Castrezzato
Castrezzato: a municipality in the western lower Brescia area
Hello! Today I want to talk to you about Castrezzato, a municipality located in the lower Brescia area of Lombardy. This small town has approximately 7,573 inhabitants and is crossed by two streams: Trenzana-Travagliata and Castrina, which were once important communication routes for the area.
The origins of the name Castrezzato
The name Castrezzato may derive from the Latin term "castrum", which means castle, due to the presence of an ancient medieval fortress in the municipality. Alternatively, it may derive from the name of a Roman character named "Castricius", as can be read on Longobardic inscriptions.
The history of the village
In Roman times, the area of Castrezzato was part of the pagus that grouped the municipalities of Chiari, Cologne and Rovato. Later, it became dependent on the parish of Coccaglio. The village of Castrezzato developed within a castrum, a fortification that had the purpose of defending the inhabitants.
During one of the many wars that characterized the Brescia area in the 12th century, the castle was destroyed. It was rebuilt in 1205 on the order of the municipality of Brescia, which also granted some privileges and immunities to the residents, for this reason, the village was called Castelfranco. The fortress was part of a defense line of the Brescian municipal republic, which extended from the city of Iseo to Quinzano d'Oglio between the 12th and 13th centuries.
The walls of the castle, donated to the municipality by the noble families who owned it, fell into ruin over time and the moats were filled to make roads. Today, the municipality's road network is still characterized by a hexagonal bypass that recalls the original fortification system.
In 1385, Castrezzato was listed among the municipalities belonging to the quadra of Chiari, along with other municipalities such as Pontoglio, Rudiano, Trenzano and Coccaglio. During the Venetian domination period, the village belonged to the "quadra of Castrezzato".
During the Battle of Chiari in 1701, Castrezzato was ransacked by French and Spanish troops.
The administrative evolution of Castrezzato
Throughout history, the municipality of Castrezzato has been subject to numerous administrative changes. In 1797, it was included in the Alto Oglio Canton, while in May 1798 it passed to the Sete district. In 1801, it was incorporated into District II of Chiari and in 1805 it became part of Canton I of Chiari in District II of Chiari. In 1805, Castrezzato was classified in the third class, following the law of 24 July 1802, and because of its 1,807 inhabitants.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Castrezzato is a municipality that has a very interesting and ancient history, beginning in Roman times. Its medieval castle witnessed many wars and constituted a defense line for the Brescian municipal republic. The events that characterized the village in past centuries led to numerous administrative changes. Today, Castrezzato is a peaceful and serene town where approximately 7,573 people live. If you have the opportunity to visit it, don't hesitate to discover its history and the curiosities that surround it.
