Corteolona
Corteolona and Genzone: a municipality with ancient origins
Corteolona and Genzone are two municipalities in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, that merged in 2016 to form the current municipality. Corteolona, in particular, has ancient origins: the city was built on the Strada Regina, an important artery that connected Pavia with Piacenza and the Via Emilia. In fact, kings and emperors passed through here, and the city was a royal Court where Longobard and Frankish kings resided when Pavia was the capital of the Longobard Kingdom. The city also had great cultural importance: in 825, Emperor Lothair I issued a capitulary that elected Pavia as the main seat of studies in northern Italy, laying the foundations for the future University.
The history of Corteolona
Subsequently, the Curtis Olumna was donated to the monastery of San Salvatore in Pavia and belonged to the Campagna Sottana di Pavia. In the fifteenth century, the city was included in the squadra (podesteria) of the Vicariato di Belgioioso, and at the end of the century, Ercole d'Este of Sigismondo was appointed by the Duke of Milan, count of Corteolona and Lord of the Vicariato di Belgioioso. The territory of Corteolona became part of the vast fiefdom administered by the cadet branch of the Este of San Martino (1490-1752). The fiefdoms of Corteolona and Belgioioso in the Pavia area passed, in 1757, through the marriage of Anna Ricciarda d'Este to Alberico Barbiano di Belgiojoso, to the princes Barbiano di Belgioioso.
The merger of Corteolona and Genzone
Since January 1, 2016, the former municipality of Corteolona merged with that of Genzone to form the current municipality. The municipality has a population of 2,534 inhabitants.
The symbols of the municipality
The coat of arms and the flag of the municipality of Corteolona and Genzone were granted by D.P.R. on March 8, 2017. The coat of arms brings together elements taken from the emblems of the previous municipalities of Corteolona (the golden crown, the crossed swords, and the balance) and Genzone (the seven ears of wheat, the two stars, and the wavy band).
Society
The municipality has undergone demographic evolution over the years, going from 1,674 inhabitants in 1961 to 2,534 inhabitants in 2016, the year of the merger of the two municipalities.
Conclusions
Corteolona and Genzone can boast a rich and ancient history, which has seen the city as an important cultural and political center in northern Italy. The merger of the two municipalities has led to the creation of a unique municipality that preserves the traditions and origins of the two previous municipalities. The coat of arms and flag of the municipality represent the fusion of the emblems of the two municipalities, symbolizing a union that is hoped to be prosperous and long-lasting.
