Aldino
Montagna, the municipality of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano
If you are looking for a small town immersed in nature, Montagna could be the right choice for you. Located in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano in Trentino-Alto Adige, Montagna is part of Val di Fiemme and has only 1707 inhabitants.
Origin of the name
The name Montagna comes from the Latin word "muntanea", which means "of the mountain". The toponym was documented as Montana in 1215-1218 and as Villa Muntagne in 1307. In 1435 the settlement was called Montæny.
History of Montagna
On the territory of Montagna there are several prehistoric and Roman settlements, including Castelfeder, a prehistoric and Roman settlement on a porphyry hill. The Upper Castle of Montagna, also known as Oberburg, dates back to the 12th century and is located at 405 meters above sea level. In the municipality there is a church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, built between 1875 and 1881 on the basis of a previous medieval chapel.
Furthermore, in the territory of Montagna there is also the Castle of Enna, a 12th century castle that originated as a fence castle containing probably a baronial palace. In the cemetery of the hamlet of Gleno lies Ettore Tolomei, the Italian nationalist senator who was the main architect of the local name register of South Tyrol.
The coat of arms of Montagna
The coat of arms of Montagna depicts a lion with a fixed gaze and golden claws, on a blue background. The emblem was adopted in 1967 and is the emblem of the Lords of Enn, who built the Castle of Enna.
Monuments and places of interest
In addition to the aforementioned Church of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle and the Castle of Enna, in the territory of Montagna there is also the Church of Saint Stephen in Pinzano, which preserves an altar from 1490 made by the Master Hans Klocker from Bressanone.
Society in Montagna
The population of Montagna is mainly composed of German-speaking people, with a minority of Italian-speaking people. The demographic evolution of the municipality has been on the rise in recent years.
Infrastructure and transport
From 1917 to 1963, Montagna was served by the Val di Fiemme railway, which connected Ora to Predazzo. The section of railway that served Montagna was decommissioned, but the local station was transformed into a private dwelling.
Administration
The municipal administration of Montagna is composed of the mayor, the vice mayor, and the municipal councillors.
Bibliography and external links
Useful sources for further exploring the history of Montagna include "Kirchen und Kunst in Montan" by Karl Gruber and "Montan" by Werner Thaler. For more information on the municipality of Montagna, you can visit the official website.
