User:Handgiver/Torre del Barbarossa (Seregno)

Torre del Barbarossa is medieval bell tower, situated in the historical center of Seregno. The civic tower is traditionally called "del Barbarossa" because of Emperor Frederick I, Holy Roman correlation to be used as sighting point along the line "Como-Milano" in medieval war periods against Lombard comuni.

in realtà l'ipotesi più accreditata e con sufficienti testimonianze storiche la colloca come torre campanaria dell'antica chiesa di San Vittore (oggi esistente con forma e dimensione diversa) da quella probabilmente medioevale.

The first years of the 11th century Northern Italy, due to various occurrences, was shaken by particular events, sometimes tumultuous, linked to guerrillas and revolts that arose within the Brianza population wishing to safeguard their autonomy and safety under pressure from the enemy. In each city, therefore, a list was exposed contemplating the various types of impending dangers and public emergencies. Tradition has it that, to the sound of the Campanone present on the bell tower of each village, all abandoned their homes and, suitably dressed in iron and armed with billhooks, tridents and the like, ran into the main square, so they could hear the speeches and, if it proves appropriate, to run in defense of the homeland. In order to ensure a rapid propagation of the danger message throughout the Brianza area, the main bell towers were used, located in the most significant places. Probably, the tower of Montevecchia, located at the top and, therefore, with a wide view, received the tolling from the bell tower of Vimercate; then he forwarded the sound message to the tower of Erba and the latter to that of Montorfano. Then, the strokes continued towards the bell tower of Cantù which, then, handed them down to Mariano Comense, then to the tower of the Barbarossa of Seregno and, finally, to the bell tower of Desio and of Vedano al Lambro, to then close the signal circuit to the bell tower of Vimercate, as a receipt of a message sent throughout the Brianza area. The bell towers mentioned, then, had the task of spreading the chimes even to the smallest bell towers in each village. The expression Campanone della Brianza probably refers to the almost contemporary sound of the bells of the main bell towers of Brianza, almost creating a unique suggestive bell signaling the danger. The tower of Barbarossa, originally, in virtue of the above, presented a higher height than today; only later, when the Authority decided to use it as a bell tower, the tower was lowered, also in relation to the increase in the number of bells housed, passed from the four of San Vittore to the current nine, to remedy static problems.

Torre del Barbarossa represents the symbol of Seregno and is characterized by a Guelph style, very rare in contemporary architecture; it is thought that, more than a thousand years ago, it belonged to a manor in the area. A thesis, on the other hand, accredits it as the bell tower of the church of San Vittore, then largely demolished and of which few traces remain. Legend has it that the emperor Frederick Barbarossa, known as Barbarossa used it in order to see ahead of time the enemy troops coming from Milan and thus able to deploy the army. Later, with the construction of the church of San Vittore, it was used as a bell tower to house the four bronzes of San Vittore. The legend of Barbarossa merges with the more probable reliable calculation performed by the tower and externalized in the previous paragraph. Currently the tower is owned by the Municipality, which, since 1990, has provided for a technical and conservative restoration of the same. In July 1997, after the recovery operations were completed, the nine bells were repositioned in the belfry and in September of the same year the then Archbishop of Milan, His Eminence Card. Carlo Maria Martini, officially inaugurated the tower by launching the concert of bells.