit for those who want to discover the true essence of Lombardy.
