Vaprio d'Adda
Vaprio d'Adda: A Bit of History and Geography
Hello everyone! Today I want to tell you a bit of history about the municipality of Vaprio d'Adda, located in the metropolitan city of Milan in Lombardy, to which I am very attached. Vaprio d'Adda is located halfway between Milan and Bergamo, and is crossed by the Naviglio della Martesana canal. The territory of Vaprio d'Adda was already inhabited in Roman times and today it is a municipality of 9428 inhabitants.
The Foundation of Vaprio d'Adda
It is not known exactly when Vaprio d'Adda was founded, but some scholars believe that it was born as a "Castrum" around the year 300, with the construction of the first bridge over the Adda river called "Pons Aureoli". During Roman times, the territory was crossed by the "via Gallica". The name could derive from the Celtic or Latin "vadulum", which means small ford, but there is also another theory according to which the name of the town would be linked to the wild boars that infested the territory.
The Middle Ages and the Castle of Vaprio d'Adda
In the Middle Ages, Vaprio d'Adda was an important strategic point in the defense of the Adda river, as it was part of the defensive line that included the Castello di Trezzo sull'Adda, the Castello di Cassano d'Adda, and the Castello di Brivio. The Castle of Vaprio d'Adda was rebuilt several times: the last reconstruction dates back to 1281, when it became a stronghold of the Della Torre family. Here, in 1324, the Milanese Ghibellines emerged victorious over the Guelphs during the latter's crusade against the Visconti power. The castle was also one of the military garrisons during the clashes between Francesco Sforza and the Republic of Venice. Today, nothing remains of this castle.
Leonardo Da Vinci and Villa Melzi
In 1483 Villa Melzi, in Vaprio d'Adda, was renovated by Giovanni Melzi, a duke's advisor of the Sforza family, and later hosted Leonardo Da Vinci, a government engineer in Milan under French rule, between 1506 and 1513. This villa is still present and can be visited.
Rebirth Thanks to the Austrians
From 1535 to 1700, Lombardy was under Spanish domination, which marked the decline of the Duchy of Milan and ushered in a period of great famine and plague. In the eighteenth century, the Duchy passed to the Austrians and, like the whole region, Vaprio d'Adda began a great social and economic progress. Thanks to good Austrian government, Lombard entrepreneurial vocation received the right push and stimulated economic and cultural growth. In 1763, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria chose Vaprio as the hunting residence of Duke Francesco III d'Este, governor of Lombardy.
The Battle of Adda
In 1799, Vaprio d'Adda witnessed the Battle of Adda between the Italo-French troops and the Austro-Russian troops. Defenders of the Cisalpine Republic, formed under the aegis of Napoleon, succumbed to the restorers who entered Milan on April 28th.
Here is a brief story about the history of Vaprio d'Adda, which fills me with pride! If you feel like visiting a place rich in history, do not hesitate to come here.
