Torre d'Isola
Welcome to Torre d'Isola, a charming town along the Ticino river
Torre d'Isola is an enchanting town in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, with a population of 2395. The municipality extends along the banks of the Ticino river and includes the residential areas of Casottole and Massaua, which have experienced strong growth thanks to their proximity to the capital. The name of the town perhaps refers to a tower belonging to a farm of the monastery of San Lanfranco, although the term "isola" (island) could refer to a small plot of land between two watercourses.
A bit of history
The territory of Torre d'Isola was part of the Campagna Soprana pavese and was included in the podesteria of Divisa, a hamlet of Marcignago. In the fifteenth century, the town passed to the Botta family and in 1841 it joined the municipality of Santa Sofia. In 1871 and 1872, the municipalities of San Varese and Cassine Tolentine were instead aggregated. Today, Torre d'Isola is known for its beauty, but also for the important irrigation work carried out by the Botta Adorno family.
The Church of Santa Maria della Neve
At the entrance of the town is the church of Santa Maria della Neve, next to Villa Botta Adorno. The sacred building was rebuilt and enlarged in 1703 and consecrated three years later. In the eighteenth century, the villa became the only inhabited building in Torre d'Isola and belonged to the marquises Botta Adorno, to the Cusani Visconti and the Litta Modignani. Today, the villa is owned by the Morelli di Popolo family and overlooks a wonderful park that extends to the river.
The Chapel of Santa Sofia
The Chapel of Santa Sofia, located in the place where, according to myth, the city of Pavia was founded, is a very ancient place of worship. Here the inhabitants of the area tried to build the city, but every time they made progress, the next day everything had been destroyed. In the end, a military port was built under the river terrace to defend Pavia.
Torre d'Isola is a municipality rich in history, culture, and natural charm. Anyone who decides to visit this town will be enchanted by the beauty of Villa Botta Adorno, the suggestion of the sacred places, and the millenary history of this land.
