Camandona
Welcome to Camandona
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about the municipality of Camandona, a small village located in the province of Biella in Piedmont, Italy. The territory consists of a series of hamlets, with the municipal seat located in the hamlet of Bianco. Camandona has a population of about 310 and extends into the upper part of the basin of the Strona di Mosso river.
Discover the physical geography of Camandona
The territory of Camandona stretches northwest/southeast and is located in the highest area of the basin of the Strona di Mosso river. The lowest point is reached near this river, which marks the boundary to the southeast with the municipality of Callabiana and to the south with that of Pettinengo. To the northeast, instead, the boundary with Veglio extends, delimited by the Overa stream. Upstream, on the other hand, the municipal territory extends up to about 1,400 meters above sea level, near the Panoramica Zegna. Also, part of the municipality is an administrative mountain island in Valsessera, which extends from the valley floor to the top of Asnas. Camandona falls in zone 4 for seismicity, classified as "very low seismicity."
Origins of the name
The name Camandona could derive from the Piedmontese "Cà bandonà" which means "abandoned house." This is because the area was originally a pasture only temporarily occupied and during the bad season was abandoned by the breeders.
A brief history of Camandona
Camandona was born as a pasture in the Middle Ages, but permanent occupation dates back to 1446. The parish is documented at least since 1530, while the municipality became autonomous only on December 16, 1627. In 1722, Camandona became a self-standing fief, entrusted to Count Giovanni Battista Marchisio. In 1798 the tree of freedom was erected in the square, while in 1821, with the restoration, Camandona became part of the district of Mosso. Like many other centers of the Biellese mountains, also the population of Camandona systematically practiced seasonal or permanent emigration, especially abroad. Many Camandonesi achieved success in other countries, including Valdimiro Catella Rebecco, entrepreneur and railway engineer known as the "father of the Siamese railways." In 1945, clashes between partisans and Nazi-fascist forces took place in the municipal territory. Among the partisans who took part in the hostilities, there was Edgardo Sogno, famous protagonist of the Italian Resistance.
The aggregation of the hamlets of Pianezze
In 1964, the hamlets of Pianezze were aggregated to the municipality of Camandona, which previously were divided among the municipalities of Bioglio, Pettinengo, and Valle San Nicolao.
In conclusion
In conclusion, Camandona is a small municipality immersed in the Piedmontese mountains with an interesting history behind it. If you have the opportunity to visit it, you can admire the beauty of nature and discover the local culture. Thank you for reading my summary!
