Blessagno
Blessagno's History: A Summary
Blessagno is a municipality of approximately 300 inhabitants located in the province of Como, Lombardy. The name derives from the ancient Latin toponym "Blexum". There are few historical records about the town, but it is known to have been under the jurisdiction of Como from the 12th century until the 19th century. Blessagno was feudalized by many noble families, including the Rusca, Pusterla, Marliani, and Andreotti. With the administrative reorganization policies of the Kingdom of Italy (1805-1814) by Napoleon Bonaparte, Blessagno was joined with the municipality of Castiglione d'Intelvi, but the aggregation was abolished with the advent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The coat of arms of Blessagno was granted in 2021, representing the Intelvi River, where the town is located, the villages of Blessagno and Lura with their stars, and the golden lion recalling the town's history, taking up the figure that already appeared in the arms of the town's feudal lords, the Marliani, Rusca, and Andreotti.
Origin of the Name
The name "Blessagno" has Roman origins and derives from the ancient Latin toponym "Blexum". Over time, the name underwent different variations, such as the use of the Como dialect "Blesságn" or "Biesságn".
Blessagno's History: In-Depth
Although it is a small municipality, Blessagno has very ancient roots. The oldest documentation concerning the town dates back to 852 AD. When Blessagno was under the jurisdiction of Como, the town followed the political events of the city. In 1335, the town was part of the Intelvi parish, and in 1451 it was feudalized by the Rusca family. Blessagno then passed under the dominion of the Pusterla until 1533 and later, at the end of the 16th century, was given in fief to the Marliani family until 1713. Blessagno then passed to the Riva Andreotti family, which in 1751 was still attested as the feudal lord of the entire Intelvi Valley. During these years, Blessagno's history was intertwined with the history of the feudal lord to whom it was subjected. With the administrative reorganization policies of the Kingdom of Italy (1805-1814) by Napoleon Bonaparte, the municipality of Blessagno was joined with that of Castiglione d'Intelvi. The aggregation was abolished with the advent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The Coat of Arms of Blessagno
The coat of arms of Blessagno was granted in 2021, representing the Intelvi River, where the town is located, the villages of Blessagno and Lura with their stars, and the golden lion recalling the town's history, taking up the figure that already appeared in the arms of the town's feudal lords, the Marliani, Rusca, and Andreotti. The coat of arms was granted by the decree of the President of the Republic on October 19, 2021. The undulating line symbolizes the Intelvi River, where the town of Blessagno is located. The two silver stars allude to the town and the village of Lura, and in the second partition, on a green background, the lion recalls Blessagno's history.
In conclusion, although Blessagno is a very small municipality, it has a very ancient and interesting history. Its subjection to the jurisdiction of Como and its feudalization by numerous noble families have marked its history. The coat of arms of Blessagno, granted in 2021, represents the importance of the town's history and its presence within the surrounding region.
