Brenna
Brenna: the Lombardic municipality with Celtic roots
If you are looking for a tranquil and characteristic municipality in the province of Como, you must visit Brenna. This village of 2189 inhabitants with a name derived from the Celtic term Bren, meaning "leader", will surprise you with its ancient origins.
Origins of the name
In fact, the toponym Brenna seems to indicate the city's importance as a meeting place and community leader: in Celtic language, "Bren" means precisely "leader". Also, the hamlet of Olgelasca, which is part of the municipality of Brenna, seems to have ancient origins: its name appears to be derived from the ancient Celtic term for "enclosed meadow".
History
Brenna's roots date back even to Roman history: in fact, some excavations carried out in the hamlet of Olgelasca have unearthed some tombs dating back to that period.
Later, under the Lords of Milan, the Statutes of Water and Roads of the county of Milan made in 1346 mention "el locho da Brena con Pozolo" as one of the localities that, within the parish of Mariano, was responsible for maintaining the road "from Niguarda". During the Duchy of Milan, Brenna also had a castle, but today there is no trace left of it.
In the following years, Brenna passed from noble families like the Fossati and the Pietrasanta, to be managed by the Marliani family from 1450 and then by the Giussani in 1583. In 1590, the municipality was re-infeudated to the Marliani, then passed to the Crivelli from 1683. In 1751, the territory of Brenna already extended to the areas of "Borlasco superiore", "Borlasco inferiore", "della Cà", "della Canova", "Pizzolo superiore" and "Pizzolo inferiore". Six years later, the municipality of Brenna was included in that of Olgelasca and named "Brenna with Olgelasca and Pozzolo".
Later, the reorganization of the territory of the Kingdom of Italy in 1807 led to the aggregation of the municipality of Brenna with that of Inverigo, but this decision was repealed after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. Brenna followed the common fate of the Province of Como, within the Lombardo-Veneto Kingdom (1816) and then, through the Kingdom of Sardinia, in the Italian territory.
Symbols
The coat of arms and the banner of the municipality of Brenna were granted by decree of the President of the Republic on May 17th, 1978. The four crowns in the coat of arms symbolize the past domination of the feudal families of Mandelli, Marliani, Giussani and Crivelli over these lands. In the tower represented in the coat of arms, an ancient stronghold is depicted, of which there is no trace today. The wheat and maize plants remember the rural origin of the village, which was once exclusively an agricultural center.
Monuments and Places of Interest
Brenna offers several attractions for those who love religious architecture. In particular, the Church of Sant'Adriano, a Lombardic Romanesque building dating back to the eleventh century, is one of the gems of the village. Inside, it preserves a fresco dating back to the beginning of the twelfth century and depicting the titular saint.
Furthermore, the inhabited center is characterized by beautiful houses in an ancient style, which will make you feel immersed in the rural atmosphere of the past.
If you want to spend a day immersed in the beauty of Lombardy and discover a hidden gem of the province of Como, you cannot miss the opportunity to visit Brenna. You will be surprised by its ancient Celtic origins, its intriguing history, and its medieval architecture.
