Lodi, Lombardy
Template:About Template:Infobox Italian comune
Lodi (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell, {{#invoke:IPA|main}};<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ludesan: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}})<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref> is an Italian comune with 45,375 inhabitants<ref name="template divisione amministrativa-abitanti" />, serving as the capital of the province of the same name in Lombardy<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}.</ref>.
The city was founded on 3 August 1158 by Frederick Barbarossa<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, following the destruction of the ancient village of Laus Pompeia, a former Roman municipium, episcopal see, and free commune<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. During the Renaissance, Lodi experienced a period of significant artistic and cultural splendor, notably after hosting the signing of the historic treaty between the pre-unification Italian states, known as the Treaty of Lodi, in 1454<ref name="agebassi55e59">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
In the 21st century, Lodi has become a major industrial hub for cosmetics, crafts, and cheese production<ref name="garzanti">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. It also serves as a reference point for a region primarily dedicated to agriculture and livestock farming; due to this characteristic, Lodi was chosen as the location for the faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Milan<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the Parco Tecnologico Padano<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, one of the most qualified research institutes in Europe in the field of agri-food biotechnology<ref name="ptp_corriere">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
The city also has a well-developed tertiary sector and tourism industry: Lodi is recognized as one of the art cities of the Po Valley and is notable for several important monuments, including the Cathedral, the Civic Temple of the Crowned Virgin, the Church of San Francesco, the Church of Sant'Agnese, and Palazzo Mozzanica<ref name="garzanti"/><ref name="città-arte">Template:Cite news</ref>.
Geography
Territory
The territory of Lodi, covering Template:Convert<ref name="geografia">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, is located in the central-southern part of Lombardy, in the area known as the "lower plain". The oldest core of the city is situated on the Eghezzone hill, an approximately trapezoidal elevation<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref> on the right bank of the Adda River; the rest of the urban center lies partly on a morphological terrace shaped by the river’s erosion and partly in the floodplain area. The municipal territory ranges in elevation from 65 to Template:Convert above sea level<ref name="geografia"/>.
Hydrology
The municipal territory is crossed by the Adda River and several other waterways, including the Muzza Canal (which marks its western boundary), the Roggia Bertonica, and the Roggia Molina (whose urban section is now almost entirely underground)<ref name="mappa">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
In the Middle Ages, the city was bordered by the Gerundo Lake<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>: the territory was largely marshy and hazardous, but thanks to hydraulic engineering works and the efforts of Cistercian and Benedictine monks<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, it was reclaimed and transformed into one of the most fertile regions in Europe<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. Agricultural activity is also supported by the abundant irrigation waters from numerous springs present in the area<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Geology and morphology
From a petrological perspective, the soil consists of glacial and fluvial deposits<ref name="geologia">Geologia e conformazione dei suoli del Lodigiano, Comune di Cervignano d'Adda.</ref> that filled the Po Valley between the Upper Pleistocene and the Holocene, during the last glaciation. The lithotypes present are varied and irregularly distributed; they are generally rich in matrix<ref name="geologia"/>. The soils are predominantly sandy and silty<ref name="geologia"/>.
Seismology
The seismic hazard is low and uniformly distributed across the territory: the comune has been classified by the Protezione Civile as "zone 3" (low seismicity)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Climate
The climate of the Lodi territory, like the rest of the Po Valley, exhibits characteristics typical of a continental climate, specifically the Cfa subtype of the Köppen climate classification (warm-humid temperate climate with hot summers): summers are sweltering and characterized by the phenomenon of sultriness (based on data from the reference period 1961–1990, the average maximum summer temperature is +29.7 °C<ref name="clima">Weather station of Lodi: climate table, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development.</ref>); conversely, winters are often cold (the average minimum temperature is −0.8 °C<ref name="clima" />) and snowfalls are common, though rarely heavy<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>. A very frequent phenomenon during the winter semester is fog, which can sometimes persist for days due to the absence of synoptic winds at ground level<ref>Scientific insights on Po Valley winds, Lombardy Region.</ref>. Autumn and spring are the seasons with the highest precipitation<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
The Italian climate classification<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}.</ref> places Lodi in "zone E" with 2,592 degree days<ref name="geografia"/>.
History
Lodi traces its origins to the destruction of Laus Pompeia, an ancient village of the Boii<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref> and later a Roman municipium<ref name="agebassi17e18">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, renamed in 89 BC in honor of the consul Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo. Located at the confluence of the roads from Placentia (Piacenza) and Acerrae (Pizzighettone) to Mediolanum (Milan), and at the intersection with the road from Ticinum (Pavia) to Brixia (Brescia), Laus was a key hub and became a thriving commercial and agricultural village<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. After coming under the control of the Lombards (6th–8th centuries<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>) and later the Franks (8th–9th centuries<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>), on 24 May 1111, Laus Pompeia was razed by the Milanese following a period of siege<ref name="agebassi26">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The peace agreements prohibited the reconstruction of the destroyed buildings<ref name="agebassi26"/>.
Nearly fifty years later, on 3 August 1158, the city was refounded by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa not on the ruins of Laus Pompeia (now Lodi Vecchio) but along the banks of the Adda, to ensure a more strategic position for territorial control<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The emperor granted Lodi extraordinary privileges, despite which the city grew with difficulty<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>: in 1167, it was forced by the Milanese to join the Lombard League<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref> and participate in the Battle of Legnano in 1176<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
In the 13th century, Lodi continued to develop under the protection of Frederick II<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. From 1251, the city saw a succession of lordships under the Vistarini, Torriani, Visconti, Fissiraga, and Vignati, until in the 14th century, the County of Lodi became dependent on the Duchy of Milan, initially under the Visconti, who built the imposing Castle of Porta Regale (1355–1370)<ref name="bassi47">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, and later under the Sforza, who, under Francesco Sforza, expanded and strengthened the defensive system by constructing two fortifications at the ends of the Adda bridge<ref name="guida23">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
During the Renaissance, significant historical events took place in Lodi: in 1413, Antipope John XXIII and Emperor Sigismund convened the Council of Constance from the Lodi Cathedral<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, which later resolved the Western Schism. On 9 April 1454, the pre-unification Italian states signed the Treaty of Lodi<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, which ensured forty years of political stability<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. This also marked one of the happiest periods in Lodi’s history from a cultural perspective, particularly under the episcopate of Carlo Pallavicino<ref name="agebassi55e59"/>.
