San Martino Sinzano
San Martino Sinzano, the charming hamlet of Collecchio
San Martino Sinzano is a geographical hamlet of Collecchio, in the province of Parma, and was an autonomous municipality until 1866. The village is located only 2.67 km from the city center and is situated on a flat position in the countryside to the east of Collecchio, on the left bank of the Baganza stream.
Physical geography
San Martino Sinzano is a small village immersed in nature, surrounded by cultivated fields and the beauty of what nature offers.
Origin of the name
The name of the town, known in medieval times as ''Senciano'' or ''Sencianum'', may derive from the presence of a paved road or stony land, or from the name of a Roman citizen who would have been the owner of the land in an unknown period.
History
The first human settlements near San Martino Sinzano arose during the Eneolithic period. In Roman history, the area was certainly inhabited, as demonstrated by the division of the land, which still follows the ancient centuriation. The first certain evidence of the existence of the village of ''Senciano'' dates back to 890, while the acts of 1029 describe the adjacent territory, where woods alternated with cultivated land and vineyards.
In 1230, the original chapel was mentioned for the first time, later dedicated to St. Martin. In an unknown period, a tower with a defensive fortress was erected; in 1325, during the looting and devastation that hit Parma and the Parma area, the troops of the Pallavicino marquises, allies of the Lord of Milan Azzone Visconti, completely destroyed the fortified building, which was never rebuilt.
In the Napoleonic era, San Martino Sinzano became the seat of the Commune (or ''mairie''), but in 1866 it was annexed to Collecchio, losing part of its territory to the neighboring municipalities of Parma and San Pancrazio Parmense.
On October 13, 2014, the houses in the hamlet closest to the Baganza stream were damaged by a disastrous flood, which further downstream also affected a large part of the city of Parma.
Monuments and places of interest
The hamlet is characterized by the magnificent Church of San Martino, originally built in the 13th century and only became the parish church at the end of the 15th century. Completely rebuilt in Baroque architecture in 1753, it was subsequently restored in 1959, 1983, and 2003. Inside, it preserves two valuable ancient paintings, depicting the ''Sacred Heart,'' created by Domenico Muzzi, and the ''Adoration of the Shepherds.''
Villa Calvi, on the other hand, perhaps used as the municipal seat of the Commune of San Martino Sinzano, is a neoclassical villa that was later acquired by the Calvi di Coenzo counts.
Culture
Events
Since 1991, in the village sports field, a countryside festival has been held every year on the last two weekends of July, organized by the ARCI circle of the town.
Sports
There is a football team in the town called San Martino 21, founded on July 21, 2021, which plays in the Third Category of Parma.
San Martino Sinzano is an ideal place for those who want to immerse themselves in nature and village life, discovering the beauties of the territory and taking advantage of the peace and tranquility it offers.
