Cesano Boscone
Cesano Boscone: a Lombard municipality
Cesano Boscone, a municipality in the metropolitan city of Milan, is home to 23,479 inhabitants. In its long history, the territory has seen the arrival of the Romans, followed by the Lombards and Austrian domination. It is therefore not surprising that the city shows influences from these different cultures in its artistic, architectural and cultural heritage.
Physical geography
Cesano Boscone is located in the Po Valley, in the southwestern area of the city of Milan. The territory has been shaped by the Olona River, which flows north of the municipality. Although Cesano Boscone does not have mountainous areas, its proximity to the Lombard Prealps and the Ticino influences its climate.
Climate
The climate of Cesano Boscone is sub-Mediterranean, like the entire surrounding area of Milan. It has cold winters and hot summers. However, the geographical position of the city, nestled between Milan and the Ticino, makes the climate a bit more refreshing than other areas of the metropolitan area during the summer season.
History
From Roman to Lombard period
The name Cesano may derive from the Roman period, when veterans were assigned land as a reward for their loyalty. The name may have referred to a certain "Caesius" or "Cassianus". Some epigraphs and votive altars have been found in the area, one of which, engraved with a dedication to the god Jupiter, is on display in the square in front of the Church of San Giovanni Battista.
The territory of Cesano was densely wooded and this may have been the origin of the addition of the suffix "Boscone" to the original name. Numerous archaeological finds from the Roman period have been found in the area, including four steles, a sarcophagus and traces of a Roman settlement.
Cesano Boscone became more developed during the period of the Lombard Kingdom. It is believed that the Church of San Giovanni Battista was founded by Queen Teodolinda in 613, after her conversion to Christianity.
From the Middle Ages to Austrian domination
The first document relating to the existence of a municipal order dates back to 1264, when Cesano Boscone is mentioned as a municipality in a document of the "Acts of the municipality of Milan". In a statute of 1346, it is stated that Cesano Boscone was a parish that also included the municipalities of Buccinasco, Corsico, Cusago, Trezzano sul Naviglio and Muggiano.
In the Middle Ages, Cesano was one of the thirty-two parishes of the Pieve of Cesano Boscone with its seat in the canonical house of Cesano where six canons resided in addition to the "prepositus".
The area continued to be under Austrian domination until the Napoleonic era of 1797.
From the 19th century to today
The modern history of Cesano Boscone began at the end of the 19th century. The city had a population of about 1000 inhabitants then. The first city council was elected on January 18, 1899 and the current municipality was created in 1928. Cesano Boscone experienced further growth during the years of the economic boom starting from 1950, thanks to its proximity to Milan and the expansion of the industrial system of the metropolitan area. In 1971, Cesano Boscone finally became a metropolitan city.
Conclusions
Cesano Boscone today represents the cultural and architectural expression of the past, which merges with the more recent influences of the cultural climate, agriculture, industry and commerce. The city is therefore a recommended tourist destination for those who want to discover this small town in the metropolitan city of Milan.
