Brallo di Pregola
Welcome to Brallo di Pregola!
Hello everyone! Today I will talk about Brallo di Pregola, a small gem in the province of Pavia in Lombardy. With its 512 inhabitants and its position in the southernmost point of the region, Brallo di Pregola is enchanting and characterized by a truly unique mountainous landscape.
Discovering the area
Brallo di Pregola is located in the Oltrepò Pavese, and is distinguished by its Staffora valley and the small valley of its Montagnola tributary. To the north, instead, we find the Trebbia valley and the valley of its Avagnone tributary, which flows into the Trebbia river.
The Brallo pass, which is located in Brallo di Pregola, connects these two areas and is located on the summit of Mount Lesima, the highest peak in the area (1,724 m above sea level). Furthermore, in the municipal territory there are two Enclaves, namely the localities of Lama superiore and Valle inferiore, which are part of the municipality of Corte Brugnatella in the province of Piacenza: these two localities constitute rare examples of Enclaves and exclaves in Italy.
The history of Brallo di Pregola
The territory of Brallo di Pregola has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but the town itself has been developed only recently. The name Brallo, with a probable Celtic origin, means "pasture" or "alpine pasture". The main historic center is called Pregòla, first mentioned as ''Predalia'' in the diploma of Otto I of Saxony in 972, and the territory was included in the possessions of the abbey of San Colombano di Bobbio. The abbots of the monastery exercised feudal jurisdiction for centuries. Subsequently, after the year 1000, the feud of Pregola passed to the bishop of Bobbio like many other fiefs in the area.
Since 1164, Brallo di Pregola belonged to the Malaspina marquisate, thanks to the imperial concession of Frederick Barbarossa. These rights were confirmed by other sovereigns, including Frederick II of Swabia, Charles IV of Luxembourg and Charles V of Habsburg. The locality of Dezza, once a monastic dependence and then episcopal of Bobbio, was also included in the territory.
Over the years, the march of Pregola was divided into four districts: the first district was called Pregola, the second Zerba, the third Pei, and the fourth Campi. From the eighteenth century onwards, the march of Pregola was subject to a diplomatic dispute between the Holy Roman Empire and the duchy of Milan. The Holy Roman Empire believed that the march was an Imperial Feud, exempt from any other jurisdiction, while the duchy of Milan considered it like the other malaspinian fiefs.
Conclusions
Brallo di Pregola is a real gem in the province of Pavia. With a unique atmosphere and a mountainous landscape that includes two valleys, this area is characterized by the beauty of its mountains. Even today, it retains a strong connection with its history and is the ideal destination for those looking for a small town with great charm.
