Palestro
Welcome to Palestro: a brief journey through the history of the Lombard municipality
Hi everyone! Today I'll take you on a journey to discover Palestro, an Italian municipality located in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, on the border with the provinces of Vercelli and Novara. With its 1778 inhabitants, Palestro is a city rich in history and symbols.
History
The origins of Palestro can be traced back to 999 AD when the town, by the will of Otto III of Saxony, passed to the bishop of Vercelli. From then on, Palestro began to play a very important role, especially due to its privileged position on the Francigena road in Lomellina and the passage of pilgrims.
Throughout the centuries, Palestro suffered numerous historical events, including the invasions of the Ostrogoths and the Lombards, and different dominations, such as those of the Visconti, the Borromeo, and the Spanish.
However, the battle that made Palestro famous all over the world took place on May 30 and 31, 1859, during the Second Italian War of Independence, when the Franco-Piedmontese army won the first victory against the Austrian troops. This battle has been commemorated over the years and still today, every last Sunday of May, the fallen soldiers are celebrated.
Symbols
The emblem of Palestro, which depicts a rampant lion on a red pole on a white background, has been used by the municipality even though it hasn't yet received an official grant decree. In previous versions, the pole was depicted surrounded by palm fronds to remember the historic battle of 1859. The municipality's banner, a blue flag, represents the colors of the Italian flag.
Monuments and places of interest
One of the most important monuments in Palestro is the Church of San Martino Vescovo, dating back to 1006. Over the centuries, the church has undergone many modifications and renovations, up to the current neo-Gothic style. The church was restored in the 19th century by the architect Giuseppe Locarni and in the 1980s.
Another place of interest is the Palestro Ossuary, inaugurated in 1893 and restored in 2011. The ossuary collects what remains of the fallen soldiers of the 1859 battle. This place was built to commemorate the victory and remember the sacrifice of the soldiers who fought for Italian independence.
Curiosities
Furthermore, Palestro is not only an Italian town. It is also the name of a city in French Algeria, founded by Domenico Bassetti in honor of the Battle of Palestro. This city was initially populated by Italian settlers, and today is known as Lakhdaria.
I hope you enjoyed this journey through the history of Palestro and that you learned something new! Palestro is a city worth visiting for its rich history and monuments. Bye!
