Castiglione Olona
Castiglione Olona: a green village surrounded by the Olona river
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about a wonderful village I visited some time ago: Castiglione Olona, a municipality in the province of Varese in Lombardy.
Physical Geography
Castiglione Olona is located between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como and is a 15th century village nestled in greenery. It is surrounded by the Olona river and a multitude of small streams that flow between its hamlets.
Hydrology
The Selvagna stream, fed by the Felisera and Riale Gasletti streams, flows into the Olona river at the border between Castiglione and Lozza. The Mornaga stream flows between the hamlets of Caronno Corbellaro and Gornate Superiore and collects the waters of the Marnetta, formed by the Rio Griano and Rio Dietro Costa, and of the Rio Canale, the emissary of the fishing lake. Eventually, the Mornaga flows into the Olona, as well as the Riale delle Selve and Marubbio. The Valdessera, a tributary of the Olona, flows at the border between Castiglione and Gornate Olona. Finally, the Tenore stream runs along the extreme northwest of Castiglione Olona. In short, the town is full of water streams that make it even more picturesque.
History
Now, let's discuss the history of this wonderful town. According to not fully accredited sources, Castiglione Olona was born as a settlement of Stilicho's troops at the beginning of the 5th century, from which it took the name "Castrum Stiliconis". The "Via Mediolanum-Bilitio", which connected "Mediolanum" (Milan) with "Luganum" (Lugano) passing through "Varisium" (Varese), ran through here.
The chroniclers of the time recorded the presence of the Lombards, from which the noble family Castiglione descended, owner of the Castiglione fiefdom at least since 1028. In the context of the battles for control of the Contado del Seprio, Castiglione Olona found itself involved several times in political alliances with powerful families who managed the local power, thus siding with the Della Torre or the Visconti.
The construction of the village walls that remain only in the highest part of the hill, where the fortress was erected in the 12th century, was carried out during this period. The fortress was initially rebuilt near the Church of the Saints Stephen and Lorenzo by Cardinal Branda Castiglioni and then finally demolished by Massimiliano Sforza in 1513.
The Renaissance period was the time of maximum splendor for Castiglione, thanks to the particularly enlightened presence and initiatives of Cardinal Branda Castiglioni. However, it later underwent a long decline. In 1800, thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of the Mazzucchelli family, Castiglione Olona became the first industrial center of the province of Varese. In 1809, King Napoleon annexed Caronno Corbellaro, Gornate Superiore, and Lozza to the municipality, increasing the population from 900 to 1394 inhabitants, but a few years later, the restored Austrians canceled everything. The first two of the three annexations were then proposed again by Benito Mussolini in 1927.
Conclusions
To conclude, I would say that Castiglione Olona is a truly beautiful town, rich in history and charm. Its narrow and winding streets, stone houses, and natural scents make it a perfect place for anyone who wants to walk quietly and enjoy an escape from the frenzy of the city. If you are near Varese, I recommend visiting Castiglione Olona, it will undoubtedly be worth it!
