A glorious story from Lombardy, onthe shores of river Olona: a walk in Legnano

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"Of all the cities of Lombardy is praised as the rose or the lily among the flowers, like a cedar in Lebanon, as the lion among the beasts, like the eagle among birds, so as to appear like the sun among the celestial bodies ". With these words full of enthusiasm, wrote most of Legnano the Lombard poet and writer of the thirteenth century, Bonvesin de la Riva who lived here until 1288.
The goal of our day "just outside the door" was just this great city of the province of Milan, located about twenty kilometers from Milan.
If Legnano in the thirteenth century was admired for the fertility of its lands and the consequent well-being, now impresses with its quiet atmosphere and very enjoyable, despite the presence of numerous companies. Since the eighteenth century Legnanesi farmers supplemented their work in the fields of manufacturing activities conducted at home, becoming spinners and weavers of cotton, wool and silk. In fact, it was then to develop the textile industry especially with the cotton mill founded by Eugene cantons. Subsequently also the mechanical industry became crucial, especially because the company Franco Tosi.
The lifestyle that revolves around the production and looks to the future, in Legnano lives peacefully with the most ancient traditions that are rooted in the legendary events in the history of the city. Here took place, in 1176 the Battle of Legnano, during which the troops of the Lombard League, probably driven by the legendary Alberto da Giussano commander, defeated the Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. Even the national anthem remember this historic battle: "From the Alpe in Sicily, Legnano is everywhere", and is also the only city in Legnano, in addition to Rome, to be mentioned in the hymn. At the end of May each year Legnanesi pay homage to the battle by celebrating the Palio of the eight historic districts. Legend has it that Barbarossa had then escaped through an underground tunnel that connected San Giorgio su Legnano and the Castle.
Among the stages of our walk in Legnano, could not miss the monument of Alberto da Giussano, 1900 by the sculptor Henry Butti, and even the imposing Castello di Legnano, located on an island of the Olona River and has been restored and reopened to the public in 2005. Beside the castle is the beautiful park of Legnano, a vast green area with many conifers, inhabited by many water birds and squirrels that we have admired in the lakes and rivers, inhabited by a multitude of fish species.
Wood has also an important religious heritage: in addition to the Basilica of St. Albert the Great, the main church built from 1504, the city is located about twenty churches. Among those we visited the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie, built as a result of a miracle that Mary gave back the gift of speech to two deaf-mute children, and the church of SS. Redeemer, in the district of Legnarello.
After these pleasant Legnano revolutions in history, we decided to stop to eat at a restaurant consigliatoci from a friend who comes here for lunch and spoke very well of the lunch menu of the restaurant and pizza. Then we sit at the tables of the restaurant Cantuccio, via Manzoni. "We are here for about four years, but the local historian, will have at least thirty years," he tells the owner as we begin to study the menu. Our group is composed of some fish lovers, a couple of "carnivores" and two guys who jump immediately on the list of no less than 65 pizzas, and choosing the Soleluna Pizza Pizza Pazza. We start therefore with the starters according to the taste of each of us: the Great Fisherman's Mixed seafood for souls, with scallops au gratin, mixed fried fish, octopus hot, marinated salmon, octopus stew and polenta, while land lovers choose Much of the Mixed Farming with suppressed, mushrooms, polenta and Taleggio. We continue with paccheri sea bass and sea bream of Cantuccio with seafood, while our friends choose pumpkin gnocchi with creamy Fontina cheese and walnuts, risotto with pear and Taleggio, and as the second, the strips of beef with vegetables in the match. Let's water the goodness with these wines, including the Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino. We close with a large sweet specialties, the Cantuccio Ciok, garnished with hot chocolate, and crepes with ice cream and hot chocolate.
After this beautiful day we can recognize that Bonvesin de la Riva was right: Legnano is truly a city worth visiting. We will try to get us back a step, maybe a Thursday night, also to take advantage of wine tastings, with dishes paired, proposed to the corner.

Frances Bertha

FOR INFORMATION:
www.Legnano.org
www.alcantucciolegnano.it
Ristorante Pizzeria Al Cantuccio
Via Manzoni, 17 (crossroad Via Porta) Legnano (MI)
0331/441160