Attractions and Places To See around Borgonovo Val Tidone - Top 20

The patronage of this shrine, dedicated to the Madonna, refers to the town of Loreto. This is one of the great and important Marian pilgrimage sites in Europe, along with Lourdes in the French Pyrenees and Fatima in Portugal. Unlike the other two places mentioned, however, Loreto is not known for apparitions of the Mother of God. Here, pilgrims can find something very tangible: Mary's childhood home in Nazareth (Israel). Her parents—not mentioned by name in the biblical writings of the New Testament—are mentioned in apocryphal traditions: Saint Anne and Saint Joachim are thus the grandparents of Jesus Christ (their common feast day in the calendar of saints is July 26). Crusaders likely dismantled the venerated building in Nazareth and brought it to Europe when the era of the Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land came to an end towards the end of the 13th century. But this very sober assumption is countered by a much more interesting legend: According to this, four angels carried out the translation and flew the house over the Mediterranean.

An idyllic spot for a rest and a picnic! We soak up the peace and quiet. From here, it's supposedly possible to take a boat across, just as pilgrims did in the Middle Ages. It's probably busier here in the summer.

The Castle was first mentioned in a document from 1001. On this occasion, Bishop Sigifredo granted the Benedictine monks of San Savino (Piacenza) some land, including the area of the Castle. The building has a trapezoidal plan and has four circular towers. The first of the four towers dates back to around the year 1000, which only later became four. The Castle was often the scene of clashes and battles. In 1212, the Guelphs of Piacenza took refuge there, threatened by the Ghibellines of Visconti, but they were worsted because they were defeated later in two battles. In the fourteenth century, the Castle was inhabited by Gabriello Boccapiccina, then it passed to the Chiapponi family. When the Chiapponi family died out, in the eighteenth century they were replaced by the Scotti di San Giorgio, who profoundly adapted the building, transforming it into a stately home. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Castle belonged for a short period to the Lombardi of Genoa; it was then sold to Eng. Giuseppe Manfredi, who had it restored by Prof. Camillo Guidotti. From 1930 to 1987, the building was owned by the Ursuline Mothers of Piacenza. Today, the Castle is used by the current owner as a venue for private events.

The Chiesuolo della Madonna di Loreto was built in three successive phases: The rural aedicule from the 15th century with an image of the Virgin of Loreto. The ancient oratory in brick from the 17th century, also dedicated to the Madonna di Loreto. The current church, dating from 1781. Architecture: The church has a single nave with a protiro (covered entrance) and is built of exposed brickwork. Inside there are frescoes and an altarpiece with the Madonna di Loreto. Significance: The Chiesuolo is also called ‘Il Chiesuolo’ and is dedicated to the Madonna of Loreto. It is an important historical testimony and a place of devotion. https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/architetture/schede/PV240-01108/

Rivalta Castle is one of the very few European examples of manors surrounded by an ancient village that has largely remained intact today.

Rivalta Castle is one of the very few European examples of manors surrounded by an ancient village that has largely remained intact today. Mentioned in documents as early as 1048, it is a sumptuous noble residence, surrounded by a magnificent park. The castle shows a quadrangular planimetric development and is characterized by a singular fifteenth-century cylindrical tower, which ends with the unmistakable small tower

Hannibal's passage and the Second Punic War. An ancient legend tells of Hannibal who, after crossing the Apennines and defeating the Romans in the Rivergaro area, stopped in the countryside around Piacenza, where he entrusted an elephant wounded in battle to the farmers of Gossolengo. The inhabitants got used to the presence of the elephant, using it for work in the fields or as a means of transport, but no one ever came back to claim it. Eventually, the elephant became part of the local memory, and is represented in the municipal coat of arms.

An ancient legend tells of Hannibal who, after crossing the Apennines and defeating the Romans in the Rivergaro area, stopped in the countryside around Piacenza, where he entrusted an elephant wounded in battle to the farmers of Gossolengo. The inhabitants got used to the presence of the elephant, using it for work in the fields or as a means of transport, but no one ever came back to claim it. Eventually, the elephant became part of the local memory, represented in the municipal coat of arms.