Primaluna: a medieval village in the heart of Valsassina

Primaluna is a small Lombard village in the province of Lecco, the ancient capital of the Valvassina region and, it is said, the birthplace of the noble Della Torre family. There are several places of worship, but the most famous is the Sanctuary of the Madonna in the hamlet of Cortabbio, the site of a Marian apparition that started a series of pilgrimages. The church is in fact rich in ex-votos for the graces requested and received. The church of Saints Peter and Paul is instead the parish one, flanked by a Romanesque bell tower. It houses three paintings from the school of Titian and a unique and prestigious piece, the organ is in fact a Serassi. The name Primaluna seems to derive from an ancient episode: a certain Tazio, lord of Lecco, after having restored the village did not know what to call it and raising his eyes to the sky he saw a crescent moon, precisely primaluna. A further legend, on the other hand, derives the 'first' part from the fact that the area is always kissed by the sun and the 'moon' from the crescent shape of Valsassina.