Cerano
Welcome to Cerano: a treasure in Piedmont
Cerano, also known as ''Sciareun'' in Novarese dialect and ''Sciaran'' in Piedmontese language, is a commune located on the Piedmontese bank of the Ticino river and on the banks of the Terdoppio stream that flows into the river through the Cerana canal. The village extends in a wide valley of the Ticino river that offers breathtaking views. Cerano is a treasure nestled in the province of Novara, in Piedmont, with its vast fields used for crops, its irrigation canals, the Cerana canal and an altitude ranging from 140 to 115 m above sea level on the banks of the Ticino river.
Physical geography
Surrounded by nature, Cerano offers various possibilities for excursions, such as strolling along the riverbank and following the route of the Naviglio Langosco and Naviglio Sforzesco, discovering the local flora and fauna. Immersed in the beauty of the Po Valley, the inhabitants of the village are surrounded by romantic views towards the river and nature.
History
Origins and growth in the medieval period
Cerano was founded more than a thousand years ago and is first mentioned in a document from 969 bearing the seal of Emperor Otto I of the Holy Roman Empire. The Latin name ''Cerretanum'' could come from a type of tree, the Quercus cerris, which was present in the Po Valley at the time and is still visible today in the municipal coat of arms.
During the medieval period, Cerano was the seat of a ''Corte (Medioevo)'', a community with a closed economy and almost autonomy from the surrounding area. In 1140 and 1141, Cerano came under the influence of the powerful Count Guido da Biandrate, who obtained the village as a feudal estate from Conrad III of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1156, the Milanese attacked the city of Cerano and destroyed the castle. However, the city was completely rebuilt and became a point of reference for the defense of the Ticino area. The village was surrounded by walls and the Cerana canal, which served as a defensive waterway, dug in 1202. In the 14th century, the inhabitants of Cerano refused to submit to the sovereignty of the Visconti of Milan, deciding to submit voluntarily to the marquess of Monferrato. Duke Galeazzo II Visconti then decided to attack Cerano in 1456, destroying it once again. However, the people of Cerano had already opposed Milan, which had undertaken acts of piracy against the Duchy of Milan in the waters of the Ticino.
Under the Sforza
In 1450, after the end of the Visconti dynasty, the village decided to voluntarily submit to the new Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, who had promised the city to free itself from the secular rule of Novara. From 1456, the feudal estate of Cerano was handed over by Francesco Sforza to Pietro Gallarati and his heirs. After the Battle of Pavia (1525), from 1527 the entire Cerano area came under the sovereignty of the Spanish Crown along with the Duchy of Milan.
Conclusions
Over the years, Cerano has undergone various transformations and has overcome various difficulties. However, the citizens of Cerano have always known how to react with determination, rebuilding their city stronger and with even more enthusiasm. Today, Cerano presents itself externally as a beautiful treasure in Piedmont, where its historical nuclei, churches and traditions testify to a history that still lives vividly in its streets.
