Castiraga Vidardo
Castiraga Vidardo: a municipality in the province of Lodi
Castiraga Vidardo, also known as Vidàrd in the local language, is a municipality in the province of Lodi in Lombardy, consisting of the two towns of Castiraga and Vidardo. With a population of 2938 inhabitants, it is a small and charming town with ancient roots.
Origin of the name
The name Castiraga Vidardo derives from the two towns that make it up. Castiraga comes from "Castrum Regis", which means "camp of the king", while Vidardo was formerly called "Vicodardum", which means "village of darts".
History
The Municipality of Castiraga Vidardo was created in 1902 by separating the town of Castiraga from Reggio and Vidardo, which were autonomous until 1869 and were part of the municipality of Marudo. During the struggle between Laus (Lodivecchio) and Milan in 1158, the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa camped in Castiraga.
Symbols
The municipal coat of arms and the flag of Castiraga Vidardo were granted by royal decree in 1937. The coat of arms represents the union of the two towns, displaying a tent, representing the camp of Frederick Barbarossa, and an arrow, symbolizing the dart factory that the Gauls Boi had in Vidardo. The flag is a split cloth of yellow and green.
Monuments and places of interest
In Vidardo, the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo dates back to 1700, while the oratory of the Addolorata was built in the first half of the 1800s. The Maggi Pizzagalli Palace is also of historical interest. In Castiraga, there is the oratory of Santa Croce, which dates back to the 11th century and houses a painting by the Morazzone school.
Society
Demographic evolution and foreign minorities
The municipality has a population of 2938 inhabitants, with a percentage of 5.89% of foreign residents. The most represented nationalities are Romania, Albania, and Ecuador.
Anthropical geography
The territory of the municipality of Castiraga Vidardo includes the places of Pagnana, Castiraga, Mulino, Monte Oliveto, Vidardo, Cascina Rosa, Cascina Pollarana, Vidardino, and Palazzola. According to ISTAT, the municipal territory includes the town center of Vidardo and the places of Cartiera-Vidardino, Castiraga, Pagnana, and Pollarana.
Economy
The main activity in the municipality of Castiraga Vidardo is agriculture, with crops of corn and forage. There are some important mechanical industries, but the majority of the economy consists of small commercial and artisanal enterprises. The workforce is often forced to move towards Milan, Pavia, or Lodi.
Administration
The Municipality of Castiraga Vidardo has a long list of local administrations. The highest honor conferred by the Municipality is the Dardo d'Oro, a gold medal awarded to Vidardo personalities who have distinguished themselves for their particular merits in society.
In summary, Castiraga Vidardo is a small Lombard town with ancient charm, rich in history and culture, where agriculture and small artisanal enterprises still constitute the main source of livelihood.
