“San Colombano al Lambro. Where is that?” you might ask. San Colombano al Lambro is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Milan. It sits in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is about 40 kilometres southeast of Milan.
San Colombano al Lambro is a bit of an oddity. It is an exclave of the province of Milan. This means it is a piece of Milan surrounded by other provinces. Imagine a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit. That is San Colombano al Lambro.
Why is it like this? When the province of Lodi was created it was carved out of Milan. The locals in San Colombano wanted to stay in Milan. They held a referendum and their wish was granted.
San Colombano al Lambro shares borders with other towns. None of these towns are in the Metropolitan City of Milan. It is surrounded by Borghetto Lodigiano, Graffignana, Livraga and others.
San Colombano al Lambro is known for its wine. The area has a denominazione di origine controllata DOC. This means the wine production is controlled by law. The wine is a blend of several grapes. Croatina makes up 30 to 45 percent. Barbera is 25 to 40 percent. Uva Rara is 5 to 15 percent. Other local red grapes can be added. These can only make up 15 percent of the blend.
Grapes for DOC wine must be harvested carefully. The yield cannot be greater than 11 tonnes per hectare. The finished wine must have at least 11 percent alcohol. If it meets these standards it can be labeled with the San Colombano DOC designation.
The hill on which San Colombano stands is unique. It rises from the Padana plain. The hill is made of clay and limestone from the Pliocene epoch. These materials are under a layer of alluvial sediments. The hill reaches a maximum elevation of 147 meters.
The landscape is protected. In the 2000s the Parco della Collina di San Colombano was established. This park preserves the territory.
The town’s history is rich. Evidence suggests people have lived here since prehistoric times. Saint Colombanus an Irish monk stopped here. He was traveling to Bobbio. He left his name to the city.
Around the year 1000 urban centers began to form. Emperor Corrado II gave the territory to Ariberto d’Intimiano. In 1034 he donated it to the Milanese Church. From that moment on the town was linked to Milan’s destiny.
San Colombano was once fortified. It had a castle. Frederick Barbarossa destroyed it. He later rebuilt it in the Roman style.
In 1299 the Visconti family took possession of the territory and castle. Bianca di Savoia the wife of Galeazzo Visconti lived in the castle. She gave the town its own statutes.
The Carthusian monks also played a big role in the town’s history. They were feudal lords in a sense. In 1402 the people revolted against them. They were tired of excessive taxes. The monks also carried out important land reclamation work. Their presence in San Colombano ended in 1782. This was when Joseph II of Austria suppressed them.
San Colombano al Lambro is part of the “Città del Vino” association. This means “City of Wine”. The coat of arms features a silver field with a red cross. It has a blue chief with a silver dove. The silver field and red cross represent the town’s ancient ties to Pavia. The silver dove was created by the poet Francesco Petrarca. He designed it for Gian Galeazzo Visconti.
So next time you sip a glass of wine remember San Colombano al Lambro. It is an exclave with a unique history. It has rolling hills and a resilient spirit. It is a place where wine and history intertwine.