Capriolo
Capriolo, the town in Franciacorta
Hello friends, today I will talk about Capriolo, a town located in the province of Brescia in Lombardy. With its 9426 inhabitants, Capriolo is located in the hilly area just south of Lake Iseo and is the town at the western end of Franciacorta.
Physical geography
Capriolo's landscape is typical of Franciacorta, a wide, flat countryside cultivated with vines and maize. The town is bordered to the west by the river Oglio, which forms a natural border with the province of Bergamo, and is therefore part of the Oglio Park. To the north and east are the moraine hills, around which the ancient village has arisen.
According to the official website, the altitude of the town varies between 205 and 404 m above sea level, but other sources report slightly different values. In any case, its altitude range is about 422 meters.
Etymology
The name Capriolo probably derives from the animal that once lived in its woods, or it could also indicate a hunting place, rich in game.
History
It is not known exactly when humans began to inhabit the Capriolo area, but it is known that the area was covered by a rich forest of oaks and alders between the 6th and 5th millennia BC. The Castle of Capriolo, which guarded the access to Lake Iseo, the Val Camonica and the Bergamo area, was destroyed and rebuilt several times during the Middle Ages. In close connection with Mussiga, the castle protected the vital Roman bridge over the Oglio, perhaps the oldest in the area.
The first document mentioning the hamlet dates back to July 8th, 879, when Carlomanno di Baviera donated vast possessions to San Salvatore in Brescia. During the 9th and 10th centuries, the castle was rebuilt and granted as a fiefdom to the Lanthieri family.
Capriolo, along with the castles of Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Paratico, Mussiga and Vanzago, was one of the ramparts of the province of Brescia against the province of Bergamo. The castle was one of the key points in the feudal struggles and for the waters of the Oglio, which lasted long between the Brescians and the Bergamaschi. They began with the transfer in 1125 by Giovanni Brusati to the Bergamese of important strongholds for the defense of access to Val Camonica: the rocks of Costa Volpino, Qualino and Ceratello.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Capriolo is a small town in Franciacorta that offers visitors an authentic experience of countryside life. Its hilly landscapes and wide, flat countryside cultivated with vines and maize make it an ideal destination for nature and wine lovers. The ancient village and the castle tell the story of a territory strongly contested over the centuries, but also the ability of the inhabitants to resist and to keep alive their own identity and tradition. If you visit Franciacorta, don't miss the opportunity to discover this small treasure.
