Montodine
Welcome to Montodine: physical geography and location
Welcome to Montodine, a municipality of 2,436 inhabitants located in the province of Cremona, Lombardy. The town is located in the western zone of the province and borders Ripalta Guerina to the north, Ripalta Arpina to the east, Bertonico (in the province of Lodi) to the south, and Moscazzano to the west. The city is only 5 km from Castelleone, 10 km from Crema, 15 km from Lodi, 30 km from Cremona, Bergamo, and Piacenza, and 50 km from Milan. Montodine is accessible by car via the SS591 Cremasca and the nearest train stations are Castelleone and Crema.
The history of the origin of Montodine's name
Montodine has a long history dating back to the Roman period: the Via Regina, one of the Roman roads that connected the river port of Cremona (modern-day Cremona) with Clavenna (Chiavenna), crossed Montodine. The current name of the town, on the other hand, derives from the union of "monte" (mountain) and a Germanic personal name, perhaps Odilo (Olivieri) or Odin. Another origin linked to the presence of the Adda river, which in medieval Latin is called "Addua," is also hypothesized. A trace of the ancient course of the Adda is the current high coast, shaped over time by water, which departs from the Montodine settlement and touches Moscazzano and the other nearby villages.
The history of Montodine from the Celtic era
Recent observations suggest that the origin of the town dates back to the Celtic period: Strabo, the Roman writer, reported that the Celtic populations lived in scattered villages and that some higher areas of the territory, located between the course of the two rivers Adda and Serio, could be inhabited by the Celtic peoples. However, the ties with the Roman civilization are attested by the discovery of a Roman road, the Via Regina, which crossed the Montodine lands. This road started from Cremona, arrived at San Latino (and the ancient church, now lost in the fields, dedicated to Saint James, patron saint of pilgrims, confirms the use of the artery in medieval times), reached the Montodine territory, and continued towards Milan.
The history of Montodine during the Barbarian period
During the Barbarian period, a stele dating back to the Longobard domination was found in a ditch of Via Roma. It is assumed that Montodine was subject, in the Early Middle Ages, to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Aquileia, which included 17 dioceses in northern Italy, among which the Diocese of Cremona. This can be deduced from two clues: the ancient custom in baptism of placing children on the altar and withdrawing them after the payment of a sum of money as a ransom (pastoral visit by Mons).
Conclusions
Montodine is an Italian municipality with a long history dating back to the Roman period. The name of the town derives from the union of "monte" and a Germanic personal name. Montodine was inhabited by the Celts and had ties with the Roman civilization. During the Barbarian period, the town was subject to the Patriarchate of Aquileia. Today, Montodine is a fascinating and history-rich place that deserves to be visited.
