Collegno
Collegno: Where it is located and its physical geography
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about the city of Collegno, a municipality located in the metropolitan city of Turin, in Piedmont. With its 48,657 inhabitants, Collegno is located just 5 km west of Turin and is one of the most important cities in the metropolitan area.
The territory of Collegno is mainly flat and is located between the city of Turin to the east and Rivoli to the west, at the end of the Susa Valley. In addition, Collegno is located a few kilometers from the Alps, at the foot of Mount Musinè. The city is crossed by the Dora Riparia river in the final stretch of its course and the most densely populated portion of the municipal territory has developed in modern times along the course of Corso Francia, along which there is now a continuous solution between Collegno, Rivoli, Grugliasco and Turin.
The Dora Agronature Park
Another interesting feature of the territory of Collegno is the Agronature Park of the Dora, a protected area that extends between the municipalities of Alpignano, Pianezza and Turin. This park consists partly of a plain forest remnant and partly of agricultural land, where the parceling of land can be seen divided into lots delimited by the so-called Bealere di Torino, or irrigation canals that take water from the Dora itself for irrigation of crops. The bealere have an ancient origin coming from the Middle Ages. The Park has been defined as "Environmental Safeguard Area" by the Piedmont Region and is protected by the Municipal Regulatory Plan. Furthermore, the location in the plain, between the limit of the Susa Valley and the Turin hill, makes this area a real "ecological corridor". In fact, the territory of the Park intersects the routes of many migratory birds becoming also a stopping point for these animals.
The history of Collegno
Collegno has an ancient history, in fact it was born two thousand years ago as a post station (mansio) five miles from Turin, along the Moncenisio road to France. The locality was formerly called "Ad Quintum Collegium" from which the current name derives. In the basements of the current Church of San Massimo (Collegno), there are the remains of a Romanesque architecture church, and a collection of archaeological objects from the Roman era, found in the municipal territory, are kept at the Antiquities Museum of Turin.
During the Lombard domination period, in the area of the current Campo Volo, there were a small settlement and a necropolis, as found during the excavations for the metropolitan area. Subsequently, in the high-medieval period, the urban development of the village underwent the process of castling; the village concentrated near the Castle, built around the year one thousand, on a hill dug by a bend of the Dora Riparia. All that remains today of the fortress is a square-shaped tower, while the rest of the building has been transformed over the centuries into a residential building in baroque style.
The Aeritalia Airport
Not everyone knows that the Aeritalia Airport, ICAO code LIMA, the tourist airport of Turin, is located in the territory of Collegno. The airport, although not one of the busiest, is very useful for those who want to move quickly to air destinations.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Collegno is a very interesting city both from a geographical and historical point of view. Its strategic location and proximity to the city of Turin make it an ideal place for those who want to visit the city but prefer to stay in a quieter and more peaceful area. In addition, the presence of the Dora Agronature Park and the Aeritalia Airport make Collegno a very interesting destination, especially for nature lovers and fast-moving people. If you decide to visit the city, do not forget to taste the typical dishes of Piedmont cuisine, famous all over the world for its goodness!
