Ciserano
Ciserano, an ancient and historic municipality
Ciserano is a small Italian municipality located in the province of Bergamo, in Lombardy, with a population of about 5,400 inhabitants. It is situated in the flatlands of Bergamo, approximately 13 kilometres south of the city of Bergamo. Ciserano's history dates back to the Roman Empire, where some archaeological relics were found that prove the Roman presence in the area. Later on, the Francesca road crossed the municipal territory, connecting Milan to Aquileia and characterising the commercial life of the entire area.
The Feudalism period
With the arrival of the Franks, who established the Holy Roman Empire, the period of feudalism began, which had a significant development in Bergamo. This era was characterised by deep political and social instability, also due to the numerous clashes between the factions of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. Ciserano, during this period, lived through difficult situations and saw the need to equip itself with defensive fortifications, such as the walls that protected the village and the castle with a tower.
The Republic of Venice
The arrival of the Republic of Venice led to the end of the feudalism period and greater political and social stability for the population of Ciserano. The Venetians placed a customs office on the margins of the town, with a garrison, and established camps to monitor the border between the two duchies. However, later on, in 1797, with the advent of the Cisalpine Republic, Venetian domination ended, followed in 1815 by the Austrians who established the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom.
The post-war period
Ciserano did not experience any significant events until the immediate post-World War II, when the area located on the eastern margins of the municipal territory was impacted by a project of urbanisation and industrialisation which provided for the creation of a new industrial centre with 50,000 inhabitants, called Zingonia.
In this project, numerous infrastructures and productive activities were built, leading to a considerable increase in employment opportunities for the local population. However, the original idea of 50,000 inhabitants was never realised, and Ciserano remained a small village.
Conclusions
In summary, Ciserano is an Italian municipality full of history, from the Roman presence in the area to the feudal era and Venetian domination. After a period of tranquillity, the project of urbanisation and industrialisation of Zingonia led to a greater economic development of the territory, while maintaining its characteristics as a small village. Therefore, Ciserano represents an important testimony of the history and culture of the Bergamo area.
