Confienza
Confienza: The Land of Two Rivers
Hello everyone! Today I will be talking about Confienza, a small municipality in the province of Pavia in Lombardy, with a population of about 1,545. It is located in the northwestern Lomellina, near the left bank of the Sesia River, and is known for being the land of two rivers, where the Sesia River meets the Torrente Agogna. But let's discover some other interesting facts about Confienza together!
Origins of the Name
The name Confienza is very likely derived from the word "confluentia" because, as mentioned earlier, two rivers met in this town, which later changed course. It was believed the two rivers were the Sesia and the Torrente Agogna, both of which pass through the municipality.
History
The history of Confienza revolves around the Bishop of Vercelli, who gained control of the city in 999 thanks to a donation from Otto III of Saxony. Later, Confienza became part of the dominion of the Lords of Robbio, and allied with Vercelli despite the pressure from Pavia. However, it was not until 1220 that Pavia was able to obtain power over Confienza from Frederick II of Swabia, but it remained a jurisdiction with Vercelli.
Confienza was listed among the Pavia lands in 1250 and in the 14th century became a residential center of Beccaria of Pavia influence. In 1431, during the Visconti period, Confienza was given in fiefdom to Alberico da Barbiano along with Belgioioso. In 1464, it instead passed among the properties of Fioramonte Graziani during the Sforza period. During the French occupation of the Duchy of Milan, the town was conquered by Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, the Marquis of Vigevano.
In 1532, Confienza was separated from the Principality of Pavia and included in the "Contado di Vigevano" or Vigevanasco. But it returned to the hands of the Barbiano princes of Belgioioso, who maintained control until the abolition of feudalism in 1797.
Confienza was one of the border places of Piedmont with Lombardy when in 1743, together with Vigevanasco, it was incorporated into the domains of Casa Savoia. Finally, in 1859, it became part of the province of Pavia and Lombardy.
Symbols
The coat of arms of Confienza was adopted on October 10, 1930, and is freely used despite the absence of a decree of concession. The image consists of two animals in the shield, described as "twisted fish with dragon heads" that gush water into a river. These animals represent the "confluence" of two rivers, which were part of the town's history, and are nothing but the depiction of two dolphins in heraldry. The banner is instead a parted drape of red and yellow.
Monuments and Places of Interest
Civil Architecture
The Civic Tower is the only remnant of the castle that was once here, and is one of Confienza's most famous monuments, as well as one of medieval origin.
Religious Architecture
The Parish Church of San Lorenzo is a very important architectural work, built in the 18th century in neoclassical style. Confienza has two other churches - the Church of San Rocco and the Church of Our Lady of Carmine - which are still places of worship today.
Society
Demographic Evolution
Confienza is a small town, but its population has grown gradually over the centuries. In 1881, the city had about 1,855 inhabitants, while in 2019 it had only 1,545. The decrease in population can be attributed to a substantial lack of employment, which has driven many young people to emigrate in recent years.
Administration
The town is governed by a mayor and a town council, and is an integral part of the province of Pavia in Lombardy.
Notes
I hope you enjoyed this brief summary of Confienza's history and places of interest. Although it is a small town, it still offers many architectural and natural beauties to explore.
Other Projects
If you are interested in discovering more about Confienza, I invite you to visit its Wikipedia page, where you will find many more information.
