Barbarano Vicentino
Discovering Barbarano Vicentino: a brief introduction
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about a beautiful Venetian municipality: Barbarano Vicentino. This location is situated at the foot of the Berici Hills and is part of the municipality of Barbarano Mossano. Until 2018, it was an autonomous municipality with 4,589 inhabitants. But do you know where the name of this place comes from?
Origins of the name
The origin of the name Barbarano is not entirely certain. It is said to possibly have Roman roots and come from the name "Barbius," belonging to a Roman family. However, the suffix "-anus" suggests a property of the Barbius family. On the contrary, the name may have been coined during the Lombard period, with the fusion of the root "bard" and the Latin "barbarus." But not only the name of Barbarano, also that of the Bisatto canal has an interesting history. It is said that the name comes from its course, which became tortuous after the ancient port of Albettone. Alternatively, the name may come from the fact that the canal's waters were once very rich in Anguilla anguilla.
History of Barbarano Vicentino
Ancient times
Barbarano has a very ancient history, as evidenced by the numerous archaeological finds and Roman ceramics discovered in the area at the foot of the hills and in the plain.
Middle Ages
The municipality was the subject of various donations during the Middle Ages. For example, Ugo di Provenza and his son Lotario, during the period in which they were associated as kings of Italy (between 931 and 941), donated a vast court to the bishop of Vicenza. The donation was later confirmed by various imperial diplomas, including that of Otto III of Saxony in 1000, Henry II the Holy in 1008, Conrad II the Salic in 1026, and many others.
Ancient castle of the municipality
Tradition has it that Barbarano already had a strong castle in the 8th century, during the Lombard domination. However, this supposition has not yet been confirmed by historical research. It is instead ascertained that the headquarters was located in the center of the "curtis" (the vast court donated to the bishop of Vicenza). The bishops of Vicenza often moved here for long periods during the year. Many of their investiture acts, in fact, were written "in castro Barbarano."
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed discovering more about the history and origins of Barbarano Vicentino. This splendid location is rich in history and archaeological finds. If you pass by the area, don't forget to stop and dedicate some time to visit it. You won't regret it!
