LODI, an episcopal and walled city of N. Italy, capital of a cognominal province of Lombardy, on the right bank of the Adda, a tributary of the Po, 18 miles S.E. of Milan. It consists of well-built streets, and a great square, and
contains several interesting public buildings. The principal of these are,—the cathedral, in the Lombard style of architecture, with many fine pictures and carvings; the church of the Incoronata, founded in 1476, also containing some interesting paintings; the bishop's palace; and the town-house, a plain but handsome edifice. Besides these there are a royal college, a gymnasium, a theological school, three hospitals, a public library, and several churches and convents. The manufactures of the place consist of delft, pottery, linen, and silk. A large trade is carried on in Parmesan cheese, made in the neighbourhood. The ancient Laus Pompeia occupied a site 5 miles W. of the modern Lodi. It was, according to Pliny, settled by the Boii, a Gallic tribe, and afterwards became a Roman municipality. In the middle ages, under the name of Lodi, it became of such importance that it provoked the jealousy of the Milanese, who took and destroyed it in 1158. The inhabitants were then removed by the Emperor Frederick to the present city, which, however, never rose to the importance of its original. The site of Laus Pompeia is now occupied by a village called Lodi Vecchio. Pop. of Lodi, 18,986. In modern times Lodi is famous for the contest which took place on its bridge over the Adda, between the French under Bonaparte and the Austrians, on which occasion the latter were signalized defeated.