Erve
Erve: a town with ancient origins
Hi there! Today we are going to tell you the story of Erve, an Italian commune with a very ancient history. It's located in the province of Lecco, Lombardy, and until 1992 it was part of the province of Bergamo. The town is also called "Valderf" in the Bergamo dialect and "Erv" in the Lecco dialect.
The location and peculiarities of Erve
Erve is situated in the valley of the same name and can be reached by a steep road that climbs towards Mount Resegone while overlooking the Gallavesa stream. The town is divided by the cliffs of the stream and the bridges that cross it give it a unique urban appearance. The landscape is characterized by lush nature and a breathtaking panoramic view of Mount Resegone.
The hamlets of Erve
Erve is a town with many hamlets. The first hamlet, Nesolio, is located near the town and it's believed that human presence in that area dates back to the Frankish era. In the Statutes of Valle San Martino, Erve is described as a poor land, authorized for goat farming, while legacies and donations to the parish demonstrate the existence of predominantly agricultural economy.
Erve throughout history
Erve has been mentioned in documents since the fifteenth century. In 1419, the representatives of the communes of Valle San Martino went to Milan to swear allegiance to the new lord Filippo Maria Visconti, and the people of Erve were already present with a representative from Rossino. Erve was part of the Montagna Department in the Kingdom of Italy and later became part of the province of Bergamo. Only in 1992, Erve was merged with all the other communes of Valle San Martino to the newly formed province of Lecco.
The economy of Erve
In the past, the main activities of the people of Erve were chestnut picking and livestock farming, which was conducted in the high-altitude pastures during the summer. In the "Odeporic Dictionary or Historical-Political-Cultural of the Bergamo Province," there is a mention of the alleged discovery of a gold mine near a rock between Rossino and Erve, which, however, was never excavated due to the scarcity of the vein.
In summary, Erve is a town with a very ancient history and a unique location in an enchanting valley. The landscape is typical of Lombardy, and the hamlets dot the surroundings of the town. Finally, the economy has been centered on the fruit-picking from the woods, livestock farming, and the production of subsistence foodstuffs.
