Olgiate Comasco
Olgiate Comasco: an ancient Lombard town
Olgiate Comasco is a town located in the province of Como, in Lombardy, with a population of 11,663. Thanks to its strategic location, it is only 10 km from the provincial capital Como, 14 km from Varese, 8 km from the Italian-Swiss border Bizzarone-Novazzano, and about 45 km from the Lombard capital Milan.
The city is situated in a hilly-piedmont pre-Alpine area known as the Alto Olgiatese, which acts as a transition zone between the Po Valley and the Prealps and Alps.
Origins of the name
The origin of the name Olgiate Comasco has given rise to various theories. According to some, the root "olgi-" may derive from the Latin personal name "Ulvius" or "Ulbius", while others believe it to be derived from "aulcia," "aucia," "augia," Latin terms indicating a portion of arable land enclosed by ditches and hedges. Other theories refer to the transformation of the Latin term "aula" into "olgia" or "olla," used to indicate a pot, a vase or an amphora for cooking food or storing food or coins. Furthermore, there are various interpretations of the suffix "-ate" present in Lombard place names, some of Etruscan, Celtic, or Ligurian origin, while others simply transform a common noun into a place name.
History
Olgiate Comasco, a center of Ligurian-Celtic origin, dates back to Roman times when the territory was crossed by the Novaria-Comum road, which connected the Municipality of Novaria and Comum through Sibrium. Some archaeological findings from this period include 1st-century pottery made by Marco Perennio's Arezzo workshop. Additionally, a Roman-era necropolis is believed to have been found between the localities of Baiettino and Vigna dei Ronchetti.
Between the 9th and 13th centuries, Olgiate Comasco was inhabited by Lombard arimanni, who were responsible for the construction of the church of San Cassiano and the name "Olgeate, qui dicitur Longobardorum". This appellation was also used in the 16th century in the form "Olgiate Lombardone".
Documents from 1215 reveal that during the communal age, Olgiate Comasco had its own podestà, while in Como's Statutes of 1335, "Olzate" was listed among the municipalities responsible for maintaining the stretch of the Cardevio road between the platea belonging to Alberti Zanforgi and Sassum de Cardevio.
Conclusion
Olgiate Comasco is a Lombard town with an ancient and fascinating history that dates back to Roman times and the centuries that followed. The city's place name has given rise to various theories, but its origin remains a mystery. However, the beauty of its hilly-piedmont pre-Alpine landscapes represents the greatest value of the city and attracts tourists from all over the world.
