Conzano | |
---|---|
Comune di Conzano | |
![]() | |
Coordinates: 45°1′17″N 8°27′18″E / 45.02139°N 8.45500°E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Piedmont |
Province | Alessandria (AL) |
Frazioni | San Maurizio [1] |
Government | |
• Mayor | Emanuele Demaria |
Area | |
• Total | 11.61 km2 (4.48 sq mi) |
Elevation | 262 m (860 ft) |
Population (30 June 2017)
[2] | |
• Total | 958 |
• Density | 83/km2 (210/sq mi) |
Demonym | Conzanesi |
Time zone | UTC+1 ( CET) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC+2 ( CEST) |
Postal code | 15030 |
Dialing code | 0142 |
Patron saint | Saint Lucy of Syracuse |
Saint day | 13 December |
Website | Official website |
The Commune of Conzano (Italian:
Comune di Conzano;
Piemontese: Consan) is a municipality located in the south of
Casale Monferrato, in the north-west of the
italian
province of Alessandria.
The town became famous for having been declared, in 1992, as the symbol of the massive emigration of the people to the northern
Queensland,
Australia, about 1890-1935 period: the ancient town square, named Piazza d'Armi (= Weapons Square), was renamed in Piazza
Australia and Conzano has been twinned with
Ingham, Queensland.
The town is situated on the Montferrat hills, among the Grana and Rotaldo creeks, at an altitude of 262 meters above the sea level, and includes two decentralized hamlets (the latter's formal status as a frazione) in the northern flat side (near Casale Monferrato), recognised in the Statuto Comunale [1]): the first one is Castello, the second one is San Maurizio. To the north-east side, the country borders with Occimiano, to the south-east with Lu e Cuccaro Monferrato, and to the west with Camagna Monferrato. The municipal territory extends over a predominantly rural area of 11.62 square kilometres (4.49 sq mi).
In ancient times, the site was inhabited by prehistoric settlements, followed by a Roman colonization of consul
Marco Fulvio Flacco (2nd century), contemporary of
Celtic-
ligurian tribes named Iadatine, from the Latin Iactum, the ancient name of the
Grana creek.
Since 3rd century A.D. they are documented rules of patrician praedials named Medialianus, but also Condius, Contius, accordingly the origin of toponym Contiacus, Conziacanus, Conzianus.
A true urban village begins about the 5th century, at the bottom of the hill. Exposed to repeated incursions throughout the
Middle Ages, especially the
Lombards,
Goths and
Saracens, old village was totally destroyed, and the new village was built in the 10th century on the top of the hill, with a topographical structure in concentric circles, on ancient places named Pozzo Piazza and bric (= peak) Saint Lucia (= Saint
Lucy of Syracuse).
The Emperor
Otto I of Saxony gave the village in manor to the Lords of
Cuccaro; in the same period, Marquis Oberto gift to the Cluniac congregation property for the construction of a little Benedictine
Priory, and the decentralized San Maurizio hamlet began to be populated.
Since 12th century, Conzano was dominated by the March of Montferrat, in quarrel with the Ghilini dynasty, Lords of Alessandria. Accordingly, the town was fortified, with the construction of a tower on the eastern side, called today the "Clock Tower" or "Civic Tower". About 15th century, in front of it, is built the pretty little church of San Biagio. Slightly late, is the small church of the decentralized hamlet of San Maurizio, in late Gothic style (about half of the 15th century), where it seems to be here the remains of queen Sophia, daughter of Theodore II, Marquess of Montferrat and 2nd wife of emperor John VIII Palaiologos. On the same road, it was built a small castle (nonexistent today, replaced by a recent private villa), who gave built to the current namesake hamlet. In the 16th century, the country came under the territory of the dukes Gonzaga, until the 18th century, when they were deposed.
Since 1709, Conzano was annexed to the
Duchy of Savoy, under direct control of the
Casale Monferrato district before, the
Marengo department during the Napoleonic occupation. The ruins of ancient medieval structure of the village castle was remodeled in the Franciscan convent building, now at the end of the 18th century, rebuilt to house destined to a rich Count named
Carlo Vidua
[1]; The villa, which is open to the public, is particularly known for its interior decorations in the
Chinese manner.
The population increased, at least until the call of the
second italian war of independence (1859) and, after, the
World War I. In addition, the
Great Depression economic downfall in the late 9th century impoverished small rural towns. People spared the last money to travel to distant lands, for example to
America, but especially to
Australia. Many farmers moved from
Montferrat,
Italy, to the Northern
Queensland,
Australia, where there was a strong job demand about cutting sugar canes, a work very similar to a farming job. The poorest towns of the area were Lu, Occimiano, Cuccaro and, above all, Conzano, why there was a massive emigration, especially from this place.
In 1992, there was a discovery of this interesting historical events, the town has been twinned with Ingham, Queensland, the opening of a thematic exhibition and a quote in memory of the official spokesman of conzanese people emigrated to Australia, Ettore Cantamessa (1892-1947).
