La Loggia
La Loggia: the history and geography of the municipality
La Loggia is an Italian municipality located in the southern suburbs of Turin, in Piedmont. With a population of 8,781 inhabitants, the municipality extends about eight kilometers from the city of Turin. The area of the municipality is bounded to the east by the Po River and borders the municipalities of Moncalieri, Vinovo, and Carignano. The Special Nature Reserve of the Lanca di Santa Marta and the Confluence of the Banna, inserted in the Po bank, is a portion of municipal territory accessible only from the municipality of Moncalieri and was recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve in 2016. In addition to the main center, the municipality includes some hamlets such as Tetti Griffa, Sabbioni, and Baraudina. Furthermore, the rivers Po, Chisola, and Oitana (stream) flow through the territory of the municipality of La Loggia.
The origins of the name
There are some hypotheses regarding the origin of the name of the municipality of La Loggia. One theory suggests that the municipality derives from the word "alog," meaning "lodging," as La Loggia was a mandatory transit route for those coming from the Marquisate of Saluzzo or Liguria. A second hypothesis refers to the farms that raised poultry in the 14th century, and one of these was characterized by a "loggia" that ran through the entire façade. Finally, the most accredited version attributes the origin of the name "loggese" to the "loggia" found on the tower of Castello Galli.
The history of La Loggia
La Loggia has a rich history dating back to the 14th century. The first time the municipality's name appears in an official document is in 1396 when Giacomo Darmelli acquires the property. Shortly after, he is prosecuted by the judge of Turin for fortifying and building the Castle without having received the license from Ludovico Di Savoia. The controversy is resolved with Giacomo Darmelli being acquitted of the penalty he had been sentenced to and recognized as the Lord of La Loggia. After this decision, the Darmelli family increases its economic power, obtaining various recognitions, titles, and patents.
Conclusions
La Loggia is a municipality characterized by its geographical position, the presence of the Po River and the natural reserves that surround it, but above all, by its history. The municipality saw the rise of Giacomo Darmelli, who managed to build the Castle and acquire power in the area, becoming the Lord of La Loggia. His family succeeded for several generations, obtaining numerous recognitions, titles, and patents thanks to their successes. The history of La Loggia represents an important heritage of the municipality and should be told and preserved for future generations.
