The History
The name Retorbido appeared for the first time in the Donation made by Liuthprand, the King of the Lombards, to the Monastery of San Pietro in Ciel D’oro in Pavia, confirmed in 972 by Otto I. Retorbido is considered by historians to be the old Litubium mentioned by Tito Livio, the Roman historian.
Subordinated to the Bishop of Tortona, Frederick I Barbarossa assigned Retorbido to the city of Pavia with a diploma issued on 8th August 1164. Named Riturbium, it was listed as one of the lands under the dominion of Pavia in 1250, as part of the Oltrepò. In 1412, the village was the estate of the Castellino Beccaria. After the death of Giulio Beccaria, it was donated to the chamber of Milan and Marquis Corti was enfeoffed with it. It remained property of this family until its extinction. There were 303 inhabitants in Retorbido in 1596. In 1634, it was placed on the list of lands under the supremacy of Pavia, within the Oltrepò. The House of Savoy took over the rule in 1743.
An administrative regulation was approved on 6th June 1775 and we can presume that Retorbido was administered by a major and four counsellors who formed the town council. In 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte imposed the reorganization of the Ligurian-Piedmontese administration and so Retorbido became part of the district of Genoa. With the edict of 27th October 1815, Retorbido was included in the district of Voghera. Eventually, in 1859, with a population of 1156 inhabitants, it was again attached to the province of Pavia.
Places of interest
• Parish church
• Church Sant’Andrea
• Parish Club San Rocco
• The Durazzo Pallavicini Palace (private property)
• Springs of Retorbido