Roman Age Archaeological excavations conducted in 2005 by the Soprintendenza Archeologica della Lombardia uncovered a
necropolis consisting of twelve
inhumation tombs dating from the
late Roman period, as well as a single burial from the first century AD. Analysis of the findings suggests that the small community had an economy based on agriculture and trade. The good quality of the artifacts indicates that the inhabitants likely enjoyed a certain degree of wealth.
Middle Ages ,
Bell tower and
Church (building) of the Canonica of Saint George in Bernate The town of Bernate was historically part of the territory of the
Province of Pavia; however, at the time of the land register under
Maria Theresa, it belonged to the Pieve of Corbetta within the
Duchy of Milan. By the mid-eighteenth century, Bernate also included the localities of Casate and Rubone. During the Middle Ages, Bernate was referred to as Brinate, as recorded in a 1045 map cited by Giorgio Giulini (Memorie ecc. 1st ed. Vol. III, p. 427), where
Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, confirmed to the monks of San Dionigi in
Milan the abbey with the church of Santa Maria in Solariolo and other lands. A significant medieval feature was a castle mentioned in a document from 1098, which recorded a sale for 40 pounds (ca. 18 kg) made by Algerio, son of Vallone of Brinate, to Ariberto, a priest. This transaction included all of Algerio's properties, goods, and rights in
Inveruno,
Trecate, and Bernate, except for the castle itself. Giulini also preserved the
will of Ariberto from January 1099, which stated that Algerio's mother, Otta, was
usufructuary of these goods until her death. The will divided the property (excluding the port on the
Ticino River) into two parts: one portion belonged to the church of
Saint George of Bernate, which was under the monastery of San Vincenzo in
Milan, while the other portions of the church were not subject to any patronage. The Crivelli family is documented in this period. In 1150, Giovanni of the
Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio granted Domenico, Pietro, Pastore, and Gualla Crivelli rights over banks, gravel, and woods in the territories of Brinasca (Bernate) and Cusionno (Cuggiono). The Crivelli family thus extended its authority to two feuds. In 1186, Uberto Crivelli—later Pope Urban III—founded the regular rectory at the church of Saint George. On 25 November 1186,
Pope Urban III, issued a sealed document concerning the parish of Santa Maria di Crescenzago. He acknowledged that the church of Saint George in Brinate, founded on paternal land, was deprived of goods and possessions. He assigned to it goods purchased by the nuns of Caronno (excluding the port and gravel of the Ticino River), as well as properties acquired from the monks of San Vincenzo and local soldiers. With this endowment, he established a canonical congregation at the church of Bernate according to the rule of
Saint Augustine.
Modern period to present In 1786, the district of Bernate was incorporated into the province of Pavia. During the Napoleonic era, the district was merged with that of
Boffalora but was later re-established as independent under Austrian rule. Until 1862, the town was known simply as Bernate; it officially adopted the name Bernate Ticino following Royal Decree No. 1059 on 14 December 1862. In more recent times, Bernate Ticino appeared in the 1978 film ''
L'albero degli zoccoli'', directed by
Ermanno Olmi. A shot along the
Naviglio Grande clearly shows the dome of the parish church and the medieval bell tower. == Climate ==