The ancient farming hamlet of San Colombano stands at the bottom of the range of hills of the same name that separates the plateau of Lodi from that of Pavia. The area is now covered with vineyards which produce the only DOC certified wine in the province of Milan.
The village is arranged around the castle named after the hypothetical stay of the Irish monk who founded the monastery of Bobbio in 595 and who, according to tradition, taught the locals how to cultivate vines. Since that time, the vine has covered the hills and become the foundation of the area's culture and history.
The fort was known of as early as the era of the Longobards; used by the Signoria Milanese, it was destroyed in 1164 but rebuilt by Federico Barbarossa.
Around 1353, the poet Petrarch stayed there for a long period and praised the land and castles of the district in a letter. The poet's visit as the guest of Giovanni Visconti, archbishop of Milan, is recorded by a plaque on the 15th c. tower.
In 1396, the castle was assigned by Gian Galeazzo Visconti to the Certosa in Pavia which held it until the charterhouse was suppressed in 1782. The fortification then became the residence of the Barbiano di Belgioso family who made several alterations to it.
The castle was then purchased by the parish and many parts were demolished. Today the crenellated 15th c. tower and west tower remain, with part of the defensive wall that was built by Barbarossa. Also included is the park and the Belgioso villa.
Milan