Story
Vigevano lies thirty-five Km from Milan and Pavia, on the North-Eastern border of Lomellina, in an agricultural area within the Regional Park of the Ticino River Valley, Lombardy. Vigevano's origins date back to ancient times and are very confused. The first document mentioning the village of Vigevano with the Longobard word "VICOGEBOIN" dates back to 963. Built in a strategic position on a headland of the Ticino bank, "Vicogeboin" gave shelter to the populations of some nearby villages (such as Viginti Columnae, Sirpi, Gracona, Preducla) when they were driven away from the territory by barbarian raids. After the year one thousand, when the "comuni" acquired importance again, the possession of agricultural lands and roads became vital. That's why Vigevano, which was situated in an excellent position on a ford of the Ticino River, became at this time the object of the expansionistic designs of Milan and Pavia and for over 150 years was compelled to suffer wars, assaults and destructions. When in the XIV century the "signorie" came into being, the life in the village became better especially as a consequence of the very important urban changes the Visconti introduced. These changes concerned all the village and reached the top with the building of the "terraggi", and the "rocca" and the enlargement of the castle. Under the rule of Luchino Visconti the powerful "Roofed Road" (1347) was built; it connected the Castle to the Rocca passing over the houses of the village. When Filippo Maria Visconti died in 1447, the Milan Golden Repubblic was proclaimed in Milan: it was headed by Pier Candido Decembrio, from Vigevano. Francesco Maria Sforza, the leader of the Viscontis' army, however, rebelled against the new republic. He claimed dynastic reasons since he had married Bianca Maria, the last duke's daughter, and by all means he tried to get power. In April 1449 Vigevano rebelled against the Sforzas' protection, and proclaimed itself a free "comune" forming an alliance with Milan. The people of Vigevano led by the heroine Camilla Rodolfi took the field against the Sforzas; however all their efforts were not enough to withstand the siege of the Sforzas' troups led by Colleoni: on the 6th of June the village was compelled to surrender to Francesco Sforza, who later on conquered also Milan and in the February of the next year was proclaimed the new duke. Francesco Sforza did not ill-treat the inhabitants of Vigevano, perhaps because he had been greatly impressed by the heroism they showed during the siege; on the contrary, he favoured them granting the village very advantageous commercial rules. He chose Vigevano Castle as the place preferred by his Court for their summer stays and hunting. He died in 1470 and his son Galeazzo Maria succeeded him: Galeazzo Maria was unfair and violent and is remembered in Vigevano for his hound breeding and for building some stables in the Castle. In December 1476 he was slain inside Saint Stefano's church in Milan and was succeeded by his son Gian Galeazzo Maria, who was only seven years old and was tutored by his mother Bona di Savoia.In this period the son of the murdered duke Ludovico Maria, called the Moro, profited by the confusion created by the passing of powers, and came back to Milan from a forced exile in Tuscany. He succeeded in having himself named general Lieutenant of the Dukedom and usurping the power the young duke's tutors succeeded in taking power. In 1486 he started reclaiming the marshes around Vigevano and ordered the building of the "Sforzesca"; it was a model farm so called in his honour; this was followed by other model farms such as the Pegorara and the Camina. Canals and irrigation channels were widened and lenghtened to great benefit of agriculture: among these there were the Naviglio Sforzesco and the Roggia Mora. Later on the duke devoted his attention to the village: in 1490 new stables were built in the Castle; in 1492 new buildings such as the Tower, the Loggia of the Dame and the Falconry were begun. It was in this period that also the works to open a new Square (Piazza Maggiore, now Ducale) were started. The square was finished in 1494 when the Moro took the title of duke, when young Gian Galeazzo died in the Castle of Pavia under mysterious circumstances.

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