San Donato Milanese
San Donato Milanese: an urbanized city in a flat landscape
San Donato Milanese is a municipality located in the metropolitan city of Milan, Lombardy, and is popularly known as "San Donaa" in Milanese dialect. The city has a population of 32,249 inhabitants and, although most of the territory is heavily anthropized, it is part of the South Milan Agricultural Park and is located in a flat area at 100%.
Seeking balance between urbanization and natural heritage
Alongside the ss 415 Paullese road, in San Donato Milanese, the Lambro River flows, while the "Cavo Redefossi" canal has been covered and reappears only in the municipality of San Giuliano Milanese. In 2017, a small hydroelectric power plant of 171.37 kw was completed along the banks of the Lambro River, next to the Urban Gardens of the municipality. Additionally, there is the Levadina Oasis, an area of about 12 hectares created by the WWF, which is an intermunicipal park that extends along the banks of the Lambro River. These are some of the efforts that the municipality of San Donato Milanese is making to find a balance between urbanization and natural heritage.
History of San Donato Milanese
The history of San Donato Milanese begins with the first settlements of populations in pre-Roman times. Over the years, several populations such as the Etruscans, Ligurians, and Gauls lived in the plains that from Milan lead towards Melegnano, plains that now host the municipality of San Donato Milanese. During the Roman Empire, the Mediolanum-Laus Pompeia road connected Milan to Lodi and was sixteen miles long. San Donato was at the fifth stone, "ad quintum lapidem". At the height of each stone, the main road intersected with a secondary road and churches were founded near these intersections, including that of San Donato; around which the real center began to develop.
In the 7th century, during the Lombard era, the foundation of the first San Donato Milanese Parish was made by the army of Grimoaldo, Duke of Benevento, who had designs on Pavia and had his troops installed on the future territory of San Donato. The founding year of San Donato is uncertain, but it is believed to have been founded by an abbot of the nearby Chiaravalle Abbey. In some notarial acts of the 9th century and 10th century, San Donato and the suburbs of Bolgiano and Triulzio are mentioned. The etymology of the name derives from the ancient parish church dedicated to Donato of Arezzo, Bishop of Arezzo, highly esteemed and venerated in the Archdiocese of Milan.
Following the Lombard occupation, the entire territory was part of a single fiefdom which, in the 11th century, was owned by the noble family De Advocati. After the extinction of this family, the property went to the Archbishop of Milan until the 16th century. The darkest times were experienced in the 12th century, when all of Milan experienced tumultuous moments, but hope was brought by the abbot Bernard of Clairvaux, who began his work of pacification. Some of the most beautiful abbeys that can be admired around San Donato are due to him and his doctrine.
In conclusion, San Donato Milanese is an urbanized city that seeks to find a balance between urbanization and natural heritage. The history of San Donato dates back to several populations such as the Etruscans, Ligurians, Gauls, and Lombards, and the municipality hosts several historical monuments such as the Church of San Donato Milanese. Discovering the city and its history, therefore, is an experience worth doing.
