Boschetto near Cremona: Palazzo ex Duemiglia and Monastery History

Palace and Local History

The local history of Boschetto near Cremona stretches from Palazzo ex Duemiglia and former monastery buildings to historic roads and waterways. The palace, built in the 18th century on behalf of the Radicati family, stands on the site of an old brickworks called Broletto. The 18th-century palace of Boschetto was therefore built on the site of the older brickworks. Several decorated reception rooms have been preserved. For a long time, the Palazzo was the seat of the former municipality of Duemiglia, before it was incorporated into Cremona.

Monastery and Medieval Traces

The former monastery buildings are also part of Boschetto's history. They initially stood vacant for a long time, and were later inhabited by the monks of San Lorenzo di Spagna and subsequently by the Gerolamines, the brothers of Blessed Pietro da Pisa. The monastery was dissolved in 1772 by decision of the Austrian government. Its dissolution in 1772 ultimately brought this monastic use to a historic end. For a long time, the locality of Boschetto was equated with the monastery of Sancte Marie de Buscheto. Its foundation is more likely to date to the 12th century; the previously attributed foundation in 835 is not documented by reliable written evidence.

Historic Location between Roads and Waterways

The historic locality of Boschetto lay along the course of the Fregalino drainage canal. It was also located near the Via Sablonorum, or Via de Sablonibus. This road led north from the Porta San Guglielmo, which was also known as the Porta dei Tintori. Fregalino is distinguished as a drainage canal from the agricultural irrigation system of the two Rogge in the Cremona area.

Sacred Traces and Landscape

The Roggia Buschetta and the Roggia Parracaccia jointly irrigate 846 hectares of farmland in the Cremona area. At the entrance to Boschetto, in Belgiardino (el Belgiardéen), faded and incomplete fragments of a mural depicting the Holy Family with angels can be seen on the wall of a derelict building. Boschetto has several sites and niches dedicated to the veneration of the Virgin Mary. Some can still be visited, while others have disappeared over time. The mural and the Marian sites are in different states of preservation. The church of Boschetto is named S. Maria Annunciata.

The historic place name of Boschetto appears in 1233 as “ecclesia S. Mariae de Boscheto,” in 1236 as “S. Maria de Busceto,” in 1259 as “Boschetum,” and in 1296 as “boschetum.” Ernesto Primo Mazzolari was born on January 13, 1890, in Boschetto, a frazione of Cremona, to Luigi and Grazia Bolli.

Cycle Path Project

A municipal cycle path project is intended to connect Piazzale Zelioli Lanzini in the exhibition area with the Boschetto district and continue to the intersection of Via Boschetto and Via Crocile near the primary school. The cycle path project describes a planned connection, not a route that has already been completed.

More travel destinations: Soncino, Vailate, Cignone, Motta Baluffi, Agnadello, Casteldidone, Bagnolo Cremasco, Bordolano.

For the main travel overview: Cremona.