Sommo
The Municipality of Sommo
Hi everyone, let me tell you a little bit about the history of the Municipality of Sommo! This charming village is located in the province of Pavia, in Lombardy, and is inhabited by about 1141 people. Its geographical position is truly suggestive: it is located at the eastern end of Lomellina, on a kind of narrow peninsula formed by the terrace of the flood plain of Lomellina. From here you can enjoy an incredible view of the underlying alluvial plain, which corresponds to the valley or floodplain of the Po.
The History of Sommo
The history of Sommo is very ancient! The Municipality belonged to the Diocese of Pavia as early as 849, when Emperor Lothair I decided to donate this territory to Bishop Niccolò Brunori. It is from the name of the bishop that Sommo takes its name! Legends have it that Brunori spent much of his life writing and collecting ancient artifacts and books, so much so that it took two castles to house all his treasures. And so the village of Sommo was born!
During the 12th century, the Municipality of Pavia acquired Lomellina and the Oltrepò Pavese, becoming one of the major powers in the area. Sommo therefore became the seat of an important podesteria or team, comprising many of the surrounding centers, and probably the bishop of Pavia always maintained the high lordship of Sommo until the abolition of feudalism in 1797.
In 1470, the team of Sommo was enfeoffed to the Eustachi brothers of Pavia, who transferred the fief to the Cornazzano family. However, the fiefdom soon returned under the direct dominion of the bishop's mensa, until in 1673 it was purchased by Marquis Pio Ghislieri. Following the death of his eponymous nephew in 1771, the fiefdom was definitively incorporated.
In the 18th century, San Fedele and Travedo were united with the Municipality of Sommo, but these two villages had a different history from the peninsula of Sommo. In fact, they were part of the Sommo team, but did not always follow the same fate, having rather common events with the nearby Cava Manara.
The Villages of San Fedele and Travedo
San Fedele is located at the base of the Sommo peninsula, while Travedo is located in the alluvial valley west of this peninsula. Both villages have medieval origins, with Travedo mentioned as "Tervedo" as early as 1174. They too were part of the Sommo team, but did not always follow the fate of this, having rather common events with the nearby Cava Manara.
In fact, in 1650, the Eustachi sold San Fedele, Travedo and other places to the Olevano marquises, together with Cava Manara. Administratively, these two villages were considered part of the Siccomario, which remained with the Duchy of Milan ceded to Austria, while Lomellina was ceded to the Savoy. However, this situation created a long-standing dispute between the two powers, giving rise to a period of uncertainty for San Fedele and Travedo, which remained without a master until 1738 and became a refuge for bandits.
The Territory of Sommo Today
Today, Sommo is a highly appreciated tourist destination for its unique location and its historical heritage. The peninsula on which the Municipality is located offers breathtaking views of the Po Valley, and there are plenty of opportunities for hiking or cycling to discover the natural beauties of the area.
In addition, the historical nucleus of the village of Sommo still preserves numerous ancient buildings, such as the church of Sant'Ambrogio, dating back to the 15th century, the church of San Carlo Borromeo, dating back to the 17th century, and the Castle Tower, which also dates back to the 17th century.
In short, if you want to discover the history and natural beauties of the Municipality of Sommo, do not hesitate to visit this splendid place in Lombardy!
