Abbiategrasso

Abbiategrasso is in Lombardy, a town of 30-odd thousand which is part of the metropolitan city of Milan.

Understand
Abbiategrasso is entirely included in the Lombard Park of the Ticino Valley. It is along the "line of the fountains", which divides the upper Po Valley from the lower Po Valley.

The Abbiatense area, like the whole western Po valley, has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. It grew during Roman times; one battle between Hannibal and the Romans took place in the area, and the territory of Abbiategrasso was crossed by an important Roman road, the Via Gallica. Later the area was invaded by Celts and Lombards, and raided by Huns.

By 1034 Abbiategrasso was a possession of the Archbishop of Milan, who had a defensive outpost built. After that, the area was ruled by an assortment of feudal lords, changing hands fairly often. The village developed not only around the church of San Pietro, but also towards the south, where a small castle stood near the current church of Santa Maria Vecchia. The latter area became the main center, while the older village continued to grow with a certain autonomy, still recognizable today.

In 1870 the Milan - Mortara railway line was opened, which caused the decline of river transport on the Navigli. A railway station was built in Abbiategrasso thanks to the contribution of local traders, who self-taxed to ensure that the route of the railway line passed through the municipality. On March 31, 1932 Abbiategrasso was awarded the title of city.

By car
- from the north: A4 Milan-Turin motorway, Marcallo - Mesero exit

- from the south: state road 526 from Pavia, connected with the A7 Milan-Genoa

- from Milan: west ring road of Milan - Lorenteggio exit and continue along state road 494

Go next
Abbiategrasso