Conzano | |
---|---|
Comune di Conzano | |
![]() | |
Coordinates: 45°1′17″N 8°27′18″E / 45.02139°N 8.45500°E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Piedmont |
Province | Alessandria (AL) |
Frazioni | San Maurizio [1] |
Government | |
• Mayor | Emanuele Demaria |
Area | |
• Total | 11.61 km2 (4.48 sq mi) |
Elevation | 262 m (860 ft) |
Population (30 June 2017)
[2] | |
• Total | 958 |
• Density | 83/km2 (210/sq mi) |
Demonym | Conzanesi |
Time zone | UTC+1 ( CET) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC+2 ( CEST) |
Postal code | 15030 |
Dialing code | 0142 |
Patron saint | Saint Lucy of Syracuse |
Saint day | 13 December |
Website | Official website |
The Commune of Conzano (Italian:
Comune di Conzano;
Piemontese: Consan) is a municipality located in the south of
Casale Monferrato, in the north-west of the
italian
province of Alessandria.
The town became famous for having been declared, in 1992, as the symbol of the massive emigration of the people to the northern
Queensland,
Australia, about 1890-1935 period: the ancient town square, named Piazza d'Armi (= Weapons Square), was renamed in Piazza
Australia and Conzano has been twinned with
Ingham, Queensland.
The town is situated on the Montferrat hills, among the Grana and Rotaldo creeks, at an altitude of 262 meters above the sea level, and includes two decentralized hamlets (the latter's formal status as a frazione) in the northern flat side (near Casale Monferrato), recognised in the Statuto Comunale [1]): the first one is Castello, the second one is San Maurizio. To the north-east side, the country borders with Occimiano, to the south-east with Lu e Cuccaro Monferrato, and to the west with Camagna Monferrato. The municipal territory extends over a predominantly rural area of 11.62 square kilometres (4.49 sq mi).
In ancient times, the site was inhabited by prehistoric settlements, followed by a Roman colonization of consul
Marco Fulvio Flacco (2nd century), contemporary of
Celtic-
ligurian tribes named Iadatine, from the Latin Iactum, the ancient name of the
Grana creek.
Since 3rd century A.D. they are documented rules of patrician praedials named Medialianus, but also Condius, Contius, accordingly the origin of toponym Contiacus, Conziacanus, Conzianus.
A true urban village begins about the 5th century, at the bottom of the hill. Exposed to repeated incursions throughout the
Middle Ages, especially the
Lombards,
Goths and
Saracens, old village was totally destroyed, and the new village was built in the 10th century on the top of the hill, with a topographical structure in concentric circles, on ancient places named Pozzo Piazza and bric (= peak) Saint Lucia (= Saint
Lucy of Syracuse).
The Emperor
Otto I of Saxony gave the village in manor to the Lords of
Cuccaro; in the same period, Marquis Oberto gift to the Cluniac congregation property for the construction of a little Benedictine
Priory, and the decentralized San Maurizio hamlet began to be populated.
Since 12th century, Conzano was dominated by the March of Montferrat, in quarrel with the Ghilini dynasty, Lords of Alessandria. Accordingly, the town was fortified, with the construction of a tower on the eastern side, called today the "Clock Tower" or "Civic Tower". About 15th century, in front of it, is built the pretty little church of San Biagio. Slightly late, is the small church of the decentralized hamlet of San Maurizio, in late Gothic style (about half of the 15th century), where it seems to be here the remains of queen Sophia, daughter of Theodore II, Marquess of Montferrat and 2nd wife of emperor John VIII Palaiologos. On the same road, it was built a small castle (nonexistent today, replaced by a recent private villa), who gave built to the current namesake hamlet. In the 16th century, the country came under the territory of the dukes Gonzaga, until the 18th century, when they were deposed.
Since 1709, Conzano was annexed to the
Duchy of Savoy, under direct control of the
Casale Monferrato district before, the
Marengo department during the Napoleonic occupation. The ruins of ancient medieval structure of the village castle was remodeled in the Franciscan convent building, now at the end of the 18th century, rebuilt to house destined to a rich Count named
Carlo Vidua
[1]; The villa, which is open to the public, is particularly known for its interior decorations in the
Chinese manner.
The population increased, at least until the call of the
second italian war of independence (1859) and, after, the
World War I. In addition, the
Great Depression economic downfall in the late 9th century impoverished small rural towns. People spared the last money to travel to distant lands, for example to
America, but especially to
Australia. Many farmers moved from
Montferrat,
Italy, to the Northern
Queensland,
Australia, where there was a strong job demand about cutting sugar canes, a work very similar to a farming job. The poorest towns of the area were Lu, Occimiano, Cuccaro and, above all, Conzano, why there was a massive emigration, especially from this place.
In 1992, there was a discovery of this interesting historical events, the town has been twinned with Ingham, Queensland, the opening of a thematic exhibition and a quote in memory of the official spokesman of conzanese people emigrated to Australia, Ettore Cantamessa (1892-1947).