Abbiategrasso

Abbiategrasso is a comune and town in the province of Milan, Italian region of Lombardy, situated in the Po valley approximately 22 kilometres (14 miles) from Milan and 38 kilometres (24 miles) from Pavia. History The town dates from Roman times. Its name indicates that it was part of a territory known as the fertile valley: a document of 1304 referring to the Habiate qui dicitur Grasso, a title which gradually became transformed into Abbiategrasso. Abbiategrasso received the honorary title of city with a royal decree of 31 March 1932. Main sights The Visconti Castle (Italian: Castello Visconteo), built in 1382 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti above a pre-existing 13th-century fortification. It was enlarged and decorated by Filippo Maria Visconti after 1438. It has a quadrangular plan with angular towers, and the interior has Renaissance frescoes and graffitoes. The central court has a portico. Basilica church of Santa Maria Nuova, built in 1388 to celebrate the birth of Gian Galeazzo Visconti's son. It is preceded by a Renaissance portico and as un unfinished façade (1497), whose pronaos is attributed to Donato Bramante. Baroque church of San Bernardino (17th century) 15th century Casa Albini Twin towns Abbiategrasso is twinned with the following towns: Ellwangen, Germany Langres, France People born in Abbiategrasso Christian Abbiati, footballer Franco Moschino, fashion designer Giuseppina Tuissi, partisan during World War II Marco Villa, road and track cyclist References External links Media related to Abbiategrasso at Wikimedia Commons Official site (Italian)