Cecima
Cécima: the town on the hill
Cécima, also known as Sésma in the Oltrepadano dialect, is a municipality of 244 inhabitants located in the Staffora Valley, in the high hills of Oltrepò Pavese, Lombardy. This small town has a long and interesting history.
History
Cécima has its origins in 943, when the kings Hugh of Provence and Lothair II of Italy donated it to the bishop of Pavia. In 1164, the emperor Frederick Barbarossa included the city among the localities placed under the domination of Pavia, but the feudal lordship of the bishop continued until the abolition of feudalism in 1797.
In 1419, Bishop Pietro Grassi issued the Statutes of the Municipality of Cecima, also used as a model for many surrounding municipalities. In 1544, the fief of Cecima was subinfeudated to the Sforza of the Santa Fiora branch, feudatories of Varzi. In 1743, the municipality was united with Bobbiese to the Kingdom of Sardinia based on the Treaty of Worms, and then became part of the Province of Bobbio. In 1801, the territory was annexed to Napoleonic France until 1814. In 1818, it passed to Voghera and in 1859 to the province of Pavia.
At the end of the 1920s, the municipality was merged with Pizzocorno, Trebbiano Nizza and San Ponzo Semola to form the new municipality of Ponte Nizza, but in 1956, Cecima regained its autonomy.
Symbols
The coat of arms and flag of the municipality were granted by the president of the Republic decree on June 17, 2009. The bell symbolizes the community in its history of unity in Christian values. The spotted orchid, a typical species of the area, testifies to the local environmental and landscape peculiarities. The lion with the Statutes of the Municipality of Cecima of 1419 represents the strength and identity of the municipal autonomy. The flag is a split piece of blue and yellow.
Monuments and places of interest
The Church of San Martino Vescovo is the main monument of Cecima, located on a hill overlooking the valley.
Society
Demographic evolution
The population of Cecima has always been small but constant, with 244 inhabitants registered in the latest census.
Culture
Cécima is part of the culturally homogeneous territory of the Four Provinces (Province of Alessandria, Province of Genoa, Province of Pavia, Province of Piacenza), characterized by common customs and traditions and an important repertoire of music and dances of the four provinces, dating back to ancient times. The principal instrument of this area is the Apennine flute, which, accompanied by the accordion and formerly by the müsa (Apennine bagpipe), guides the dances and enlivens the festivities.
In the territory of the municipality of Cecima stands the new planetarium and observatory of Cà del Monte, a structure opened in 2009 with the aim of bringing the knowledge of the sky closer.
Infrastructure and transport
Cecima Station was located along the Voghera-Varzi railway, which was active from 1931 to 1966.
Administration
Mountain communities
Cécima is part of the Oltrepò Pavese Mountain Community, an important organization that promotes the development of the municipalities of Oltrepò.
