Castiglione d'Intelvi
The small municipality of Castiglione d'Intelvi
Castiglione d'Intelvi, formerly known as "Castillione sito loco Entelano", is an Italian municipality in the province of Como, Lombardy. With a population of 1,218 inhabitants, the town was an independent municipality until December 2017, when it was merged with Casasco d'Intelvi and San Fedele Intelvi to create the municipality of Centro Valle Intelvi.
Origins and meaning of the name
The name Castiglione derives from the presence of an ancient castle in the territory. The toponym is present in historical documents dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries, in which it is indicated as "Castillione sito loco Entelano" or "loco Castelioni sita Intelano".
History of the municipality
In the 10th century, Castiglione d'Intelvi was considered a "castrum" for the presence of a fortress in the locality of La Torre. Over the centuries, the municipality came under the dominion of different families, including the Rusca, Medici, and Marliani. This last family built a fortified house that is still visible in the town.
During the Austrian dominion over Lombardy, Castiglione was the capital of the district of Valle Intelvi. In 1807, the municipality was merged with Blessagno, Casasco d'Intelvi, and Cerano d'Intelvi, but this decision was abolished with the Restoration.
On January 1, 2018, Castiglione was merged with Casasco d'Intelvi and San Fedele Intelvi to create the municipality of Centro Valle Intelvi.
Curiosities about Castiglione d'Intelvi
The town is known for being the birthplace of the engineer and cartographer Giovanni Battista Nolli in 1701. Additionally, the locality of Visonzo is known for being the birthplace of Giovanni Buono, one of the Magistri Antelami who built a war machine that allowed the people of Como to capture the castle of San Martino, located near Lake Lugano.
Conclusions
Castiglione d'Intelvi is a small municipality in northern Italy with a history rich in events and dominations by different families. Today, the town is part of the municipality of Centro Valle Intelvi and is a highly appreciated tourist destination for its historical and cultural attractions.
