Motta Visconti
Discovering Motta Visconti
Motta Visconti is a municipality in the metropolitan city of Milan in Lombardy, with a population of around 8,089 people. The name 'Motta' comes from the Gallic noun for 'raised land', since the original nucleus of the town was located on a hill to the west of the current town. The area was probably inhabited in Roman or Celtic times and became the seat of a lordship.
The history of the town
The de Campesis held important positions in Pavia in the 1100s, but the inhabitants of Campese moved to Motta due to the struggles between Milan and Pavia. The de Campesis fortress became the new settlement, and the previous area remained uninhabited. The municipality of Motta Visconti was then acquired by the Visconti family, who also gained control over the region. In 1786, the town was included in the province of Pavia, in Austrian Lombardy.
Symbols
The coat of arms of the municipality of Motta Visconti was granted by a royal decree on July 6, 1933. The gonfalon, instead, is a blue flag.
Monuments and attractions
The church of San Giovanni Battista is the main church in Motta and is located in via Soriani, a few steps from via Gigi Borgomaneri. The church was rebuilt in 1782, on the ruins of a building from the early 15th century, by the Visconti of Cislago. It preserves exceptional paintings, including a Nativity of the Virgin by Giovanni Maria Arduinio. The bell tower is surprisingly tall at 35 meters.
The community
In the past, the population of Motta Visconti has seen several demographic fluctuations. In 1604, the town hosted 1,771 people and in 1771, the population had risen to 1,604 people. In 1805, the number had increased to 1,769, and then to 2,344 in 1853.
Languages and dialects
In addition to Italian, Lombard language is spoken in its local variety. The Mottese dialect differs from other Milanese dialects for the apocope of -a at the end of the word, such as "La Mott" instead of "Motta Visconti".
Local culture
San Giovanni Battista is the patron saint of Motta, and the town celebrates its patron saint feast day on June 24. It is called "Giugno Mottese", and every weekend in June, events such as stalls along the town streets, concerts, dinner in the square, and rides are organized. The "Sagra delle Ciliegie" is another important event, which also includes a play area and the closure of some central streets.
Other events organized by the municipality include a theatrical performance, music through the town center, a cycling race, the "San Rock Festival", a singing evening, the so-called "Notte bianca", the "Sagra Patrono", and the gathering of vintage motorcycles. Among these, the Porcino Mushroom Festival is highly acclaimed.
In addition, there is a tradition linked to the feast day of San Giovanni Battista that only a few people know about. On the evening of the eve of the festival, June 23, a small glass container filled with water and egg white is prepared. The container is then placed in an area where it can collect dew, such as a garden or vegetable patch. The following morning, on June 24, it will be seen that the egg white has transformed into a small boat, which represents that of San Giovanni Battista.
Conclusions
In summary, Motta Visconti is a quiet municipality in the metropolitan city of Milan, with a long history and a rich local culture. The church of San Giovanni Battista and the Sagra delle Ciliegie are among the most important symbols of the community, and the events organized by the municipality keep the traditions of the town alive.
