Castelseprio
Welcome to Castelseprio: a description of the city
Hello everyone! Let me introduce you to Castelseprio, a charming town in the province of Varese in Lombardy, Italy. The town has about 1,299 inhabitants and is located on the right bank of the Olona valley, a river that touches the territory.
The capital, Vico Seprio, is separated from the rest of the city, where the ruins of the settlement destroyed in the thirteenth century are located. However, despite the destruction, the archaeological site is very important and has been part of UNESCO's World Heritage since 2011.
Castelseprio is protected by an archaeological area and is part of the complex of archaeological sites related to the Lombard rule in Italy ("The Lombards in Italy: places of power (568-774)"). Now, let's delve deeper into the origins and history of the city.
History of Castelseprio
Castelseprio was founded in the Roman-Byzantine period, in the fourth century, as a defensive post against barbarian invasions. "Sibrium", the Latin name of Castelseprio, was crossed by the "via Novaria-Comum", a Roman road that connected Novara to Como passing through Castelseprio.
The Seprio had a vast extension, from Val d'Intelvi and the Ticino to Lake Lugano and further on to Parabiago. Castelseprio became the administrative, judicial, and military capital of the Byzantine period. This importance of the settlement lasted until Milan and Como began to undermine it to take possession of the vast territory.
In 1287, Castelseprio was destroyed by the Milanese with the betrayal of some alpine people of Val d'Ossola. The Archbishop of Milan, Ottone Visconti, decided that the fortified castle would never be rebuilt. The sacred buildings were spared.
Vegetation covered the remains of the castrum for five centuries. Only in the twentieth century were there studies to recover the frescoes of Castelseprio in the church of Santa Maria foris portas, the remains of the Basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista, and the remains of San Paolo. The archaeological area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011.
Physical geography of Castelseprio
Castelseprio is surrounded by the Olona river and the homonymous valley, where some minor watercourses are located, such as the Tenore and its tributary Ronchè, the Refreddo, and the Roggia Milinara. The Tenore flows in the woods west of the village, where its tributary Ronchè also flows.
The Roggia Molinara arises from the Olona in Castelseprio and was used to move the blades of the ancient Zacchetto Mill, now in an advanced state of degradation.
In the Olona Valley, there is the Buzonel Pond, fed by some springs. The territory is rich in natural beauty that makes it a fascinating place.
Society and administration of Castelseprio
The population of Castelseprio has grown over the years. In 1751, the town had only 301 inhabitants, which rose to 364 in 1771. In 1853, the population reached 466 inhabitants, and in 1859 amounted to 491. Later, there was annexation to Carnago in 1809 and in 1928.
From 1801 to 1927, Castelseprio was part of the province of Como. Today, the administration of the municipality is committed to preserving the history and heritage of the territory, ensuring that the city continues to grow and prosper in the years to come.
Conclusions
I hope this brief guide has been useful to understand more about the history, geography, and society of Castelseprio. The city has significant historical importance, and the territory is a beautiful example of nature and beauty. If you have the opportunity to visit, do not hesitate to do so!
