San Giorgio     Top of Page

San Giorgio is the dominant Catholic Church in Cuggiono. There is a second Catholic Church, San Rocco, that is used for services as well. San Giorgio celebrates 400 years of service in 2006, and the rich architecture of the church as well as its well-attended Masses attest to the continuity of prominence in the community. Please see this short gallery of pictures of San Giorgio for more detail.

 

400 Year Festa of San Giorgio     Top of Page

2006 marked the 400th anniversary of San Giorgio Martyr Basilica in Cuggiono. The event was celebrated in traditional Italian style, and was attended by about 40 American descendants of emigrants from Cuggiono. There was a High Mass celebrated by Cardinal Dionigi, Archbishop of Milan. Read the details of the Festa... or, go to Festa Photo Albums

 

San Carlo Cemetery     Top of Page

San Carlo Cemetery is the local village cemetery of Cuggiono. It is, as are many cemeteries in Italy, impeccably kept and maintained. There is a constant daily flow of people to the cemetery to visit and pay homage to the departed. Fresh flowers are placed on many graves daily. Electric candles or lights burn on many graves. There are several mausoleums, and a full section of crypts. If one is tempted to remember American news of vandalism in cemeteries, the feeling in the San Carlo Cemetery is that desecration would not take place. The cemetery has an overwhelming feeling of sanctuary and reverence. There is a dedicated 'Tombe Abbandonate' that has a plaque commemorating those who have anonymously gone before.

In keeping with European tradition, the cemetery has not continually expanded to accommodate new burials, as is the custom in America. The typical custom in Europe is that a certain dues must be paid to the cemetery association in order to keep a plot within the realm of a family. In the plot, there are a specified number of graves, and it is often the practice that as the departed fade from memory, they are removed from the plots to make room for those that have passed more recently. The remains that are exhumed are moved to an ossuary.

 

 

Museo Storico     Top of Page

The Museo Storico in Cuggiono began in the 1980's, and has grown to an impressive 15+ rooms of artifacts and memorabilia from the past. It would be hard to describe the impression that the Museum can have when visited. In several of the rooms the replication of the period can be overwhelming. The tools and utensils are original, and the way that they're assembled is exactly as it would have been at that time. The Museo Storico has its own web site, which reflects the spirit of the Museum well. The Museum Book can be purchased in an English*** or Italian translation, and is an excellent keepsake. Please see this short gallery of pictures of the Museo Storico for more details.

 

Naviglio     Top of Page

The Naviglio Grande is a sophisticated series of canals that link the Italian Alps via the Ticino River with Milan, much the region of Lombardia, and other areas. Originally conceived for transportation, today hiking and biking along the Naviglio is extremely popular. The Naviglio comes closest to Cuggiono in a small hamlet called Castelletto. Read this short history of the Naviglio Grande for some interesting history and details. Please see this short gallery of pictures of Il Naviglio for more details.

 

Villa Annoni     Top of Page

The Annonis were a prominent family of land owners in the Cuggiono area for many years. Two of the legacies that still survive are the Villa Annoni, and the Annoni Park. The Villa is slated to be renovated, and used for Municipal Offices in the near future. The Museo Storico now resides in a part of the Villa, and is to expand when the renovation is complete. The Annoni Park is open for certain hours during the Summer months, and is an extremely pleasant place to walk and recreate. Please see this short gallery of pictures of the Villa Annoni for more details.

 

Il Padre Nostro - The Lord's Prayer, Italian Version     Top of Page

Did you grow up in an Italian home? Did you hear Italian as a child, or are you familiar with the most basic prayer of the largest church in Italy? This simple prayer may jog memories for you. The Padre Nostro in Italian is a must-know for anyone serious about learning the Italian culture.

 

Emigration     Top of Page

Why did they leave? This is the single foremost question that has plagued many of us who seek to know the land and lives of our forefathers. I once heard from my grandfather 'They were only share-croppers. There was nothing more for them.' There is a line from the movie 'Matewan' that comes to mind, from a female Italian immigrant: 'In Milan they let us starve, in America they shoot us.' Simply put, to quote Gianluigi Garavaglia - President of the Museo Storico - 'They were hungry.' These perspectives frame the situation for the emigrant rather well. There is a beginning treatment of the historical perspective of emigration from Cuggiono on the Museo Storico web site.

 

History     Top of Page

Italy has a tremendously rich history. Try this page if you're interested in a short history of Italy. There is also a history of Cuggiono that highlights the noteworthy dates of the village.

The living truth of this epoch is borne in the families that have survived and passed on their traditions. The culture and ways of the generations of yesteryear are bound to change to suit the movement of history and mankind as a whole. However, the memory of those who have gone before us refuses to lie helplessly in many cases. Read the story of one Vansaghi Family to get an idea of what one branch of the Cuggionesi has endured during and after emigration from Cuggiono.

 

Natale (Christmas) in Italy     Top of Page

If you've ever wondered what happens around Chirstmas in Italy, as well as other interesting tidbits about 'immersion' into the culture, check out Natale in Italy. This is a first hand account of 16 days visiting in Milan during the Christmas holidays, on the terms dictated by the city. It's an account that was experienced 'off the beaten tourist path'. You can also jump straight to the Natale in Italia photo series.

 

Connections to Cuggiono     Top of Page

In order to assist those who are interested in visiting Cuggiono, there is a CD entitled 'Connections to Cuggiono' available from the Museo Storico. An online version of the Connections to Cuggiono CD is available that offers many resources, maps, history, and other travel info.

***The initial printing of the Museo Storico Civico book included a limited number (300) copies in English. The English translation is sold out, and is not available for sale at this time from the Museo or it's representatives. Please visit the Museo Storico website, or see the Connections to Cuggiono area for further information.