Breda di Piave
Breda di Piave: a town with ancient origins
Breda di Piave, also known as "Breda" in Venetian language, is an Italian municipality in the province of Treviso, located in the Veneto region. The municipality is home to a population of approximately 7,698 inhabitants and has a history that dates back to ancient times. Below is a summary of the history of Breda di Piave, its symbols, monuments and places of interest.
Origin of the name
The name of the municipality may derive from the Latin word "praedia" or the Lombard term "braida", both of which mean "land, property".
History
The oldest artifacts found in the territory of Breda, such as worked flint and bronze fibulae, demonstrate the presence of a settlement already during the Paleovenetian period. Subsequently, the town was also inhabited during the Roman age, as confirmed by the presence of grain amphorae, burials, and a cylindrical altar.
During the barbarian invasions, the area experienced a period of decline, but later recovered and saw the formation of the present-day settlements starting from the period around the year 1000 AD. In the 9th century, the monastic fiefdom of the church of San Paolo di Breda was formed by the monks of the Monastery of San Teonisto, from which the village depended.
The Castrum of Breda, a castle adjacent to the church, was erected by the Bishop of Treviso and then entrusted to the Knights Templar in the early 14th century. With the suppression of the Templars, the assets passed to the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem until 1803.
Breda di Piave flourished thanks to the church of San Colombano, linked to the monks who perhaps came from the nearby Abbey of Monastier di Treviso. Pero di Sopra was founded in the 12th century with the construction of the church of San Giovanni; Saletto and San Bartolomeo, on the other hand, remained long rural villages. Despite their different origins, the various villages tried to maintain their autonomy from each other, while still remaining within the orbit of the medieval commune of Treviso and the various lordships that succeeded each other at its helm.
At the end of the 14th century, the Marca passed definitively to the Republic of Venice, which guaranteed a long period of political stability. After the fall of the Serenissima in 1797, Breda di Piave went through a period of convulsive Napoleonic politics, with French and Austrian administrations taking turns. During the Kingdom of Italy (1805-1814), the current municipality was established, with Breda di Piave as the capital and Pero, Saletto and San Bartolomeo as fractions.
Symbols
The coat of arms and the banner of Breda di Piave do not have an official concession. The coat of arms depicts a turreted castle in red, crenellated in the Guelf style and founded on a green field, against a blue background. It is believed to refer to the castle around which the town began to arise. The banner is a blue flag.
Monuments and places of interest
Religious architecture
The municipality of Breda di Piave hosts several religious architectures, including the church of the Conversion of Saint Paul. Founded as a monastic fiefdom by the monks of the Monastery of San Teonisto around the 9th century, the church was rebuilt in the 19th century according to the design of the architect Giulio Olivi. Another place of worship is the oratory of Our Lady of Grace, located in Piazza Domenica Olivi.
In conclusion, the history of Breda di Piave is rich in events and merges with the history of Italy itself. Among its attractions, the religious architectures are a treasure to discover.
