In the country of Grana Padana cheese: a day in Codogno, Lombardy, Italy

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The quince tree, a tree native to ancient Persia, the fruit that looks a little 'is the apple pear, bitter taste but did not prevent the Romans to eat it fresh with honey, as well as obtain a cider that symbolized the' love and fertility, as demonstrated by several frescoes in Pompeii. This fruit so ancient and distinctive, still considered an aphrodisiac, as well as simply good and healthy, is the symbol of the town of Codogno, as it grew in abundance on their territories.
A Codogno we are close to Milan, but also on the outskirts of Lodi and Piacenza, and during the long centuries of history, all three of these cities played an important role in the events codognesi. There were still nearly six months when the discovery of America, April 21, 1492 an act providing for the accession of Codogno in Piacenza, a decision that allowed the city already has its own commercial life, to achieve freer markets, and broader . In gratitude, the she-wolf Piacenza codognesi inserted in their arms, in which the animal is "passing on the grassy plain of green, gold collar and tied to a tree to natural codons, fruity golden nodrito the plain" . In the late nineteenth century, prosperous period for the city, Codogno was the fourth most populated town in the whole area of ??Milan. Today it is part of the province of Lodi, established in 1992, despite the fact that the referendum the same year 89 percent of codognesi had expressed intention to remain with the province of Milan.
But wherever he belonged from the administrative point of view, has always been able to excel Codogno. Since the Middle Ages stood out as the most important center of dairy production in the seventeenth century and well exported forty thousand forms of parmesan cheese a year. When the Austrian government decided to send a ship to Brazil the most representative products of the Habsburg Empire, lacked even the grana of Codogno. Also here was founded the first Italian industry, the Zazzera.
During our walk through the streets of this charming city, we have noted also its artistic and cultural wealth. The most important religious monument is the parish church of San Biagio, a school of Leonardo, rebuilt in 1491 on the basis of the original chapel, but it is very interesting also the eighteenth-century Sanctuary of Our Lady of Caravaggio, dedicated to the Virgin Mary appeared to a poor peasant from abuses husband, Jeannette de'Vacchi. Our ride took us in the center and admire the Church of Grace and its beautiful cloister, in addition to two recent parish, dedicated to St. Frances Cabrini and St. John Bosco. We also visited the Art Collection Carlo Lamberti, including numerous works by important artists codognesi.
Our day ends through art history from the culinary arts and pizzas that come from the best Italian tradition, that of Tramonti, a beautiful village in the province of Salerno. The proprietor Anthony Cascella, who runs the restaurant Pizzeria Park Club in the central Piazza Cairoli now twenty-seven years, is a native of there. "Sunsets are known to be the land of pizza," he tells Mr. Anthony. "Thirty years ago my uncle was to open this place and I saw him change and grow this environment, and also around the city, through the generations. At the time this was the only pizzeria in Codogno. The quality of our work and our availability are always appreciated. In addition, we are also the last weekend meeting of young people who pass by us after the disco for a good pizza. "
We sit at the tables of the large room and decide to enjoy some fine pizzas between eighty available flavors. We choose the Lower Lodi Pizza with tomato, mozzarella, gorgonzola cheese, sausage, polenta and parmesan flakes, and the Pizza Pizza Sfiziosa Park Club, with tomato, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, artichokes, pepperoni, black olives, sausage ee. Some of us take the pizza made with whole wheat pasta, while the rest of the group decides to taste the culinary specialties of the restaurant. After the rich appetizer at Park Club, Mr. Anthony advises us scialatielli the excellent seafood, but also taste it baby bibs puttanesca and gnocchi alla Sorrentina. A friend celiac enjoying a menu prepared for their needs. We continue with a mixed fried fish, while some can not resist the cut with rocket and parmesan flakes and beef with tomato sauce, with fresh tomatoes, olives, capers and oregano.
After discovering this beautiful city, there definitely will be back, even for lunch if we will be traveling for work in the area, or a Thursday evening for one of the mythical "Evenings of Mangione."

Frances Bertha

FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.Codogno.lo.it
www.parkclub.com
Restaurant Pizzeria Park Club
Piazza Cairoli, 26 Codogno (LO)
0377/35153