In subsequent eras, Lodi fell under Spanish<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, Austrian<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, and French<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref> domination. This corresponded to a period of decline and slowed demographic growth, particularly during the Spanish era, when the city was reduced to a veritable fortress<ref name="bassi60">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. On 10 May 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Austrians in the Battle of the Lodi Bridge, paving the way for the conquest of Milan<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
In the second half of the 19th century, the city began to expand beyond the ancient medieval walls, particularly following the opening of the Milan-Piacenza railway in 1861 and the establishment of the first industries (including Polenghi Lombardo in 1870)<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Toward the end of the century, the first social clashes occurred between emerging mass parties<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
The people of Lodi played a significant role during the Resistance: the actions of the National Liberation Committee, formed in the city in October 1943, intensified in 1944, culminating in the fatal attack on a fascist party official<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The reprisal was severe, and by the end of the year, eleven partisans were executed at the shooting range<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Lodi was liberated by the CLN on 27 April 1945: when the Allies arrived from Piacenza, they found the city completely free<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
Symbols
The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is described as follows<ref name="statuto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>: Template:Quote
The origins of the emblem are uncertain: some historians suggest it dates back to the time of the First Crusade (1095), although there is no evidence confirming the city’s participation in the enterprise. Most scholars identify an imperial origin, as the gold cross on a red field derives from the banner of Constantine I<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>; the colors were later reversed<ref name="nomeantico">Laus – Storia di un nome antico, Comune di Lodi Vecchio, p. 11.</ref>. According to this interpretation, the city’s banner was created even before the crusade to declare the city’s loyalty to the Ghibelline cause and to distinguish Lodi’s militias during wartime actions<ref name="nomeantico"/>.
The gonfalon of the comune displays the heraldic iconography of the coat of arms on the front and two scenes on the back: the first is dedicated to the patron saint Bassianus, while the second depicts Barbarossa presenting the new city’s insignia to Lodi’s notables.
Honors
| Title of City | |
The comune of Lodi holds the title of city, inherited from Laus Pompeia, an ancient Roman municipium<ref name="agebassi17e18"/>; this status was formally recognized on 3 December 1158 by an imperial diploma issued by Frederick Barbarossa<ref name="statuto"/> and confirmed by the Imperial Patent of 24 April 1815<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
Monuments and places of interest
Religious architecture
- Cathedral
- It is the oldest and most significant monument in Lodi, as well as one of the largest churches in Lombardy<ref name="guida35">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Its construction symbolically began on 3 August 1158, the same day as the city’s founding, and was completed in 1284<ref name="atlante142">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The asymmetrical terracotta facade is typically Romanesque<ref name="atlante143">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, though characterized by a tall prothyrum in Gothic style and a large rose window in Renaissance style<ref name="guida36">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>; the bell tower, built between 1538 and 1554 based on a design by the Lodi native Callisto Piazza, remained unfinished for military security reasons<ref name="bassi60"/>. The interior, with three naves covered by rib vaults, houses notable works of art, including a polyptych by Callisto Piazza<ref name="atlante144">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The oldest part of the building is the crypt, which contains the relics of the patron saint Bassianus<ref name="atlante143"/>; in the left apsidiole, there is also a 15th-century sculptural group depicting the Lamentation over the Dead Christ<ref name="atlante145">Template:Harvtxt.</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Civic Temple of the Crowned Virgin
- Located in a characteristic narrow street near Piazza della Vittoria, it is considered a masterpiece of Lombard Renaissance and represents the city’s most prestigious monument from an artistic perspective<ref name="guida68">Template:Harvtxt.</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref><ref name="lodigiorno3">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Designed in 1488 by Giovanni Battagio, it was built at the comune’s expense as an expression of popular religiosity on the site of a former brothel<ref name="lodigiorno3"/>. The temple is a small octagonal structure, topped by an eight-segment dome surmounted by a lantern; the pointed bell tower and facade were completed in later periods<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The interior is adorned with lavish gold decorations and houses numerous frescoes, panels, and canvases created between the late 15th and early 19th centuries by Bergognone<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, the Piazza workshop<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, and Stefano Maria Legnani<ref name="lodigiorno3"/>; the dome’s segments were frescoed in the 19th century by Enrico Scuri<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Church of San Francesco
- Built between 1280 and 1307<ref name="atlante146">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, its terracotta facade, left unfinished just above the marble rose window, features a tall prothyrum and two open biforas, representing the first example of an architectural design that spread throughout northern Italy<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The interior, with three naves and a Latin cross plan<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, is decorated with numerous frescoes from the 14th to 18th centuries<ref name="atlante147">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>; the church also houses the remains of notable Lodi figures, including the librettist Francesco De Lemene, the poet Ada Negri, and the naturalist Agostino Bassi<ref name="artecittà">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
- Church of San Lorenzo
- It is the oldest church in Lodi after the Cathedral<ref name="lodigiorno4">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The interior, with three naves, houses significant works of art, including two frescoes by Callisto Piazza<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The typically Romanesque facade is characterized by two semicylindrical pilasters and a terracotta-framed rose window, above which is an aedicule with a statue of the saint<ref name="atlante145" />.
- Church of Sant'Agnese
- In the 14th-century Lombard Gothic style<ref name="atlante145"/>, it houses an important work of art: the Galliani Polyptych created in 1520 by Alberto Piazza<ref name="atlante146" />. The rose window decorated with polychrome majolica is also noteworthy<ref name="atlante146"/>. Adjacent to the church is the former convent with a cloister featuring pointed arches, transformed in the 19th century into a lavish residence now divided into private apartments<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Church of San Filippo Neri
- The building, in Rococo style, was constructed opposite the end of a long street, in keeping with the scenic style of the era<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The interior, in a Greek cross plan, is entirely adorned with precious 18th-century frescoes<ref name="guida76">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Episcopal Palace
- Built in the medieval period and renovated in the 18th century by architect Antonio Veneroni (in collaboration with the Sartorio brothers), it is characterized by a massive and austere structure<ref name="guida37e39">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Noteworthy is the courtyard with paired columns<ref name="guida39">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The elegant interior features some rooms decorated in the 18th century: notable are the former episcopal chapel and the frescoes by Carlo Innocenzo Carloni<ref name="guida39"/>.
- Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
- Built between 1669 and 1743<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> to house a sacred image of the Virgin, considered miraculous<ref name="cuti">Template:Cite news</ref>. The Greek cross interior is fully decorated with frescoes, canvases, and stucco; a side chapel contains the Neoclassical tomb of Maria Cosway<ref name="cuti"/>, a benefactress of the city<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
- Church of Santa Maria Maddalena
- Located near the Adda river, slightly off-center from the heart of the medieval historic center, it represents the best example of a Baroque building in the city<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Completed in the first half of the 18th century, except for the facade, the church features a single nave with an elliptical plan<ref name="guida61">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Church of Santa Chiara Nuova
- A small space housing notable artistic works<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. It is located in a very narrow street, typical of medieval Lodi. The small building consists of two distinct structures, one in the Romanesque style and the other in the Rococo style<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Church of San Cristoforo
- Designed by Milanese architect Pellegrino Tibaldi and deconsecrated since 1798<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, it hosted a major exhibition dedicated to the Piazza family of painters from Lodi in 1989<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref> and a retrospective on the graphic work of American artist Andy Warhol in 2001<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
- Former convents of San Cristoforo and San Domenico
- They serve as the headquarters of the Province of Lodi; the internal cloisters are noteworthy<ref name="artecittà"/>.
- Church of San Gualtero
- In Neoclassical style, it was built in a peripheral area in 1835, on the occasion of the visit of Emperor of Austria Ferdinand I<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The building preserves the relics of the Lodi saint to whom it is dedicated<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Church of Santi Bassiano e Fereolo
- Erected in the second half of the 17th century, it houses a wooden choir with nine stalls<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
Civil architecture
- Palazzo Broletto
- Built in 1284 next to the Cathedral, after numerous renovations, it has Neoclassical forms, as evident from the portico and the upper loggia, which opens onto the municipal council chamber<ref name="lodigiorno2">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. On either side of the portico are the busts of Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, who granted the title of municipium to Laus Pompeia (left), and Frederick Barbarossa, founder of Laus Nova (right)<ref name="lodigiorno2"/>.
- Ospedale Maggiore
- The oldest core of the building dates back to the 15th century<ref name="guida53e54">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>; the structure was later expanded and converted into a hospital<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The Neoclassical facade was designed at the end of the 18th century by Giuseppe Piermarini<ref name="guida53e54"/>, the same architect of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Inside, there is a cloister with a portico, loggia, and 15th-century terracotta decorations<ref name="guida53e54"/>.
- Palazzo Mozzanica
- Built in the second half of the 15th century<ref name="guida50">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, it is the finest example of a Lodi patrician residence<ref name="lodigiorno7">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The facade features a terracotta frieze decorated with floral crowns and marine mythology figures<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>; the portal is adorned with medallions depicting Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Isabella of Aragon, Francesco Sforza, and Bianca Maria Sforza<ref name="lodigiorno7"/>. The upper floor is rich in frescoes<ref name="lodigiorno7"/>. According to historian Giovanni Agnelli<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, Francis I of France stayed there during the summer of 1509<ref name="atlante157">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Palazzo Modignani
- Dating to the 18th century, it hosted numerous illustrious figures, including Napoleon Bonaparte and Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph<ref name="guida50"/>. It features a large internal courtyard accessed through a wrought iron gate by Alessandro Mazzucotelli; the piano nobile is richly frescoed<ref name="guida50"/>.
- Palazzo Vistarini
- Built in the 14th century, it owes its name to the influential Ghibelline family that commissioned it<ref name="guida33">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The structure is in Gothic style: the brick facade is enhanced by monoforas with terracotta frames; the portico features pointed arches and partially frescoed vaults<ref name="guida33"/>.
- Palazzo Galeano
- A Baroque building from the 17th century, expanded and transformed in later periods<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Palazzo Villani
- Erected in the 16th century, it is distinguished by a 16th-century facade with Baroque architectural elements<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Teatro alle Vigne
- The city’s main theater. Originally a church, it was the clergy house of the order of the Humiliati; in 1570, it passed to the Barnabite fathers, who converted the building into a higher institute of theology<ref name="vigne">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>. After numerous changes in use and a radical renovation, it became the theater’s headquarters in 1985<ref name="vigne"/>.
- Palazzo del Governo
- One of the city’s most original buildings from an architectural perspective<ref name="governo">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>; it is a large palace occupying an entire block behind the municipal palace and overlooking Piazza del Mercato. Built in 1929 on medieval foundations<ref name="prefett">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>, the building combines different styles: notably, the bossage of the lower order recalls Venetian architecture<ref name="governo"/>. Since 1995, it has been the seat of the Prefecture of Lodi<ref name="prefett"/>.
- Villa Braila
- A historic residence in Liberty style, located southeast of the city center and surrounded by an extensive public park<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
- Adda Bridge
- An arch bridge that crosses the river, connecting the Borgo Adda district with Revellino-Campo di Marte. Built in 1864 to replace the original wooden bridge where the Battle of Lodi took place, which was burned by Austrian troops in 1859 during the Second Italian War of Independence<ref name="guida25">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Headquarters of Banca Popolare di Lodi
- Designed by Renzo Piano and located near the railway station close to the historic center, it spans over Template:Convert and represents the city’s most interesting architectural construction from the second half of the 20th century<ref name="artecittà"/><ref name="lodigiorno12">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. It has been used as a setting for several commercials<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
Military architecture
- Walls of Lodi
- The city’s first defensive structure—already protected on three sides by the Adda marshes—consisted of a simple wooden palisade protected by a moat through which the Roggia Molina flowed, effectively turning Lodi into an island<ref group="note">Between 1931 and 1937, after the walls were demolished, the moat was filled and transformed into the current public gardens.</ref>. The construction of the walls began on 3 August 1160, in the presence of Frederick Barbarossa, Bishop Alberigo Merlino, and the Cremonese architect Tinto Muso de Gata, and was completed in 1211<ref name="guida22e23">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. These walls were at least six or seven meters high, with merlons shaped like swallowtails, reflecting the city’s Ghibelline allegiance<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. During the Sforza period, defensive systems were particularly developed near the river, with the construction of the ravelin on the Crema bank and two towers at the ends of the Adda bridge<ref name="guida23"/>. In 1607, during the Spanish era, extensive bastions were built extending toward the countryside, giving the city a "star-shaped" structure. Deemed obsolete and unusable, they were quickly demolished in the mid-18th century during the Austrian period, replaced by the ring road. The ancient walls were largely demolished in the 20th century due to urban expansion; today, traces remain in various parts of the city, including the Observatory of San Vincenzo near the Isola Carolina park.
- Visconti Castle
- A typical medieval fortress, largely destroyed; its tall and massive keep is one of the city’s most iconic symbols<ref name="bassi47"/>. The building is not open to visitors as it houses the offices of the Lodi Police Headquarters.
