Borgo Ticino
Welcome to Borgo Ticino!
Borgo Ticino is a small Italian municipality in the province of Novara, in Piedmont, inhabited by approximately 5000 people. In this article, I will talk about the city's history, its monuments, and places of interest.
The history of Borgo Ticino
The territory of Borgo Ticino has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by archaeological finds in the area. Archaeological discoveries also indicate that the land of the city was inhabited during the Roman era.
Borgo Ticino was built by Novara before 1190 on the hill overlooking the ancient fortified center of Lupiate, indicated in the documents as curia Lupiati. The new foundation was aimed at countering the local lords, the powerful da Castello family.
In 1413, feudal rights over Borgo Ticino were granted to Lancillotto and Ermete Visconti. In 1447, the fiefdom passed to the Borromeo family, to whom it remained until 1646.
During the Napoleonic era, the municipality became part of the Department of Agogna, canton of Arona.
After the return of the House of Savoy, in the 19th century, it was at the head of a district from which the centers of Agrate Conturbia, Bogogno, Castelletto Sopra Ticino, Comignago, Divignano, Pombia, Varallo Pombia, and Veruno depended; the court of justice and the office of the royal customs duties were based there.
During World War II, Borgo Ticino suffered the Nazi-fascist massacre of August 13, 1944, in which 12 young people were killed and numerous houses were looted and burned. Today, the main square of the village is dedicated to the twelve martyrs.
In the post-war period, the village underwent strong immigration, especially from Calabria and Veneto.
Monuments and places of interest
Borgo Ticino boasts some monuments and places of interest, including the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, located outside the village towards Arona. Documented since the 12th century, it was rebuilt in a Baroque style in 1631. Only the bell tower and a section of the northern wall of the original Romanesque construction remain.
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta, located on the hill called "castellazzo," was built in the 12th century and preserves remains of medieval frescoes in the bell tower. The current structure is an 19th-century reconstruction by the architect Luigi Orelli from Novara. The interior was frescoed in the 19th century by the Milanese painter Gaetano Vaccani.
Curiosities
The witness Alessandro Griggio, who had brought the bodies of the 12 young martyrs to the cemetery, recounted his moving experience, saying: "I, with these hands, precisely with these hands, took them and brought them to the cemetery. With these hands. I cannot forget that morning, what I did, what I touched. I dreamed and still dream of my hands taking the bodies of my friends."
On October 17, 2012, at the Military Court of Verona, Ernst Wadenpfhul, the only survivor among the Nazi-fascists responsible for the massacre of Borgo Ticino, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Conclusions
Borgo Ticino is a city with a strong spirit, rebuilt after the tragic events of World War II. Its millennial history and its monuments testify to its rebirth and its desire to move forward. If you are in the area, I invite you to visit this place rich in culture and history!
