Lonate Pozzolo
Discovering the history of Lonate Pozzolo
Hello everyone! Today I will talk about Lonate Pozzolo, a town located in the province of Varese in Lombardy. The municipality has about 11,365 inhabitants, but what makes it famous is its history.
Physical geography
Lonate Pozzolo is located on the border with the Italian regions of Piedmont and the Province of Milan and is surrounded by numerous cities including Busto Arsizio, Gallarate, Varese, and Novara. The municipal territory, which extends over more than 29 km², has an altimetric difference ranging from 142 meters above sea level of the Oleggio bridge locality to 210 of the highest point. The inhabited center of Lonate Pozzolo is located at 205 meters above sea level.
History
The origins
The Roman presence in Lonate Pozzolo is attested by various archaeological remains including two votive areas from the 1st century AD, a small necropolis, a milestone, and coins. In 973, the municipality of Lonate Pozzolo was first mentioned in a land exchange between the bishop of Novara and a certain Celsone di Lonate. However, at this date, on the outskirts of the ancient oratory of San Giovanni Battista, a Lombard community was already present. In the historic center, there are also traces of Roman centuriation.
Modern era
The village of Lonate Pozzolo consolidated its prosperity over the following centuries, becoming a small city from 1290. In 1496, the community adopted new statutes and two years later, the Church of Sant'Ambrogio was consecrated. The inhabited area was divided into two parishes, Sant'Ambrogio and San Nazaro and Celso, with two distinct parish priests. During the reign of Carlo Borromeo, the small female monasteries were merged into the three large monasteries of Sant'Agata, San Michele, and Santa Maria, which housed up to 180 enclosed nuns.
The military airport Campo della Promessa
Lonate Pozzolo became famous in Italy for the military airport Campo della Promessa, active from 1916 to 1945. This airport was the departure base for the most important planes of that period. In 1940, it also became the base of the 1st Diving Training Unit commanded by the ace Giuseppe Cenni (Golden Medal for Military Valour).
Conclusion
And so, whatever the reason for visiting Lonate Pozzolo, its history and geographical location make it a place of great interest. From its Roman past to its growth as a city, from the construction of the Sant'Ambrogio church to the Campo della Promessa airport, the town has many treasures to discover. I recommend visiting Lonate Pozzolo if you have the opportunity to do so!
