Delebio
Delébio: a small mountain community
Delébio is a small town with a population of 3,303 located in the province of Sondrio in Lombardy. The town is located on the northern slopes of Mount Legnone, a mountain revered by locals and tourists for its scenic beauty and rich wildlife.
Territory
The territory of Delébio is bounded to the east by the Lesina Torrent, to the south by the Orobian ridge that runs from P. Alto to M. Legnone, to the west by the Madriasco Torrent, and to the north by the Adda River. The ancient Delebio was formed by the numerous settlements of Campobeto, Piazzo Meneghino, Nogaredo, Verdione, Tavani, and the districts of Pedemonte, Monbello, Quadrubi, Badia, Piazza and S. Domenica.
Origin of the name
The name Delebio, or "Alebio" in the Valtellinese dialect, appears for the first time in a written document dated 2 April 724. It is a privilege issued by the Lombard king Liutprand in favour of the Church of S. Carpoforo in Como, which is endowed with a income.
History of Delébio
The history of Delébio is linked to the Lower Valtellina, near Lake Como. However, three events marked the distinctive feature of Delébio. The first event is the rural commune founded in 1204. The second event occurred in 1428 when the authorities of Delébio were able to elect the new beneficiary priest of the Church of S. Carpoforo, which led to the establishment of the benefit for the future autonomous and resident parish priest in the community of Delébio. The third event was the bloody battle of Delebio, which took place in 1432 and saw the Visconti of Milan opposed to the Republic of Venice in their contention for the dominion of the Valtellina. The battle has left traces still present today, such as the chapel of Santa Maria della Vittoria, the small church of San Rocco, the Prato della Morte, the Venice Ditch, and Via della Battaglia. Following the battle, the Duke of Milan endowed the Church of S. Domenica, near which the battle had taken place, with a benefit of 1,100 lire.
Francesco I Sforza granted in 1458 to the inhabitants not to advance the taxes of the nobles, who being absent from the village at the time of collection, did not pay their share, obliging the other Delebiesi to advance it. In 1512, Delébio came under the rule of its neighbouring Grisons and the border was fixed at the Madriasco Torrent.
During a terrible flood in 1520, the Adda River, which until then flowed into Lake Mezzola, changed its course. The new course of the river cut the village in two. In the early decades of the 1600s, religious dissensions between Catholic Valtellinesi and Protestant Grisons worsened. In the second decade of the second, the archpriest of Sondrio, Nicolò Rusca, was often invited to the village as the settlers wanted to be invigorated by the preaching of this priest. He died in 1618 due to the torture he suffered in the Protestant court of Thusis.
The Valtellina and Valchiavenna, in 1797, returned to Lombardy, first as a department of the Cisalpine Republic and then of the Kingdom of Italy.
Conclusions
Delébio is a small community with a great history. The town has overcome many challenges and tragedies but has continued to thrive. Today, the community enjoys a strong economy based on tourism and local agriculture. Additionally, Delébio's location on the mountain gives it a unique atmosphere, panoramic views, and a peace that only rural life can provide. If you are a lover of nature and history, you cannot miss Delébio.
