Milan is now the undisputed financial and banking capital of Southern Europe, in the city of Milan have the headquarters of some major Italian banks and major international banks present in Italy are concentrated in the shadow of the Madonnina.
Not to mention the institutions that deal with the most diverse financial services and merchant banking activities, these largely developed over time especially in Milan. But the reputation of the square sinks into the mists of time. Before the birth of the real banks, as we know them today, which took place around the fifteenth century and a thousand year after the economic recovery, the business support was largely deal of those who practiced systematically wear. And among the main categories devoted to this form of borrowing money, the so-called "abominable gain", there were also precisely the bankers "Lombard", or the northern Italian lenders then.
"Lombardi" bankers operated with a certain freedom of action and then in the main European economic centers; in 1100 their activities would be deployed in France, Germany, England. In this regard it is inevitable to remember that there are still a Rue des Lombards in Paris and London, in the heart of the City, the Lombard Street, built on land that had been assigned precisely to these traders by Edward I.
They were not well given the Lombard bankers, indeed, were described as the "bad guys" of the time. They led this business for many centuries and still in the 15th century habitually pawnbroking and were therefore considered and identified as sordid usurers and therefore unpopular. Since the Middle Ages in that area of London, today's Lombard Street in fact, focused the main activities related to money management and right there were the operational headquarters of the Lombard bankers who left the name on the street.
Particularly interesting are the signs of the ancient banks, still visible, identified as coats of arms: the horse for Lloyd's, the artichoke for Alexander, three crowns for Coutts, Martin represented by a grasshopper, and William&Glyn's an anchor.
He teaches that characterized the Lombard bankers? Ducks with wings flying. In an era when illiteracy was still widespread, even among the wealthier classes, these signs allow customers to recognize with certainty their bank and not go wrong.
Finally I remember a curiosity "banking" survived to this day: as is known, the "Lombard banking" expression is still used to indicate the loan pawn. If you are in Lombard Street in London, approffittate to visit the Church of St. Mary Woolnoth, a magnificent baroque jewel with a blue stucco ceiling.
Original article written by: Claudio Bollentini
photo by: claunmilano.it