Lodi - a small town in the Italian region of Lombardy, located on the right bank of the river Adda, the administrative center of the homonymous province.

Lodi was founded in ancient times Celts tribes, and in the era of the Roman Empire was called Laus Pompeiu (perhaps in honor of the consul Pompey Strabo), and was an important settlement since stood at the intersection of a busy road and the river. In the 3rd century, the city became a bishopric, and its first bishop, San Bassianus today is considered the patron of Lodi. Around the 10th century, an independent municipality Lodi firmly repel the attack of Milan's troops, but a century later the city was destroyed by the Milanese. Only in 1158, the year on the orders of Frederick Barbarossa Lodi was rebuilt, and the old town preserved within the area of ​​Lodi Vecchio.

Since the 13th century the inhabitants of the city were involved in setting up a network of hydraulic structures - hundreds of miles of canals and artificial rivers, known as consortia di Mutstsa, used to supply water to rural areas, which contributed to the transformation of some arid zones in highly fertile farmland.

In the 14th century, it became part of the possessions of the Lodi family Visconti, who ordered the city castle was built. And in 1454, the year here together representatives of all independent principalities and duchies of the peninsula, and signed an agreement known as the Treaty of Peace of Lodi, of the unification of Italy. However, the effect of this agreement lasted only 40 years.

After Visconti Sforza ruled in Lodi, then the French, the Spaniards, the Austrians, and in 1786 the city became the capital of the homonymous province. It was here in May 1796, the year a young Napoleon Bonaparte, recently became a general, defeated the Austrians and began his military career.

In Lodi save a lot of monuments of history and architecture that still attract tourists. Piazza della Vittoria, flanked on all sides by porticos, is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. Here are the Vergine Assunta Basilica and Town Hall Broletto. A Piazza Broletto remarkable baptismal font of the 14th century, made of Verona marble. Interesting Church of Lodi - Beata Vergine Inkoronata, San Francesco, San Lorenzo with frescoes by Callisto Piazza Santa Maria Maddalena - the best example of Baroque architecture in the city of Sant Agnese in Lombard Gothic style, San Filippo Neri Rococo San Cristoforo. Preserved and secular buildings - medieval Palazzo Veskovile, remodeled in the 18th century, partially ruined castle and the Palazzo Torrione Motstsanika 15th century.