Calco
Welcome to Calco, in the Brianza hills!
Welcome to Calco, a town of approximately 5,428 inhabitants located in the province of Lecco, Lombardy. The city is located in the hills that flank the Adda River, northwest of Lake Sartirana. In this article, we will take you on a journey through the physical geography of Calco, its origins, and its history.
Physical geography
Territory
Calco extends over a hilly territory with a minimum height of 179 meters and a maximum of 391 meters. The municipality also includes the nearby center of Arlate, located further to the east on a terrace overlooking the course of the Adda River.
Seismicity
Calco is classified as seismic zone 4, which means that the likelihood of damage due to earthquakes is very low.
Climate
Calco's climate is of the CFB type according to the Köppen climate classification and is considered humid in all seasons with hot summers and moderate winters. Heating systems can only be activated for 14 hours daily from October 15 to April 15.
Origin of the name
There are several theories about the origin of the name "Calch" in Brianza dialect. According to one of the hypotheses, the Romans deported a large number of Greeks to the area to repopulate Lake Como and the banks of the Adda. Some people originally from the island of Calchi, in the Aegean Sea, called the area where they settled Calco, in memory of their faraway homeland. Another theory traces the name to the Celtic word "Calk," meaning lime or limestone rock, due to the existence of limestone in the area. Lastly, there is the hypothesis that the toponym is related to a certain "Calcos," a Greek warrior who allegedly received the village as a gift after saving the wife of the Lombard king Romualdo.
History
The first records of the existence of the modern town are found in a parchment of 936/937 AD, a deed of exchange between the archpriest of the Basilica of San Giovanni Battista and a Calco resident named Guarimberto. The document was an agreement whereby the archpriest would receive some lands in exchange for some donations to the local churches. Calco is mentioned in five other documents before the year one thousand, including two sales deeds drafted in Lecco in 975, in which the Count of Lecco Attone of Guiberto sells goods and lands located in various areas of the territory of Bergamo.
Calco's history was marked by the presence of the Visconti lordship, who, starting from the thirteenth century, dominated most of Lombardy. In 1395, Gian Galeazzo Visconti entrusts his father-in-law, Luchino dal Verme, with the task of reorganizing justice and administration in the village of Calco. After the fall of the Visconti, Calco passed under the control of various rulers who succeeded in controlling the region.
During World War II, the territory of Calco suffered numerous air raids, particularly on the night of September 4, 1944, when the city was hit by an Allied air attack during which several buildings were razed to the ground.
Conclusions
Calco is a town with a long history and a privileged geographical position. Surrounded by the Brianza hills and the Adda River, it offers numerous opportunities for nature and history lovers. We hope that this article has provided you with the necessary information to discover this splendid city!
