Magenta, Lombardy

Magenta
Comune
Città di Magenta

Saint Martin Church

Coat of arms
Magenta

Location of Magenta in Italy

Coordinates: IT 45°28′N 08°53′E / 45.467°N 8.883°E / 45.467; 8.883Coordinates: IT 45°28′N 08°53′E / 45.467°N 8.883°E / 45.467; 8.883
Country Italy
Region Lombardy
Province Milan (MI)
Frazioni Ponte Vecchio, Ponte Nuovo
Government
  Mayor Marco Invernizzi (PD)
Area
  Total 21 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation 138 m (453 ft)
Population (31 December 2005)
  Total 23,354
  Density 1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Magentini
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 20013
Dialing code 02
Patron saint St. Martin of Tours, St. Roch, St. Blaise
Saint day November 11
Website Official website

Magenta (Italian pronunciation: [maˈdʒɛnta];,[1][2] Northern Italian pronunciation [maˈdʒenta]) is a town and comune in the province of Milan in Lombardy, northern Italy. It is notable as the site of the Battle of Magenta. The colour magenta is named after the battle,[3] most likely referring to the uniforms used by Zouave French troops. Magenta is the birthplace of St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

History

Magenta was probably a settlement of the Insubres, a Celtic tribe, who founded it around the 5th century BC. The area was conquered by the Romans in 222 BC. The name is traditionally connected to castrum Maxentiae, meaning "castle of Maxentius". After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was ruled by the Lombards. The Celtic origins of Magenta are proved by some important archeological finds, especially in the area where now the Institute of Canossian Mothers stands; there was a Celtic necropolis in ancient times. Objects, jewelry and weapons were found here.

In the Middle Ages, it was destroyed twice, in 1162 by Frederick Barbarossa and in 1356 by the troops opposing the Visconti rule of Milan. In 1310, according to a legend, the emperor Henry VII was stopped here by a snowstorm during his march to Milan. In 1398 Gian Galeazzo Visconti donated the town territories to the monks of the Certosa di Pavia.

On June 4, 1859, it was the site of an important battle of the Second War of Italian Independence. The Franco-Piedmontese victory in the fight gave them the chance to conquer Austrian Lombardy.

Magenta received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on May 25, 1947.

Main sights

Transport

Twin towns

Magenta is twinned with:

Gallery

Notes

  1. Migliorini, Bruno; Tagliavini, Carlo; Fiorelli, Piero. Tommaso Francesco Borri, ed. "Dizionario italiano multimediale e multilingue d'ortografia e di pronunzia". dizionario.rai.it. Rai Eri. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  2. Canepari, Luciano. "Dizionario di pronuncia italiana online". dipionline.it. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  3. Cunnington, C. Willett, English Women's Clothing in the Nineteenth Century, Dover Publications, Inc. New York 1990, page 208

External links

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