Collegno originated as aRomanmansio 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Turin, known asQuintum Collegium (hence the modern name). Ancient findings from the area are now in theMuseum of Antiquities in Turin.
From an ancient Roman villa, a richly decorated church was built at the beginning of the 5th century AD, dedicated toSan Massimo, the firstbishop of Turin.[4]
In 2002, during excavations for the construction of the terminal of line 1 of theTurin Metro, the remains of aLangobard settlement and necropolis came to light.[5] The site has been studied thoroughly until 2006, along with a nearby littlegothic cabin's, previously settled.[6][7]
In 1641, Maria Cristina of France, regent of Savoy Dukedom, ordered the edification of a "Charterhouse" to host a monastery; the large building was designed by M. Valperga, the First Ducal Architect and completed byJuvarra. In 1851 the Monastery was transformed in a hospital for mental ills, then closed in 70s of the past century.
Lajos Kossuth, the exiled leader of theHungarian Revolution of 1848, lived in the Baraccone section of the village from 1874 until 1882. The former politician bought a villa with a large garden not far from the train station, and spent his days with gardening, botanical expeditions to theAlps, writing his memoirs and receiving Hungarian guests. He was forced to sell the villa due to financial difficulties. The house was demolished in the 1970s.
