Campolongo Maggiore
Welcome to Campolongo Maggiore
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about Campolongo Maggiore, a municipality in Veneto with about 10,700 inhabitants. Also known simply as Campolongo, this metropolitan city of Venice is divided into two parts: Campolongo Maggiore and Campolongo Maggiore Chiesa. But that's not the only reason why the name Campolongo is etched in Italian history...
Physical geography
Campolongo Maggiore is located south of the Brenta Riviera and borders Piove di Sacco. The Brenta river runs through the municipal territory, crossing the fraction of Bojon.
History
During the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, Liettoli, Campolongo Maggiore and Bojon were three small municipalities in the province of Padua. In 1815, with the advent of the Lombard-Venetian Kingdom, the three municipalities were merged into a single municipality, Campolongo, which became Campolongo Maggiore after the unification of Veneto with Italy.
The stronghold of the Venetian mafia
Now let's come to the reason why Campolongo Maggiore is known throughout Italy: the Venetian mafia. In particular, Campolongo Maggiore was the stronghold of the Mala del Brenta, one of the most powerful criminal organizations of the '80s and '90s. The gang was led by Felice Maniero, originally from Campolongo Maggiore. However, the territory was already known to be one of the most active areas in terms of Venetian banditry.
Symbols
The symbol of the municipality of Campolongo Maggiore is a coat of arms representing three oak branches tied by a red ribbon on a silver field. The gonfalon is blue.
Monuments and places of interest
Among the religious monuments of Campolongo Maggiore, the churches of Saints Felice and Fortunato, San Lorenzo in Liettoli, San Nicola in Bojon and Santa Maria Assunta are worth a visit.
Culture
Campolongo Maggiore was also the seat of the Institute of Research on Organized Crime, founded in 1991 by the Veneto Region. The aim of the institute was to study organized crime with a multidisciplinary approach.
Administration
Finally, let's take a look at the list of mayors of Campolongo Maggiore since 1946. Paolo Rampin (Christian Democracy) was the first mayor elected after the end of World War II. Currently, the position of mayor is held by Mattia Gastaldi (Center-right in Italy), elected in 2021.
We hope you enjoyed this brief journey through the history and culture of Campolongo Maggiore! Despite its reputation, Campolongo is a city rich in culture and tradition, also known for its dedication to the pursuit of truth about organized crime.
