Frascarolo
Welcome to Frascarolo: a brief guide to the history and symbols of the municipality
Hello everyone! Are you ready to learn more about Frascarolo, a small municipality in the province of Pavia? In this brief text, I will give you an overview of its history, monuments and symbols.
History
Frascarolo has an ancient history dating back to the High Middle Ages, when it became part of the Lomello County. In 1164, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa subjected Frascarolo to the rule of Pavia. In 1250, it appeared in the list of Pavia's lands as ''Frascarolum''. Throughout the centuries, Frascarolo was ruled by several noble families, including the Birago family of Milan, the Varesini, and the Bellisomis of Pavia. In 1713, together with the entire Lomellina region, it came under the rule of the House of Savoy and in 1859 was incorporated into the province of Pavia.
Monuments
Frascarolo has several monuments of great interest. Among the most significant is the Visconti-Sforza Castle, reconstructed in 1512 and restored in the 1880s during the ownership of the Vochieri family. The ancient church of S. Maria Maggiore "Castri Veteris" is also a monument worth visiting. It is the ancient parish church of Frascarolo, mentioned as early as 1322 in documents kept in the Vatican Secret Archives. The current neoclassical parish church is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Vitalis Martyr. It was built in 1841 and opened for worship in 1852. It contains valuable frescoes by painters Giovanni Valtorta and Luigi Morgari, as well as a Crucifixion on canvas by painter Francesco Sampietro dated 1852. Finally, the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Romito houses a Renaissance-era fresco of the school of painter Gaudenzio Ferrari.
Symbols
The coat of arms and flag of Frascarolo are also very interesting. They were approved by the municipal council on November 22, 2008, and granted by decree of the President of the Republic on February 27, 2009. The coat of arms represents elements taken from the coats of arms of the families that had the village as a fief, and recalls an ancient emblem present on the town hall building dating back to 1841. The leafy branch, besides having an assonance with the toponym, is present in the coats of arms of the Da Frascarolo, the Ungaresi (or Ongaresi) and the Chiroli, as shown in the armorials of Marco Cremosano and Marozzi. The griffins are the supporters of the shield and have been placed inside the coat of arms. These animals are also present in the arms of the Robba family of Frascarolo. The blue and gold enamel colors are present in the coats of arms of the local noble families of the Varesini and the Marquis Bellisomi.
In conclusion, Frascarolo is a very fascinating municipality rich in history. If you have the opportunity to visit it, you won't regret it!