- Porta Cremona
- The only surviving gate of the city’s ancient access points. Its current appearance is due to a complete reconstruction between 1790 and 1792 by architect Antonio Dossena<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Streets and squares
- Piazza della Vittoria
- Known as "Piazza Maggiore" until 1924<ref name="lodigiorno2"/>, it is the heart of the city<ref name="artecittà"/>: notably, the Cathedral and the municipal palace (Palazzo Broletto) face onto it<ref name="guida33"/>. Characterized by a quadrangular plan<ref name="artecittà"/>, it is a rare example of a square with porticos on all four sides<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. This unique feature, combined with the elegance of the variously colored and sized palaces surrounding it, makes it a particularly evocative place, so much so that the Touring Club Italiano included it in 2004 in the list of Italy’s most beautiful squares<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. The paving of the square, in the typical Lombard cobblestone made of river pebbles, dates back to 1471<ref name="circuitopiazze">Template:Harvtxt.</ref> or, according to some sources, to the 18th century<ref name="artecittà"/>.
- Piazza Broletto
- A small trapezoidal area enclosed between the porticos of Palazzo Broletto and the left side of the Cathedral<ref name="lodigiorno2"/>. In the medieval period, it was the hub of the city’s public life<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, and it now serves as the seat of municipal authority<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. At its center is a fountain in pink Carrara marble, derived from the baptismal font of the Cathedral and dating to the 14th century<ref name="lodigiorno2"/>. It is a pedestrian area.
- Piazza del Mercato
- A rectangular square, also paved with the typical cobblestone, where the apse of the Cathedral, a secondary wing of Palazzo Broletto, the Palazzo del Governo, and the Episcopal Palace face<ref name="lodigiorno6">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. On Saturdays and Sundays, the traditional street market is held here<ref name="mercati">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
- Piazza Castello
- A relatively large square, designated as a pedestrian area except for the central strip open to vehicular traffic; it takes its name from the Visconti Castle that faces it<ref name="artecittà"/><ref name="guida31">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Notable is the statue dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, celebrating Italian unification<ref name="artecittà"/><ref name="guida31"/>. The square borders the Isola Carolina park<ref name="artecittà"/>.
- Piazza Ospitale
- Commonly called "Piazza San Francesco", it is celebrated in some works by the poet Ada Negri<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. This rectangular square, also paved with cobblestone and designated as a pedestrian area, is characterized by the presence of the Church of San Francesco and the facade of the Ospedale Maggiore<ref name="circuitopiazze"/>; it also features a statue of the scientist Paolo Gorini<ref name="artecittà"/>.
- Piazza San Lorenzo
- A very small square, almost hidden among a maze of narrow, winding streets typical of Lodi’s medieval historic center<ref name="lodigiorno4"/>. Its intimate yet luminous atmosphere recalls a Venetian square<ref name="lodigiorno4"/><ref name="circuitopiazze"/>. The square takes its name from the church it faces<ref name="lodigiorno4"/> and is also a pedestrian area.
- Corso Roma
- Originating from Piazza della Vittoria, it is heavily frequented due to its numerous commercial activities<ref name="artecittà"/>. Like other streets in the city center, its main attraction is the presence of Liberty-style palaces and the evocative internal courtyards of noble residences<ref name="lodigiorno12"/>.
Natural areas
- Isola Carolina Park
- Located near the historic center, close to Piazza della Vittoria and Piazza Castello, it takes its name from the Carolina farmhouse, which was named in 1825 in honor of Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, wife of Emperor Francis I of Austria<ref name="comuneisola">Publication of the call for the design competition for the redevelopment works of the Isola Carolina Park (press release), Comune di Lodi, 31 August 2007.</ref>. The park covers approximately Template:Convert<ref name="comuneisola"/> and was created in the mid-1950s thanks to a donation from Enrico Mattei, who wanted to repay the city where significant natural gas deposits were discovered<ref name="comuneisola"/>. Mattei spared no expense and planted species of notable botanical interest<ref>A design competition for the redevelopment works of the Isola Carolina Park (press release), Comune di Lodi, 15 December 2005.</ref>, selected from the Lake Como area<ref name="comuneisola"/>. Since 2006, it has hosted the headquarters of the Adda Sud Park<ref name="sede-parcoaddasud">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
- Federico Barbarossa Public Gardens
- Located almost in the heart of the city center, along Viale IV Novembre, they occupy the area that was the leveling of the moat where, until the 1930s, the Roggia Molina flowed<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, which was channeled and covered between 1931 and 1937 thanks to a project by local architect Giovanni Attilio Fugazza<ref name="lodicittà-1">Template:Cite news</ref>. The original core of the gardens dates to 1835, the year of Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria’s visit to the city<ref name="lodicittà-1"/><ref name="agebassi88">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. At the center stands the Monument to the Resistance, a 1967 work by sculptor Gianni Vigorelli<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>.
- Lungo Adda Bonaparte
- Visitors can stroll along the banks of the Adda River and enjoy the surrounding river vegetation<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>; it was one of the favorite places of the poet Giosuè Carducci when visiting Lodi<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
- Bosco del Belgiardino
- A small naturalistic oasis on the banks of the Adda<ref name="belgia">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>, at the border with the territory of Montanaso Lombardo; numerous paths originate from the area, allowing visits to the surrounding woods, partially transformed into a botanical garden<ref name="belgia"/>, where waterfowl such as moorhens, mallards, swans, herons, and little grebes live<ref name="atlante144"/>. During the summer, it becomes a recreational center thanks to a swimming pool managed by the Comune of Lodi<ref name="belgia"/>.
