Next to Pandino there is a particular "rural" Hamlet belonging to the association "The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy"

Gradella was probably born in the late VIII century as a Longobard garrison, but the first written reference of the name of Gradella appears in 1186 when Federico Barbarossa grants various possessions to Milan, including Gradella, Pandino, Agnadello and Rivolta.

The history of Gradella is closely linked to the noble family Maggi from Brescia.

In fact, starting from 1558 Onofrio Maggi, chancellor and captain of justice, began to buy land in the Gradella area, quickly becoming the owner of the village where he also built his manor house: Villa Maggi

Girolamo, descendant of Onofrio, obtained the investiture by King Charles II of Spain (under whose jurisdiction the Duchy of Milan was) of the Feud of Gradella with the relative title of count.

In 1705 the town was sacked and severely damaged by French troops, so it is after this date that the current urban layout dates back.

In the 30s the property of Gradella passed to Count Aymo Maggi, famous for being one of the creators and organizers of the famous race Mille Miglia, who devoted much attention to the village and its inhabitants by building the schools, the kindergarten, the aqueduct, public toilets and the sports field.

The village of Gradella deserves a very slow walk, to enjoy the rural spirit. It's possible to admire the characteristic houses painted in yellow and outlined in red bricks and the communicating courtyards.

NOT TO MISS

• Villa Maggi, already existing in the seventeenth century, which owes its current appearance to the changes made in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, inserted in a large park.
• the Parish Church dedicated to the S.S. Trinity and S. Bassiano rebuilt from 1895, on the site of the previous church. The church was frescoed in 1919 by the painter Luigi Morgari who painted a cycle dedicated to San Bassiano.
• In front of the cemetery there is a small chapel on the site of the hospital, built during the plague of 1630.

THE CURIOSITY
 Wandering through the streets of Gradella, it is possible to find group of fallow deer, brought here by the last countess, Camilla Maggi, because of her passion for these animals.

The fallow deer have perfectly settled among the cattle and equines reared in the hamlet, and today they joyfully welcome anyone who approaches them.

FOR INFORMATIOS AND RESERVATIONS

Tourist Office 

+390373973350

+393387291650

turismo@comune.pandino.cr.it