Castiglione Olona is a very captivating and picturesque medieval borgo in the province of Varese on the banks of the Olona river nicknamed "Island of Tuscany in Lombardy" for its striking, hilly landscape having strong similarities with the magnificent region of central Italy and the numerous works left by sublime artists from Tuscany.
That nickname also came by Gabriele D'Annunzio,great writer, poet, journalist, playwright from Pescara, also prince of Montenevoso and duke of Gallese.
According to the opinion of that eminent character of Italian literature, this Lombard town he visited reminded him of the enchanting images of the Chianti area, the Valdichiana, the Alta Val D'Elsa which were countless destinations of his stays.
Via Cairate in a few minutes from the destination, the first sight that will confirm that nickname directly linked to the Tuscan territories will be the picturesque Castle of Monteruzzo which stands on a wonderful hill immediately finding that resemblance.
This splendid manor dating back to the 19th century is completely surrounded by a beautiful green area, it was in the past the residence of the noble Castiglioni family of Monteruzzo from which it derives its name and later the habitual accommodation of the highest Milanese aristocracy.
Once you reach the heart of Castiglione Olona in a pleasant walk in the medieval village you will be cheered by charming streets, picturesque alleys and captivating alleys flanked by period buildings and beautifully restored courtyards with balconies and farmhouses that take you back in time as if by magic.
The first splendid highlight that you can admire is Palazzo Branda, the former Cardinal Branda Castiglioni residence.
This charismatic figure was known for his considerable influence in the Vatican, highly appreciated by the Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg and also by the Kings of Hungary, Croatia, Germany and the Elector of Brandenburg who saw in that Monsignor a sparse, diplomatic person, of infinite wisdom, of great class, with impeccable modalities and culturally above average.
The interior contains a splendid Chapel dedicated to San Martino, frescoed in 1437 by Lorenzo Di Pietro,a master from Siena known by the nickname of "Il Vecchietta", the room of the Cardinal with other frescoes executed by the forementioned Vecchietta and others by Masolino.
Continuation with the Chiesa del Santissimo Corpo di Cristo, the Church of the Most Holy Body of Christ erected between 1437 and 1444, a stupendous medieval work that follows in many of its architectural lines almost with symptoms of inspiration the refined style of the Florentine Masters.
Through a picturesque avenue with rising stone pavements flanked by characteristic stone walls, once you reach the top of a pleasant, gentle hilly ridge you will find yourself in front of the magnificent Colllegiata also known as the Church of Santo Stefano e Lorenzo.
This medieval masterpiece was executed by the masters Pietro, Giovanni and Alberto Solari, an ecclesiastical seat consecrated on March 25, 1425, a work that was commissioned by the Cardinal Branda Castiglioni.
This masterpiece boasts an extraordinary Romanesque façade with a wonderful rose window considered one of the most important works of Italian art corresponding to the fifteenth century.
The perfect symmetry of all the architectural elements inserted into the layout with a magnificent arched window, refined contours and elaborate lines of the niche, lunettes and columns of the portal make this sacred building unique.
The Collegiata is also the emblematic place containing the wonderful cycle of frescoes by Tommaso Cristoforo Fini known as Masolino da Panicale, an immense Tuscan artist who painted the beautiful Brancacci Chapel in Florence.
Masolino was a well-known pupil of the famous artist Ghiberti and the teacher of another eminent painter such as Masaccio,considered by far one of the best Italian artists of the Middle Ages.
In this superb cycle of frescoes you can admire superlative lines, perspectives close to perfection and with a unique characteristic in those times, namely the great taste in the choice and combinations of vivid colors with protagonists, brightness, contrasts, and shades, works by the unique talent of a predestined for that period.
The scenes seem to narrate a story that is painted but that to the human eye appears as alive, the anatomy of the people depicted is very close to the Renaissance rather than to the art of the Middle Ages.
The anatomical profiles are at the forefront compared to many contemporaries and the same goes for the perspectives
In the adjacent Baptistery, the stories of St. John the Baptist portrayed by this incomparable artist will be a further confirmation.
Other great works worthy of mention in the complex are those of "Il Vecchietta" where its eclectic matrix appears and also those of the talented Florentine painter Paolo Schiavo who supported Masolino in the execution of the extraordinary frescoes in correspondence with the apse.
At the end of the visit, time for your lunch, suggestion to stay in the traditional Risotto with Cantello Asparagus or Pennette with Gorgonzola, among the second courses Breaded Cotoletta or Turkey Breast with Rosemary, both with a side of baked potatoes.
Visiting Castiglione Olona is a deep entry into history and pure art, a full immersion that always leaves happy memories in a day of tourism admiring unique masterpieces very difficult to forget.
Link : http://www.comune.castiglione-olona.va.it
Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation in the Area
Villa Baroni
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