Castle of Legnano

The Castle of Legnano, also known as the Castello di San Giorgio, is a captivating medieval fortress situated to the south of Legnano on a natural island formed by the Olona River. This historic site, located on Viale Toselli between Parco Castello and Piazza I Maggio, offers a unique glimpse into the rich history and strategic importance that Legnano held from the Middle Ages to the 16th century.

The Strategic Significance of Legnano

The presence of a castle in Legnano is closely tied to the town’s strategic role throughout history. Positioned along an essential medieval communication route that ran parallel to the Olona River, Legnano connected Mediolanum (modern-day Milan) with Verbannus Lacus (Lake Maggiore). This route, known as Via Severiana Augusta, has existed since Roman times and later influenced the path of the modern Sempione Road constructed during the Napoleonic era.

Defending Legnano was crucial because its capture could provide enemies with easy access to northwestern Milanese territories. The town’s location at the mouth of the Olona Valley, which ends at Castellanza, made it a vital point for advancing towards Milan. During the Middle Ages, even though Legnano formally belonged to the Seprio region, it was economically and militarily linked to Milan. The town and its surrounding areas supplied Milan with essential foodstuffs, reinforcing their connection.

Under the Visconti family, the Castle of Legnano was part of a broader defensive system encircling Milan. These fortifications were strategically placed where the Visconti held significant property. The castles around Milan served both military purposes, such as defending against external attacks and internal civil wars, and leisure activities like summer retreats and hunting expeditions in nearby forests.

However, by the 16th century, Legnano began to decline in strategic importance. As the Seprio region’s rebellious stance towards Milan diminished, the need for a permanent military presence faded. Consequently, the Castle of Legnano transitioned from a critical military outpost to a simple agricultural center. This shift is evident in the absence of artillery positions on the castle’s towers, which became common in the 16th century.

The Origins: The Convent of San Giorgio

The origins of the Castle of Legnano are linked to an ancient Augustinian convent dedicated to Saint George, documented as early as 1231. Although this religious building is not mentioned in the Liber Notitiae Sanctorum Mediolani, which describes the religious context of the Milan area between the late 13th and early 14th centuries, it played a significant role in the region.

The convent, which included a small church also dedicated to Saint George, owned extensive cultivable lands stretching beyond Legnano to Canegrate, San Vittore Olona, Villa Cortese, and Dairago. The dedication to Saint George might have been influenced by the local veneration of the saint or vice versa. This association likely inspired the naming of the castle, a Legnano neighborhood (Costa di San Giorgio), and the nearby town of San Giorgio su Legnano.

Ecclesiastical properties in Legnano are documented as far back as the Frankish era, with the earliest record dating to October 23, 789. This document details a land exchange between Pietro I Oldrati, Archbishop of Milan, and the Monastery of Sant'Ambrogio in Milan, marking the first mention of Legnano.

The Convent of San Giorgio and the Della Torre Family

The convent of San Giorgio faced harassment from local nobles (magnates et potentes) who had settled on adjacent lands. This conflict stemmed from the power struggle between the Milanese archbishopric and local nobility following the Battle of Legnano in 1176. The victory at Legnano allowed Lombard communes to gain independence from imperial rule, leading to a shift in governance from bishops and nobles to elected consuls.

Archbishop Leone da Perego, a proponent of restoring archiepiscopal supremacy, clashed with noble families like the Della Torre, who supported the new political landscape. Upon Leone da Perego’s death in 1257, the Della Torre family seized the opportunity to occupy archiepiscopal properties, including the strategically positioned convent of San Giorgio.

To avoid further conflict, the monks abandoned the monastery, signing a notarial deed of exchange with the Della Torre family on October 14, 1261. The monks received fertile lands in Limito and the church of San Primo in Milan in return. This exchange highlights the Della Torre’s strategic interest in acquiring the convent.

The Della Torre and Lampugnani families, who had previously harassed the monks, acquired the monastery and surrounding lands. The Della Torre family also purchased properties in Legnano, including mills on the Olona River and various assets in the Dairago and Parabiago regions, consolidating their influence in the area.

Today, the Castle of Legnano stands as a testament to the town’s rich history and strategic significance. Visitors can explore its ancient walls and imagine the medieval conflicts and daily life that once filled its halls. The castle’s transformation from a military stronghold to an agricultural center reflects the dynamic history of Legnano and its enduring connection to Milan.