Busto Garolfo
Welcome to Busto Garolfo
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Busto Garolfo, an Italian municipality with just over 14,000 inhabitants located in the metropolitan city of Milan, in Lombardy. Despite being immersed in an urbanized area, this town has maintained important traces of its agricultural and natural history.
Physical geography
The territory of Busto Garolfo is crossed by the Villoresi Canal, which has profoundly changed its natural geography. However, despite this, the southern and eastern parts of the municipality are characterized by a strong wooded and rural component. In fact, the wooded areas are part of the Roccolo Park, created in 1991 between the municipalities of Parabiago, Busto Garolfo, Casorezzo, Arluno, Canegrate, and Nerviano, and covers over 700 hectares.
The park was established to protect the local fauna, flora, and agricultural activities, and is characterized by the presence of native tree species such as oak, cherry, and Scotch pine, but also other species introduced by man such as Robinia, chestnut, red oak, and black cherry.
Origins of the name
The name Busto Garolfo, in Legnanese dialect called ''Busti Piccol'', derives from the Latin "bustus" (farm) combined with the nickname "Garolfo". The nickname, in turn, could derive from the proper name Gairoldo or Gerolfo, but it is not entirely certain.
History
Busto Garolfo has an ancient history that dates back to at least the 10th century AD. The first historical news dates back to June 992 when the archpriest of Dairago donated to the canons of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan a vineyard located "in vico ed fundo qui dicitur Bustus Garulfi". Over the centuries, Busto Garolfo has undergone numerous changes, becoming a fiefdom of the Maggi, Arconati, and Losetti families until it was sold in 1664 to Giuseppe Arconati, who received the title of Marquis of Busto Garolfo from the King of Spain.
During the Late Middle Ages, numerous churches were built, including the church of S. Salvatore and the Abbey of S. Maria Elisabetta, which later became the parish church. During the wars of independence, Busto Garolfo was the scene of large movements of Italian and Austrian troops, especially during the Battle of Magenta. In 1870, the town was expanded with the annexation of the villages of Villa Cortese and Olcella.
Conclusions
Busto Garolfo also actively participated in the First and Second World Wars, paying a heavy tribute in human lives. Today, this municipality is an increasingly popular tourist destination for its history, natural beauty, and hidden treasures, such as the Roccolo Park. If you have never visited Busto Garolfo, I recommend you do so as soon as possible, you will not regret it!
