Already populated in Roman times, Graffignana was the scene of important historical events, including the conference held in 1176 between the members of the Lombard League to avoid a head-on clash with Barbarossa. It was an active port on the Lambro River in the Middle Ages. In 1396, it belonged to Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who donated it to the Certosa di Pavia. In 1785, the fiefdom was assigned to the Barbiano family of Belgioioso. In the Napoleonic era (1809-16), Graffignana was a hamlet of Borghetto, recovering its autonomy by establishing the Lombard-Veneto Kingdom. The name probably has Lombard-Roman origins. Symbols Coat of arms The coat of arms refers to the Carthusian convent of the Certosa di Pavia, Gratiarum Cartusia, to which the territory was enfeffed. Monuments and places of interest In Graffignana, you can find the parish church dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul date back to the 14th century; however, over the centuries, it has undergone numerous expansion interventions (17th and 19th centuries).

A village rich in traditions, it preserves valuable monuments that testify to its faith and its history. The Parish Church of St. Columbanus (1478) is a 5-nave building with continuous references to the Patron Saint; from the square in front, you can access the entrance tower of the Castle, destroyed by Barbarossa and rebuilt by him due to its strategic importance in the continuous disputes between Lodi and Milan for control over the Lambro river. The Churches of Saint Francis  (1580) and Saint John (1510), the Oratory Saint Roch (1514), and the Dominican complex of Valbissera (16th century) recall the many monastic settlements that have occurred over the centuries. Next to the Main door, the royal entrance to the Oppidum Insigne, built-in 1691 by King Charles II of Spain, not far from the Lazzaretto (1630), the birthplace of Blessed Don Carlo Gnocchi, Alpine chaplain, father of the orphans and disabled people of the two great wars, founder of an Opera which today bears his name, proclaimed Blessed on 25 October 2009. The 7,500 inhabitants, cordial, hard-working, and hospitable, bring with pride the nickname of “banini,” or spiritual children of Saint Columban.

For information and guided tours:: Association Il Borgo e il Colle telefono:  0371898265  cell:  3332930003
email: ilborgoeilcolle@itineraribanini.it
www.visitasancolombano.com – fb: Il Borgo e il Colle

The park on the Saint Columban hill
It’s an area of over a thousand hectares that rises from the flat plain. The vine is an image, landscape, and wine tourism reference; passionate and qualified winemakers continue the “fathers” profession, focusing on producing an appreciated red and white DOC wine. The typical geographical indication of “Minalese Hill” is reserved for the following wines: white, also in the sparkling and passito types; reds, also in the sparkling and new types; rosés, also in the sparkling type. Only in Saint Columban can the Verdea variety be vinified among all the areas of Italy.

Saint Columban DOC Wine Shop and Voluntary Consortium
Via Ricetto, Castello Belgioioso tel.: 0371 898830
Open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 12am and Sunday from 3pm to 6pm
for info: info@sancolombanodoc.it  –  www.sancolombanodoc.it

The Association of Columban Friends for Europe
The Association of the Friends of San Colombano, founded in 1997 but formally established in 2007, draws on the centuries-old legacy of faith and traditions of the village in which it has continuously operated, treasuring the wealth of knowledge acquired and has been enriched with new contents, which ‘have also projected outside the borders of the reference territory. Among the objectives, in addition to promoting knowledge of the figure, work, and teachings of San Colombano, the organization of meetings, debates, conferences, publications, etc., intends to contribute to the construction of the spiritual, ethical, and cultural unity of Europe founded on common Christian roots also through opportunities for meeting and dialogue between the different cultures and components of the Christian tradition and the other major traditions present in the European context, highlighting the Colombano’s mission and the vision of the “common home.” It also favors and promotes twinning and contacts with the various Colombian, Italian, and European communities worldwide. He is a Founding Member of the European Association of the Cammino di San Colombano, which, on 8 March 2014, with a notarial deed, was established in Bobbio to identify, trace, and promote one of the oldest pilgrimages in Europe
For info: info@saintcolumban.eu – www.saintcolumban.eu