Grafo Edizioni Unveils ‘Maguzzano’ Abbey History in New Publication
The presentation of the editorial project “Maguzzano, stories of an abbey” by Giuseppe Gandini took place in the council chamber of the municipality of Lonato. The project was curated by Grafo Edizioni of Brescia.
The event was promoted by the associations “Amici della Fondazione Ugo da Como” of Lonato and “Studi Storici Carlo Brusa” of Desenzano, in collaboration with the newly established federation of Garda-area culture-environment associations.
Present at the meeting were Monsignor Alberto Piazzi (a renowned local history writer), Professor Giovanni Stipi, and, of course, the author Giuseppe Gandini.
The Editorial Project
“It is a decidedly ambitious project,” — emphasizes Professor Gandini — “which stems from an extensive research effort that has lasted at least twenty years. The work, divided into two volumes and totaling about 550 pages, presents the historical profile of the abbey.”
It therefore spans from prehistory to today, “based on a synthesis, an organic distribution, and a critical presentation of the documents,” — Gandini further explains. The second section illustrates the current reality, with an appendix that blends history, legend, and fantasy.
The second volume deals in detail with the documentation that guided the entire research.
Content and Research Methodology
This historical research involves documents arranged in chronological order from the year 250 AD (the date of the milestone placed along the road near present-day Maguzzano) to the present.
Among the examined documents are papal bulls, imperial diplomas, testaments, investiture acts, archive registers, service orders, pastoral visits, the register of serf grievances against the monastery, and sessions of the monastic City Council, as well as notarial and legal proceedings, up to diaries.
Structure and Sources of the Work
The work will be complemented by a chronological list of abbots, rectors, and parish priests, Cistercian monks, as well as various indexes (people, places…), a presentation of sources: unpublished studies, published sources, a general bibliography, and a bibliographic glossary.
The project fully aligns with the cultural policy of Grafo Edizioni, founded in 1973 by Alberto Montagnoli, which has always been committed to enhancing Brescia’s environmental and landscape heritage.
Conclusion and Next Steps
This new cultural project will therefore be presented today, with its official publication scheduled for next October (bookstore pre-orders are recommended).