- Great Lodi Forest (Bosco Valle Grassa-Coldana-Sant'Antonio)
- An area of significant naturalistic interest, created by the Province of Lodi with funding from the Lombardy Region<ref name="forestapianura">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>. Located near the urban center, it can be visited via bicycle and pedestrian paths<ref name="forestapianura"/>. It is a reforestation project with native tree and shrub species<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, with a permanent legal designation as a forest<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Society
Template:Historical populations
Ethnic groups and foreign minorities
Like many other northern Italian centers, in the 21st century, Lodi has become a multiethnic city with a significant presence of foreign residents. As of 31 December 2023, foreign residents in the comune numbered 6,301, or 13.95% of the population. The most significant groups are as follows:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Romania: 1,710
- Egypt: 665
- Albania: 514
- Nigeria: 301
- China: 253
- Peru: 226
- Tunisia: 185
- Ecuador: 183
- Morocco: 175
- Ukraine: 160
Traditions and folklore
The Feast of Saint Bassianus
On 19 January each year, the patronal feast of Saint Bassianus is celebrated<ref name="sanbassiano">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="patrono-cittadino">Template:Cite news</ref>. Religious celebrations begin the previous evening in the Cathedral, with a diocesan vigil presided over by the bishop<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. The actual feast day begins on the morning of 19 January with a procession of civic authorities from Palazzo Broletto to the Cathedral, accompanied by figures in medieval costumes; in the crypt, where the saint’s relics are kept, official speeches are delivered by the mayor and the bishop<ref name="patrono-cittadino"/><ref name="festa-patronale">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
After the solemn mass, under the porticos of Palazzo Broletto, the free distribution of büšèca (Lombard-style tripe cooked with pancetta, vegetables, and beans), hot tea, and mulled wine takes place; simultaneously, throughout the day, the traditional Saint Bassianus fair is held in Piazza della Vittoria<ref name="festa-patronale"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. In the afternoon, after the celebration of vespers, the ceremony for the awarding of civic honors and the "Fanfullino della riconoscenza" prize takes place, given to Lodi citizens distinguished in the fields of social commitment and cultural or scientific promotion<ref name="sanbassiano"/><ref name="festa-patronale"/>.
The Feast of Saint Lucia
Lodi is one of the northern Italian cities where Saint Lucia is venerated as a bringer of gifts<ref name="santalucia">Template:Cite news</ref>: according to tradition, in the days leading up to the 13 December feast, children list their desired gifts in a letter, which must then be placed in an urn set up for the occasion in the Cathedral, at the foot of the saint’s statue<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. Preparations for the feast begin in one of the first afternoons of the month, when the city hosts the "Saint Lucia vigil", an event dedicated to primary and kindergarten-age children<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. Additionally, from 8 December<ref group="note">Sometimes from 7 December.</ref> to midnight on 12 December, the ancient Saint Lucia fair is held in Piazza della Vittoria, with stalls selling toys, sweets, and handicrafts<ref name="santalucia"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
The market
The street market in the historic center is one of the city's oldest and most significant popular traditions<ref name="lodigiorno6"/>. It takes place on Saturdays and Sundays in the square of the same name, while on Tuesdays and Thursdays, it is held in Piazza della Vittoria<ref name="mercati"/>. The market consists of a variable number of stalls, ranging from 75 to 78<ref>The central market moves to Piazza della Vittoria for two days (press release), Municipality of Lodi, 2 February 2006.</ref>. At the stalls specializing in food products, visitors can find typical items of local cuisine<ref name="lodigiorno6"/>.
The Palio dei Rioni
Since 1986, the "Palio dei Rioni" has been held annually<ref name="palio">Template:Cite news</ref>, a historical reenactment consisting of a series of challenges among the city's ancient neighborhoods. The Palio day begins in the Cathedral with a solemn Mass presided over by the bishop. Following a parade in traditional costumes, the "ring race" takes place, during which a jockey rides a wooden and iron horse<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and, pushed by two athletes, attempts to throw his javelin through four rings placed around the perimeter of Piazza della Vittoria in the shortest time possible<ref name="palio"/>. The event continues with the "cursa dei cavài"<ref group="note">"Horse race" in Lodigiano dialect.</ref>, in which competitors must ride their horses three laps around the square, trying to be the first to reach the finish line located in front of the cathedral square<ref name="palio"/>. The winning neighborhood, determined by the rankings of the various events, receives "el bastón de san Bassan"<ref group="note">"The staff of Saint Bassianus" in Lodigiano dialect.</ref> from the hands of the city’s mayor. Occasionally, the final ranking is also determined by the outcomes of competitions held on the Adda River during the summer, including a contest for allegorical boats, a canoe race, and a "river bicycle" race<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. The Department for the Development and Competitiveness of Tourism has awarded the Lodi Palio the title of "Italy’s heritage for tradition"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>, a recognition aimed at promoting the most significant folkloric events at the national level<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Quality of life
The following table shows the rankings of the municipality of Lodi in the annual report published by Legambiente as part of the "Ecosistema Urbano" survey on the environmental quality of provincial capital cities. Between the 18th and 20th editions of the survey, municipalities were evaluated separately based on population size; Lodi was placed in the group of "small cities"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
| Year | Ranking | Year | Ranking | Year | Ranking | Year | Ranking | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 19th<ref>Ecosistema urbano I, Legambiente, p. 12.</ref> | 1995 | 41st (−22)<ref>Ecosistema urbano II, Legambiente, p. 13.</ref> | 1996 | 67th (−26)<ref>Ecosistema urbano III, Legambiente, p. 18.</ref> | 1997 | 13th (+54)<ref>Ecosistema urbano IV, Legambiente, p. 19.</ref> | ||||
| 1998 | 5th (+8)<ref>Ecosistema urbano V, Legambiente, p. 18.</ref> | 1999 | 36th (−31)<ref>Ecosistema urbano VI, Legambiente, p. 15.</ref> | 2000 | 13th (+23)<ref>Ecosistema urbano VII, Legambiente, p. 31.</ref> | 2001 | 24th (−11)<ref>Ecosistema urbano VIII, Legambiente, p. 5.</ref> | ||||
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Culture
Libraries
The Biblioteca Laudense has ancient origins and was opened to the public in 1792. Its historical section houses approximately 11,000 volumes, including incunabula, sixteenth-century books, illuminated manuscripts, and other manuscripts, as well as valuable prints and maps<ref name="biblio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. The modern collection, on the other hand, consists of more than 135,000 volumes<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
Universities and scientific research
Since 2005, Lodi has been home to a scientific-university hub, comprising the Parco Tecnologico Padano and some facilities of the University of Milan<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
The Parco Tecnologico Padano is one of the most important research centers in Europe in the field of agri-food biotechnology<ref name="ptp_corriere"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
The University of Milan’s hub includes the faculty of veterinary medicine, designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, alongside which are located an educational-experimental zootecnical center<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a veterinary hospital comprising educational and clinical facilities for horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and companion animals<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. The city also is home to the Research Center for Forage and Dairy Productions, formed by the merger of the Experimental Institute for Forage Crops, directed from 1948 to 1976 by the renowned agronomist Giovanni Haussmann<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, with the Experimental Dairy Institute and the Experimental Institute for Dairy Cattle Husbandry<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Lodi is also home to a branch campus of the University of the Republic of San Marino<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
Schools
The municipal territory is home to 17 kindergartens, 12 primary schools, 6 middle schools, 9 high schools, and 4 vocational training centers<ref name="scuole">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Museums
Lodi is home to several important museums, including the Civic Museum<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, the Paolo Gorini Anatomical Collection<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, the Natural Sciences Museum<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, the Incoronata Temple Treasure Museum<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, and the Printing and Art Printing Museum<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Media
