Tower of Codogna

On the small hill overlooking the Valley Mill arises the medieval tower of Codogna, one of the oldest buildings in the Sanagra Valley.

The tower, privately owned, is located on Castello Street, a place-name that recalls the presence of ancient fortifications erected for defensive purposes at strategic points in villages and towns, such as precisely on headlands, heights and hills. Its function was to spot possible dangers, such as approaching enemies, by a wide margin.

The construction of fortresses and watchtowers was strongly encouraged by those in power, at a time when public safety was mostly the responsibility of private individuals.nThe tower of Codogna confirms this custom, especially if we consider that it may have been part of a defensive system consisting of communicating towers, including the legendary tower of Naggio.

The Tower of Codogna in the local context

The strategic role of the Codogna tower must be read in relation to Menaggio Castle, to the east, and the turreted posts or castles that characterized the area in medieval times. The Codogna tower was part of a triangulation system that allowed communication between towers and manors, a very common practice in that era. This communication system was essential for monitoring not only the roads and the lake, but also the entire surrounding area. Signals of danger or alarm were transmitted, through a chain of towers, from the opposite shore of the lake and immediately inland to the west.

The toponym "Carlasc" (meaning "castelliere"), given to the high ground above Menaggio northeast of Croce and facing the Codogna tower, is closely related to the latter. This toponym suggests a connection between the Codogna tower and the Carlasc, which served as a "trait d'union" between the Menaggio castle and the Codogna tower. The castle of Codogna and the locality of "la Torre" in Bene Lario are also in direct connection, suggesting a network of fortifications that extended throughout the territory.

According to some hypotheses, triangulation took place between the Carlasc (elevation 423 m.), the Codogna tower and the Bene Lario tower (513 m.), and from there alarm signals were transmitted to Bilate, Carlazzo or Corrido.
Menaggio Castle, while an important point of defense, was visually connected with other castles in the area, including those of Rezzonico, Vezio, Dervio, Bellagio, and with other towers such as that of Codogna. The towers and castles constituted an effective defensive system to control the waterways and the mainland. Thanks to the triangulation between the structures, signals could be transmitted quickly, allowing widespread control of the territory.