Besozzo
Discovering Besozzo: a gem among the Lombard hills
Hello friends, today I will talk about Besozzo, a small town with a population of 8800 located among the hills between Lake Varese and Lake Maggiore, in the province of Varese, Lombardy. Besozzo has a long history, being part of the Roman civilization and the pievano territory of Brebbia in the Middle Ages.
An ancient and interesting history
The ancient nucleus of Besozzo is located in the upper part of the village and was fortified to control the traffic and the passage of roads in the underlying Bardello valley. Even today, the area of upper Besozzo is characterized by medieval and Renaissance buildings, which were inhabited by the noble families of Besozzi and Castelbesozzo. These families played an important role in the political and economic landscape of the area for several centuries.
One of the most important symbols of Besozzo is the so-called Castle, built between the 15th century and the 16th century by the Besozzi themselves. The Castle is unique in the Varese area as an example of a fortification of a family that had feudal rights but did not belong to the Visconti dynasty (who were still allies of the Besozzi).
We must not forget the hamlets of Bogno, Cardana and Olginasio, which still preserve their autonomous and characteristic urban physiognomy today. These hamlets were autonomous municipalities until the first annexation to Besozzo in the Napoleonic era and then under the Lombard-Venetian Kingdom until the fascist suppression in 1928.
The symbols of Besozzo
The coat of arms and the banner of Besozzo were granted by decree of the President of the Republic in 1957. The coat of arms is presented with the first azure field and a crowned golden eagle; the second red field with another eagle in flight and crowned with gold; the third silver field with a red castle. The banner has a split red and blue cloth.
Places of interest to visit
Besozzo is a place rich in treasures to discover. Among the civil architecture, the Cadario Castle stands out, built on ancient fortified structures and characterized by an elegant late Renaissance entrance tower with a light loggia with columns, and the Adamoli palace, with a "U" layout, the result of transformations and modifications of a stronghold of the Besozzi. The Adamoli palace preserves a beautiful Renaissance-style entrance portal and an elegant courtyard with decorations and 18th-century balconies.
Besozzo is also famous for the Church of San Giorgio, built on the site of a pre-existing chapel in the 17th century, and for the Church of Santa Maria, dating back to the 14th century and then modified and enlarged over the following centuries.
Do not miss the Natural Reserve of Lake Varese, where you can admire species of migratory birds and where it is possible to practice sports activities in contact with nature.
Conclusion
As you have seen, Besozzo is a hidden gem among the Lombard hills, which definitely deserves a visit. Its ancient history, its symbols, its civil architectures and churches are just some of the interesting ideas that Besozzo has to offer. Have you ever been to Besozzo? Let us know in the comments!