The city is home to the editorial office of the local daily newspaper Il Cittadino<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a branch office of Telepace<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Art
Lodi is renowned for its artistic ceramic production<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Documented since the 15th century, this activity saw significant expansion in the 18th century with the Coppellotti, Rossetti, and Ferretti factories, and in the 19th century with the Dossena family. The main subjects, reproduced in turquoise monochrome and polychrome, include landscapes with ruins, still lifes, floral motifs, popular scenes, and chinoiserie. Contemporary Lodi artistic ceramic production, known as "Vecchia Lodi", focuses on revisiting the stylistic models of the Ferretti manufacture<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. Lodi is recognized among the "Cities of Ceramics – Traditional Artistic Ceramics"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, a designation proudly borne by its numerous artisan workshops<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
In the 1950s, the city hosted two painting competitions: the "Città di Lodi" prize (1950) and the "Lodi and the World of Milk" contest (1956), held respectively during the second and fifth Milk Fair<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
Cuisine
The gastronomy of Lodi is primarily characterized by dairy products. The most renowned among the local cheeses is the Grana Padano PDO<ref name="granapadano">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. Another version of grana cheese, called Tipico Lodigiano PAT<ref name="pat">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, is produced, directly derived from the traditional processing of Granone Lodigiano, now extinct. This ancient product, considered the "progenitor" of all grana cheeses, had distinctive characteristics: its color was yellow due to the addition of saffron to the paste; moreover, as it was not pressed, it expelled whey during aging, forming the characteristic "tear"<ref name="st">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. Fresh grana cheeses are cut in half and scraped with a special tool: this technique yields very thin flakes known as raspadüra<ref name="st"/>. Other typically Lodi cheeses include mascarpone PAT<ref name="pat"/> and pannerone PAT<ref name="pat"/>, both made with cream. Frittate, soups, and salumi are other specialties; there are also numerous typical desserts, such as the Tortionata PAT<ref name="pat"/>, Amaretti Fanfullini, and Gnam-gnam<ref>Terminata la BIT 2007 (press release), Province of Lodi, 26 February 2007.</ref>.
Events
The "Festival of the Seven Deadly Sins", promoted by the municipality, consisted of seven editions held each spring from 2003 to 2009, attracting over 20,000 visitors for each event<ref name="corriere-vizi">Template:Cite news</ref>. Each of the seven editions featured cultural events, debates, exhibitions, and workshops dedicated to one of the seven deadly sins of Western philosophical tradition<ref name="corriere-vizi"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. In subsequent years, the event was replaced by the "Human Behaviors" festival (2010-2015) and the "Generating Future" festival (2016-2017)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
Since 2010, the "Ethical Photography Festival" has been held every autumn in the city, one of the most significant documentary photography exhibitions on an international scale<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
Human geography
Urban planning
In the early centuries of the city’s existence, urban development progressed slowly<ref name="guida24">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>: the construction of the Cathedral, begun between 1158 and 1160, was completed over a hundred years later, excluding subsequent modifications; at the end of the 12th century, the San Lorenzo Church was built, while the San Francesco Church and the initial core of the Broletto Palace date back to the late 13th century<ref name="guida24"/>. The following century left behind the Vistarini Palace, the Castle, and the Sant’Agnese Church<ref name="guida24"/>. In the late 15th century, remembered as the period of the city’s greatest splendor<ref name="agebassi55e59"/>, numerous new buildings were erected, including the Mozzanica Palace, the Ospedale Maggiore, and the Civic Temple of the Incoronata<ref name="guida24"/>; during the same period, the defensive fortification system<ref name="guida23"/> dating back to the early 13th century was strengthened<ref name="guida22e23"/>. Between the 16th and early 18th centuries, the San Cristoforo Complex and the Modignani Palace were built<ref name="guida24"/>.
However, the current appearance of the historic center is largely due to the works carried out between the 18th and 19th centuries, which altered the original urban structure of Lodi’s ancient medieval core<ref name="guida24e25">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. During the Austrian period, in particular, a robust economic recovery led to significant construction development<ref name="guida24e25"/>, transforming the city’s appearance in the style of late Baroque architecture: new churches, including Santa Maria del Sole<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, Santa Maria Maddalena<ref name="guida61"/>, and San Filippo<ref name="guida76"/>, were built, while the Episcopal Palace was completely renovated<ref name="guida37e39"/>. Numerous monasteries and minor religious buildings were deconsecrated and, in some cases, demolished to make way for new private residences; the main streets were also widened by removing guard stones and demolishing porticos<ref name="guida24e25"/>. During the same period, the first two suburban cemeteries of Riolo and San Fereolo were established<ref name="guida25"/>. The bastions built during the Spanish domination of the 17th century were also demolished; in their place, a Template:Convert ring road was designed, connecting all the city gates, which had served as customs barriers for centuries<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. In 1835, the southern segment of the ring road was transformed into a "public promenade"<ref name="agebassi88"/>.
By the mid-19th century, Lodi’s urban area was still entirely enclosed within the medieval walls<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>; outside the perimeter of the walled city, in addition to numerous farmsteads<ref group="note">Rural settlements were typically located at the hydraulic nodes formed by the network of irrigation ditches watering the territory.</ref>, there were some hamlets (San Grato, San Fereolo, and San Bernardo), situated at the intersections of regional and local roads, at distances ranging from 2 to 5 km from the city center<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. This complex urban layout was altered in 1861 with the opening of the Milan-Bologna railway line, which passed through Lodi along the southern edge of the inhabited area: the railway track became the main obstacle when, in the following decades, the city began to slowly expand into the areas adjacent to the ring of the walls<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
Between 1864 and the early 20th century, numerous urban interventions were carried out: regarding the two cemeteries in Riolo and San Fereolo, the former was expanded, and the latter was closed; in 1886, the construction of the Monumental Cemetery (better known as "Maggiore") began<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Regarding the road network, the most significant works included the construction of the new Adda bridge in masonry<ref name="guida25"/>, the redevelopment of the Piazza della Vittoria area<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, the expansion of Piazza Ospitale, and the creation of a road axis between the railway station and the historic center, with the opening of Viale Dante and Piazza Castello<ref name="bigatti114">Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. In terms of infrastructure, in 1880, four steam interurban trams were inaugurated: the Milan-Lodi, the Lodi-Treviglio-Bergamo, the Lodi-Sant’Angelo, and the Lodi-Crema-Soncino<ref name="bigatti114"/>. During the same period, rapid urbanization occurred in the quadrilateral between the public promenade and the railway: alongside some industrial settlements, the first batch of public housing was built in 1904<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Simultaneously, further south, the first large industrial complexes emerged: the National Hemp and Flax Mill in the San Fereolo area and the Lodi Mechanical Workshops in the Camolina locality<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
After a phase of moderate growth between the 1920s and World War II<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, from 1955, the city’s development accelerated and began to involve both banks of the Adda<ref name="guida25"/>: new neighborhoods were created, including the "Fanfani houses" (west of the historic center) and the "Oliva village" (southwest), both built under the INA-Casa plan<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Between the 1970s and 2000s, in addition to the completion of a system of ring roads, much of the industrial building stock was decommissioned and converted into new residential areas<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>.
