The best traffic-free bike rides around Belgioioso

The patronage of this shrine, dedicated to the Madonna, refers to the town of Loreto. This is one of the great and important Marian pilgrimage sites in Europe, along with Lourdes in the French Pyrenees and Fatima in Portugal. Unlike the other two places mentioned, however, Loreto is not known for apparitions of the Mother of God. Here, pilgrims can find something very tangible: Mary's childhood home in Nazareth (Israel). Her parents—not mentioned by name in the biblical writings of the New Testament—are mentioned in apocryphal traditions: Saint Anne and Saint Joachim are thus the grandparents of Jesus Christ (their common feast day in the calendar of saints is July 26). Crusaders likely dismantled the venerated building in Nazareth and brought it to Europe when the era of the Christian kingdoms in the Holy Land came to an end towards the end of the 13th century. But this very sober assumption is countered by a much more interesting legend: According to this, four angels carried out the translation and flew the house over the Mediterranean.

A story by Giovanni Guareschi – the literary "father" of "Don Camillo and Peppone" – ends with the sentence "Things happen there, in this strange region... where people think more with their clubs than with their brains, but where at least they respect the dead." To understand it, one must recall the political situation in Italy at that time, immediately after the end of World War II: The monarchy had been abolished, the royal family was in exile, and the communists were partially in power (as was the case in Don Camillo's village). In the story "The Old Teacher," the woman who had taught generations of villagers their ABCs has died. She had expressed her last wish to Mayor Peppone and Don Camillo that her flag – the old one with the coat of arms from the time of the monarchy – be placed above her coffin. However, all factions of the municipal council had spoken out against it. Peppone replied: "So I tell you... that I don't care about your opinion and that Signora Cristina will go to the cemetery tomorrow with the flag she likes, because I value her more dead than you alive." Hence the sentence quoted at the beginning, "where at least the dead are respected."

A walking path runs along the Olona River with several benches, perfect for a rest!

Painted on the facade of a stone structure

Still a special and remarkable "portal"

The Chiesuolo della Madonna di Loreto was built in three successive phases: The rural aedicule from the 15th century with an image of the Virgin of Loreto. The ancient oratory in brick from the 17th century, also dedicated to the Madonna di Loreto. The current church, dating from 1781. Architecture: The church has a single nave with a protiro (covered entrance) and is built of exposed brickwork. Inside there are frescoes and an altarpiece with the Madonna di Loreto. Significance: The Chiesuolo is also called ‘Il Chiesuolo’ and is dedicated to the Madonna of Loreto. It is an important historical testimony and a place of devotion. https://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/architetture/schede/PV240-01108/

Nice and fun bike path.

The current urban structure is the result of the Po floods that often hit the city in the past; the most serious occurred in 1786. Today it is an agricultural centre and poplars are grown there. The parish church dedicated to Sant'Antonio Abate was built in 1394 by order of Umbertino Negri. The patron saint is celebrated on 17 January.