Tradate
Welcome to Tradate, a city with ancient history
Hello everyone! Today, I will talk to you about Tradate, a municipality with around 18,635 inhabitants located in the province of Varese, Lombardy. The name of the city has uncertain origins, but it seems to derive from the personal name "Theodorus" or the Germanic name "Teuderad" which later transformed into "Tederate". However, some argue that the name has Roman origins, "Tradatum".
A city with a Roman heritage
Tradate's territory has a strong Roman heritage, as the "Via Mediolanum-Bilitio" connected Milan with Lugano through Varisium (Varese). It is thought that the territory was inhabited in Roman times and continued to be so during the period of barbarian invasions in the 5th and 6th centuries AD, which led to the fall of the Roman Empire.
A city with a medieval flavour
Between the 11th and 13th centuries, Tradate suffered the effects of the expansionist policy of the Duchy of Milan, and in 1071, the castle of Abbiate Guazzone was destroyed. The Pusterla family began to strengthen their dominance over the area (which lasted until the 18th century) by building their castle in the 14th century, which still exists today. Under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the area underwent a reorganization in the 18th century with the Teresian Cadastre and the creation of numerous maps of the territory.
A city in continuous development
Since 1878, the village of Tradate has been connected to other centers in the area by railway. Subsequently, in 1899, Tradate was connected to the electric line thanks to the Vizzola Ticino power plant. At the end of the 19th century, the city was linked to agriculture and textile activity, with spinning and weaving activities. The textile industry experienced significant development thanks to the activities of Cesare Castiglioni and Alessandro Lonati, who founded their business in 1879 at the Villa Castiglioni complex, modernizing production with 25 steam-powered looms located in a modern plant with self-produced electrical energy. The city also had a flourishing paper production, which developed particularly from 1880 with the foundation of the Pusterla Box Factory.
In 1905, the "Frera" motorcycle factory opened in the city, contributing to the economic development of the area and an increase in employment. In 1914, the Galmarini hospital was inaugurated, which became the Circolo Hospital in 1926. In 1927, the town moved from the province of Como to that of Varese, which had just been established.
A dynamic and welcoming city
In summary, the city of Tradate can boast of ancient and recent stories, together with a strong industrial presence that has promoted significant economic development. If you decide to visit, you can appreciate the signs of history, the beauty of its landscapes, and the liveliness of its social fabric. We look forward to welcoming you!