Hamlets
- Fontana<ref name="atlante129">Template:Harvtxt.</ref> is located 3 km northeast of the city, in the portion of the territory on the left bank of the Adda<ref name="mappa"/>. The locality, which is home to a sanctuary built between the 16th and 17th centuries<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>, is crossed by the former Pavia-Brescia state road<ref name="mappa"/> and has 304 residents<ref name="frazioni">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
- Olmo<ref name="atlante129"/> is a settlement of 197 inhabitants<ref name="frazioni"/>, located 4 km southeast of the city center, along the Via Emilia<ref name="mappa"/>.
- Riolo<ref name="atlante129"/>, formerly a frazione of the suburban municipality of Vigadore<ref name="vigadoreantico">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>, is a locality situated between Lodi and Dovera, in the Oltreadda Lodigiano<ref name="mappa"/>. It is adjacent to the route of the Bergamina road<ref name="mappa"/> and has a primary school<ref name="scuole"/>; it is home to 120 people<ref name="frazioni"/>.
- San Grato<ref name="atlante129"/> is located in the northwestern sector of the municipal territory, approximately 4 km from the city center<ref name="mappa"/>; with 692 inhabitants, it is the most populous of Lodi’s hamlets<ref name="frazioni"/>.
Other localities in the territory
- Bottedo is a rural locality located west of the city, near the Milan-Bologna railway line, about 5 km from the historic center<ref name="mappa"/>. Until 1873, it was an autonomous municipality<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>; today, it is a large farmstead inhabited by a few families<ref name="frazioni"/>.
- Torre de’ Dardanoni is a farmstead located on the banks of the Cassinetta ditch, near the border with the municipality of Lodi Vecchio, southwest of the capital<ref name="mappa"/>. Until 1841, it was the seat of a municipality<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>. Due to the depopulation of rural areas, the locality is uninhabited<ref name="frazioni"/>.
- Vigadore is a hamlet of ancient origins<ref name="vigadoreantico"/> with 41 inhabitants<ref name="frazioni"/>. Located on the left bank of the Adda, along the road to Crema<ref name="mappa"/>, it was an autonomous municipality until 1870<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Economy
Agriculture and livestock
Agriculture and livestock have been of fundamental importance to Lodi and its territory since the Middle Ages<ref name="risorse">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. As evidence of the ongoing significance of the primary sector, data<ref group="note">Related to the fifth general agriculture census of October 2000.</ref> indicate 1,786 farms in the province producing mainly maize (47% of the utilized agricultural area) and forage (24% of the UAA)<ref name="cens agriprov">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. In the municipal territory, there are 84 farms, and the utilized agricultural area consists of Template:Convert, of which 48% is cultivated with maize; additionally, there are 5,495 head of cattle and 23,362 head of pigs<ref name="cens agricittà">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
To ensure and promote the excellence of the sector, as well as to protect the environment, animal welfare, and consumer health, the "Lodigiano Terra Buona" brand committee was established in 2004<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Industry and crafts
The first industrial plants established in Lodi were related to the processing of primary sector products: the Lanificio Varesi (1868), the Polenghi Lombardo, the first Italian company to fully process milk (1870), the Officine Sordi, which built machinery for the dairy sector (1881), and the Linificio Canapificio Nazionale (1909)<ref name="risorse"/>. Among other industries in the city, the mechanical sector was particularly developed: for example, the Lodi Mechanical Workshops (1908), the Officine Meccaniche Folli-Gay (1922), the Officine Curioni (1925), and the Officine Elettromeccaniche Adda (1926) were active<ref name="risorse"/>. The latter were acquired in the 1980s by ABB<ref name="abb">Template:Cite news</ref>, which in 1994 transferred its global center for the construction of transformers, high-voltage circuit breakers, and electrical substations to Lodi<ref name="abb"/>; in 2016, the company employed about 230 people<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
In 1944, methane began to be extracted from the wells of nearby Caviaga, and its applications were tested at the local Agip research center. The six-legged dog, the company’s logo, is said to be inspired by the mythical dragon Tarantasio that allegedly haunted Gerundo Lake: when methane was discovered in those areas, it was imagined that the creature, once the guardian of the marshes and then disappeared underground after their reclamation, had reappeared in the form of gas<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. Lodi was the first city in Italy to use methane for domestic and industrial purposes<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. In the petrochemical industry, since 1963, Itelyum has been based in Lodi, specializing in the recycling of used motor oil through a refining process<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. In 2007, the company had a turnover of 100 million euros and employed 170 people<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
At the border of Lodi’s municipal territory, in an area under the jurisdiction of the municipalities of Montanaso Lombardo and Tavazzano con Villavesco, stands a large thermal power plant owned by EPH, powered by natural gas<ref name="centr">Template:Cite news</ref>. The plant, with an installed capacity of Template:Convert<ref name="eon">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, is one of the most important in Italy and employed 73 people in 2019<ref name="centr"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. The initial core, built in 1952 as part of the Marshall Plan<ref>Grande adesione alla mobilitazione contro le centrali (press release), Province of Lodi, 15 November 2004.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, was inaugurated by Enrico Mattei and the Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi; the current facilities were activated in stages between 2002 and 2010<ref name="eon"/>. The plant draws cooling water from the Muzza Canal, the Belgiardino Canal, and the Adda River<ref name="eon"/>.
