Cavriana
Welcome to Cavriana, a small town in the Alto Mantovano area
Cavriana, with its population of 3772, is a town located in the province of Mantua, Lombardy, in northern Italy. It is part of the Alto Mantovano area and a destination for tourists in search of nature, culture, and history. In this text, I want to take you on a walk to discover Cavriana, its geography, the origins of its name, and its history.
Physical geography
The territory of Cavriana is hilly, and the town hall is located at an altitude of 170 m above sea level. The Arnò canal runs through the community. Cavriana borders on the province of Brescia in the municipalities of Pozzolengo and Lonato del Garda and is a few kilometers from the province of Verona (municipality of Valeggio sul Mincio) and Lake Garda.
Origins of the name
There is no certainty about the origin of the name Cavriana, but several hypotheses refer to it. According to one of these hypotheses, the name would derive from the Latin name of a person Caprius or Caprilius, with the addition of the suffix -ana. According to another hypothesis, the name may have been inspired by the term Caput Variana, where Caput means head. Another hypothesis suggests that the name's origin should be traced back to Capra hircus, referring to the village's coat of arms. In the past, Cavriana was called Capriana and was mentioned in a Latin poem by Bongiovanni da Cavriana.
History
Cavriana's history dates back to the ancient Bronze Age in Europe when several settlements arose near numerous small moraine lakes. One of these palafitticoli settlements, dating back to 2040 BC, arose in the hamlet of Bande di Cavriana and was frequented until the Middle Bronze Age. The village is characterized by the presence of piles and reclamation works, and its life is documented by several finds, such as pottery and utensils, including the Brotlaibidole, now housed at the Archaeological Museum of Alto Mantovano.
After the Gallic invasions, Romanization of the territory dates back to 225 BC. The presence of Via Postumia, an important guiding thread of the area, favored the transformation of the territory and the birth of various Roman structures such as ovens, necropolises, and the Cavallara road, which crossed the hilly area to connect to Via Postumia. Two necropolises, a place of worship, and parts of an aqueduct have been found.
Several Roman villas have been found in the territory of Cavriana, such as the rustic villa in the hamlet of San Cassiano and the one in the locality of Mansarine, belonging to high-ranking individuals. At the archaeological site of Maggio, valuable mosaics have been found.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Cavriana is a town rich in history and tradition, a place where nature and culture blend perfectly. In the municipal territory, in fact, it is possible to learn about the history of the ancient Bronze Age in Europe, the Roman period, but also to admire the beauty of the hilly nature that surrounds it. If you want to spend a quiet and relaxing stay immersed in nature and history, Cavriana can be the right destination for you.
