Codogno: Cultural History and Cycling Route

Codogno is home to the Museo Cabriniano, the Raccolta D'Arte Lamberti, historic buildings and a cycling route along a section of the Po’s former riverbed. If you’re looking for a hotel in Codogno, consider whether you want to focus your stay on collections and architectural history or on cycling.

Museums and collections

The Museo Cabriniano preserves rooms, objects, garments and mementos directly or indirectly connected with Santa Francesca Cabrini and the origins of the Institute of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which she founded. The museum was established in 1973 in the rooms of the motherhouse opened by Cabrini. Its collections also include numerous works and objects that belonged to the saint.

The Raccolta D'Arte Lamberti has a different focus: it opened in 1973 at the initiative of the painter Giuseppe Novello and is now housed in a palazzo on Via Cavallotti. It is named after the collector and painter Carlo Lamberti. While the Museo Cabriniano is connected with Cabrini and the origins of her institute, the Raccolta owes its opening to Novello’s initiative and bears Lamberti’s name.

Visitors with reduced mobility can access the Raccolta via the courtyard and use an elevator. Advance contact by telephone is required.

Architectural history from different periods

Piazza XX Settembre dates from 1652 and was designed by the architect Barattieri. That same year, Barattieri also designed the Loggia dei Mercanti, at the initiative of Cardinal Teodoro Trivulzio and mayor Baldassarre Dragoni. The year and architect are thus known for both buildings; the Loggia also had two initiators.

The Chiesa di San Teodoro, also known as “del Cristo,” has a bold dome designed by Carlo Antonio Albino, set atop a tall octagonal drum. The church was completed in the first half of the 17th century. A drum is the structure that supports a dome; “octagonal” means eight-sided. Older traces have also survived: archaeological remains of the foundations of the medieval castle and its surrounding moat.

The grounds of Villa Biancardi include a large park with mature trees, a greenhouse, a swimming pool, the former stables and the gatekeeper’s lodge. Work on the villa, based on a design by the Florentine architect, sculptor and decorator Gino Coppedè, took place from 1907 to 1911. The park is accessible at street level for people with reduced mobility. The ground floor can be reached via a goods lift at the side entrance; an elevator is available for the first floor.

Cycling route, fair and the history of the Po

The “Lungo l'antico alveo del Po” cycling route runs through Parco dell'Adda Sud. It follows a section of the Po’s former riverbed and then returns to Codogno. The transport of goods has a different connection to the Po: wheels of Grana cheese from Codogno were carried along the river to Venice. These are two distinct connections: a cycling route that returns to Codogno and a historic transport route along the Po to Venice.

The Fiera di Codogno also offers a historical perspective. It was established as an annual fair in 1791; the first event began on November 17, 1791.

Discover more destinations: Casalpusterlengo, Lodi, San Martino In Strada, Ospedaletto Lodigiano, Corno Giovine, Muzza Sant'angelo, Chiavicone, Guardamiglio.

Back to the main travel overview: Lodi.