Campo San Martino
Campo San Martino: a town along the Brenta
Hello friends! Today I'll talk to you about Campo San Martino, a municipality located in the province of Padua, Veneto. With its 5621 inhabitants, it extends along the banks of the Brenta river, characterized by the presence of a bridge that connects the two parts of the territory. Let's start with the coat of arms: it is composed of a wavy blue band, crossed by the wheel of an eight-golden-paddle mill and accompanied, in the upper left corner, by a wheat stalk.
Physical geography
Campo San Martino borders the municipalities of San Giorgio in Bosco, Villa del Conte, San Giorgio delle Pertiche, Curtarolo and Piazzola sul Brenta. It is easily accessible from Padua thanks to the Strada statale 47 della Valsugana and the Strada Provinciale 12. Strada Provinciale 10 runs through the center of the municipality along the east-west axis, connecting Venice and Vicenza. In addition, the municipality is crossed by several cycle paths, including the Treviso-Ostiglia cycle path, very popular among cyclists. A cycle bridge is under construction over the Brenta river, which will ensure the connectivity of the cycle path with the nearby municipality of Piazzola sul Brenta.
History
Ancient and Roman history
In the municipality's territory, there are no important findings indicating the stable presence of humans before the Roman era. We can only imagine that once there were rivers and woods used for hunting, fishing, pasturing, or collecting wood. Traces of Venetian land use could be identified with the discovery of monoxyl boats reported in the Brenta river between Campo San Martino and Piazzola sul Brenta, but their presence is not proof of human settlement.
During the Roman era, roads, bridges, and villages were built in Campo San Martino's territory. A significant milestone of Roman administration was the granting of the Latin Right, attributed by the Lex Pompeia de Transpadanis in 89 BC and later by Lex Iulia, promulgated during the decade that opened in 49 BC or perhaps later in the Augustan age. Wool trading made Padua's territory a rich and flourishing place, thanks to its favorable geographic location and dense road and water network.
The Middle Ages
The village of Campo San Martino developed around the 9th century thanks to the construction, by Benedictine monks, of the church dedicated to Saint Martin, which gave the name to the locality. Over the centuries, Campo San Martino was the subject of intense commercial traffic along the Brenta, so much so that, in the 14th century, a palace was built for customs control of goods. Later, with the advent of the Serenissima Republic of Venice, the town became part of the Terraferma, a territory that for centuries formed the eastern border of the republic and was directly administered by the lagoon city.
The modern age
With the passage to Austrian domination in the 18th century, Campo San Martino saw the construction of new roads and canalizations, which favored the increase of trade and transportation. In the 19th century, the bridge that connects the two parts of the territory was built, becoming a landmark for the population.
The 20th century
During the 20th century, Campo San Martino saw the development of industry, with the birth of numerous craft activities and the foundation of an industrial district of great importance for the territory's economy. Furthermore, the municipality has established modern sports facilities, such as a football field and an athletics stadium, and cultural centers, including the Civic Library "Giovanni Martinelli" and the Music Academy "G. Tomadini".
Conclusion
As you have seen, Campo San Martino is a municipality characterized by the presence of the Brenta river, an ancient and important history, and a strategic geographic location. The beauty of its landscapes, enriched by the presence of rich vineyards, makes the territory a pleasant and suggestive place to spend unforgettable moments. Thanks for joining me in discovering this little treasure of Veneto!