Today, the most developed industries are the dairy industry (the Lodi area is one of the 14 areas where Grana Padano production is concentrated<ref name="granapadano"/>) and artisanal crafts, particularly in the ceramics and cosmetics sectors (L’Erbolario<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>).
Services
Among the most important companies in the service sector is Zucchetti, which operates in the software and hardware industry; with approximately 7,000 employees, of which 1,300 are in Lodi, and a turnover exceeding one billion euros, it is one of Italy’s leading companies in the IT field<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
Lodi also has significant banking activity: the Banca Popolare di Lodi, founded by the activist Tiziano Zalli in 1864, was the first cooperative bank established in Italy<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref>. Since 2007, it has been part of the Banco Popolare group (later Banco BPM), the third largest banking group in Italy<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
In 1997, Lodi was one of the first cities to be wired with optical fiber as part of Telecom Italia’s Socrates project, aimed at creating a network for cable television and data transmission<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
At the beginning of the 21st century, before the Great Recession, the city experienced significant economic growth due to the revival of commercial activities, the expansion of the ring road system, and the development of environmental technologies (thanks to the significant portion of recyclable waste produced by the people of Lodi<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and district heating technology<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>).
Tourism
Lodi was part of the art cities circuit of the Po Valley from 1999 until 2018, when the organization was dissolved<ref name="città-arte"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. Since the 2000s, tourism has been a rapidly expanding sector in the area: in 2006, 137,000 arrivals were recorded, a 116% increase compared to three years earlier<ref>La Provincia di Lodi torna alla BIT (press release), Province of Lodi, 20 February 2008.</ref>.
In addition to cultural tourism, naturalistic tourism is particularly significant, thanks to the efficient cycling network that extends from the capital throughout the territory<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>. Food and wine tourism is particularly concentrated between October and December, during which, since 1988, the "Lodi Gastronomic Festival" is held<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Infrastructure and transport
Roads
Lodi is a regional road hub: the city is served by the State Road 9 Via Emilia and numerous provincial roads, including the former SS 235 Pavia-Brescia and the former SS 472 Treviglio-Lodi. The roads converging on the city are connected by the South and East ring roads, forming a semi-ring (interrupted in the northwest sector) with dual carriageway characteristics<ref name="mappa"/>.
The Autostrada del Sole also passes nearby; the "Lodi" exit, located in the municipal territory of Pieve Fissiraga, is 6 km southwest of the city.
Railways and trams
The Lodi railway station is situated on the Milan-Bologna railway and is primarily served by suburban, regional (Milan-Piacenza), and fast regional (Milan-Bologna and Milan-Mantua) trains operated by Trenord and TPER, as well as some long-distance services run by Trenitalia. Most of the traffic consists of commuters traveling to the capital of Lombardy; the station serves a wide catchment area, including travelers from nearby towns and the Cremasque area<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
Between 1880 and the early decades of the 20th century, Lodi was the center of an extensive network of interurban trams, including the Milan-Lodi, Lodi-Treviglio-Bergamo, Lodi-Sant’Angelo, and Lodi-Crema-Soncino lines, connecting the city with the main capitals of Lombardy<ref name="bigatti114"/>.
Urban mobility
The city has an urban bus network managed by the company STAR Mobility, which provides service through seven lines<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
The STAR company<ref group="note">"STAR" stands for "Società Trasporti Automobilistici Regionali".</ref>, based in Lodi since 1922<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, also manages numerous interurban lines and connections with the main regional centers<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
Administration
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The administrative history of the Municipality of Lodi since the establishment of the Italian Republic can be divided into two phases: for the first thirty years, only mayors from the Christian Democracy party succeeded one another, while from 1975 onward, the city has been predominantly governed by representatives of left or center-left coalitions<ref>Template:Harvtxt.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>.
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Twin towns
- Template:Flag iconOmegna, since 1980<ref name="gem">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>;
- Template:Flag iconKonstanz, since 1986<ref name="gem" />;
- Template:Flag iconLodi, since 1987<ref name="gem" />;
- Template:Flag iconFlossenbürg, since 1999<ref name="gem" />;
- Template:Flag iconFontainebleau, since 2011<ref name="gem" />;
- Template:Flag iconSan Bassano, since 2023<ref name="gem" />.
Other administrative information
The municipality is part of the management consortium of the Adda Sud Park, whose headquarters are located in Lodi<ref name="sede-parcoaddasud" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>.
In 1877, the suburban municipalities of Chiosi Uniti con Bottedo and Chiosi d’Adda Vigadore were annexed to the municipal territory<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}.</ref>. The term "chiosi", of dialectal origin, referred to the agricultural lands surrounding the city of Lodi<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>, similar to the more well-known Corpi Santi around Milan.
Sport
The sports scene in Lodi is diverse<ref name="coni">Template:Cite book</ref>. Lodi's sports clubs and athletes have achieved titles at both national and international levels.
The most popular sport by tradition is roller hockey<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>. The city's leading team, Amatori Lodi, has won four scudetti, four Coppe Italia, two Supercoppe Italiane, one Coppa di Lega, one Cup Winners' Cup, and one WSE Cup<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>. However, the most widely practiced sport remains football<ref name="coni" />. The Lodi-based club A.S. Fanfulla was a prominent participant in the Serie B championship during the 1930s and 1950s, and later won a Coppa Italia Serie C in 1984<ref>Template:Harvtxt</ref>.
The city is equipped with numerous sports facilities, including the Stadio Dossenina and the PalaCastellotti<ref name="coni" />.
Climate
Notable people
Eugenio Castellotti (1930-1957), racing driver
Gallery
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The façade of Lodi Cathedral and Piazza della Vittoria
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Prothyrum of Lodi Cathedral
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Rose window of Lodi Cathedral
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Church of the Beata Vergine Incoronata (view of the interior and dome)
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Interior of Church of Beata Vergine Incoronata
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Painting by Bergognone representing the Visitation in the Church of Beata Vergine Incoronata
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Painting by Callisto Piazza representing Salome presenting the head of Saint John the Baptist to Herod II
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Façade of San Francesco Church
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Open sky bifora in the façade of San Francesco Church
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Frescoes in the Church of San Francesco
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Cloister of Ospedale vecchio
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Façade of San Filippo Church
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Portal of Sant'Agnese Church
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Broletto Palace viewed from Piazza della Vittoria
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Broletto square in the night
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Vistarini Palace
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Mozzanica palace
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Monument to the Italian resistance movement
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Bridge on the River Adda
See also
Notes
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References
Bibliography
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