Lodigiano

<< Lombardy

The territory of the Province of Lodi, or Lodigiano, is located in the middle of the Po Valley southeast of Milan. The entire province is a plain with a few agricultural centers, mostly located between the rivers Lambro and Adda. A few historic attractions can be found in Lodi and some other towns.

Lodi

Lodi is a city located near the Adda river southeast of Milan. The town was founded in 1158 by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, after the previous settlement, now known as Lodi Vecchio, was destroyed by the Milanese. Lodi eventually came under the rule of Milan, and became an important center during the Renaissance. The Peace of Lodi was signed here in 1454 by the most powerful Italian states, granting the peninsula four decades of stability and allowing arts and literature to flourish. After the Italian unification the town developed as an agricultural and industrial center.

✪ Lodi Cathedral

Also known as: Basilica Cathedral of Vergine Assunta

The Lodi Cathedral (Duomo di Lodi) is the main church of the city, built between the 12th and 13th century in Romanesque style and later expanded. The church features a Romanesque facade with an elaborate rose window and some Gothic and Renaissance elements. Its interiors feature various artworks and a crypt. The adjacent Palazzo Vescovile houses the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art (Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra), a rich collection of artworks and liturgical garments. Also adjacent to the cathedral is the Broletto, the 13th-century town hall that still hosts the seat of the local municipality. The church faces Piazza della Vittoria, the main square of Lodi, which is surrounded by porticos and historic buildings.

✪ Civic Temple of Beata Vergine Incoronata

The Civic Temple of Beata Vergine Incoronata (Tempio Civico della Beata Vergine Incoronata) is a Renaissance church located in the center of Lodi. Erected between the 15th and 16th century, the church has an octagonal plan. The temple is known for its splendid interiors, filled with sumptuous frescoes and decorations. The church also houses the Museo del Tesoro del Tempio dell’Incoronata, a museum of historic religious objects.

Church of San Francesco

The Church of San Francesco is a Romanesque and Gothic church built between the 13th and 14th century in Lodi. The building features a peculiar facade with two open sky windows. The church houses several ancient frescoes and paintings, along with some funerary monuments.

Paolo Gorini Anatomical Collection

The Paolo Gorini Anatomical Collection (Collezione Anatomica Paolo Gorini) is a museum housing several 19th-century anatomical models made from real corpses. The museum is hosted in a former hospital featuring various frescoed halls.

Visconti Castle of Lodi

The Visconti Castle of Lodi (Castello Visconteo di Lodi) is a former castle originally erected during the Late Middle Ages in Lodi. For centuries the main fortification in the area, it was later partially demolished and now serves as a police station. The main attraction of the castle is the Torrione, a rounded tower now used as a water tank.

Lodi Vecchio

Lodi Vecchio is a small town just west of Lodi. Founded in ancient times, it was an important Roman city with the name Laus Pompeia. Contested between local powers during the Middle Ages, it was destroyed by the Milanese in 1111. The new city of Lodi was later rebuilt nearby. Over the following centuries, a new village emerged on the site of the ancient city, and became known as Lodi Vecchio (“Old Lodi”).

Archaeological Area of Laus Pompeia

A few ruins of the ancient city of Laus Pompeia can be seen in Lodi Vecchio. These include the remains of some Roman structures and the former cathedral of the town. The archaeological area hosts a small museum with some findings unearthed in the city.

Sant’Angelo Lodigiano

Sant’Angelo Lodigiano is a town in the Province of Lodi. The settlement emerged during the Late Middle Ages as the seat of a small fief.

Sant’Angelo Lodigiano Castle

The Sant’Angelo Lodigiano Castle is a fortification erected in the Late Middle Ages. For centuries the residence of the local lords, now it has been turned into a museum complex. The castle houses a museum of local history with ancient furnishings and weapons, and sections dedicated to the history of agriculture and bread.