Caviola
Discovering Caviola, a town in Veneto
Caviola is a hamlet in the municipality of Falcade, located in the region of Veneto, in the province of Belluno. The town is situated in a meadow area along the Tegosa stream, a left tributary of the Biois, and stands at an altitude of 1090 meters above sea level. The surrounding area is closed to the north by the Cime d'Auta chain. In this text, we will discover the history and etymology of Caviola.
The Etymology of Caviola
The name Caviola derives from "Maso di Salpian," meaning "farmhouse on the plain." However, different hypotheses have been proposed regarding the origin of the name "Caviola." Silvio Pellegrini suggests that the name may be related to the surname type "Cavià, Caviazza, Caviette," while Giacomo Magliaretta suggests that the place name derives from the Latin personal name "Cavilius," from Antonio Caviola, the first inhabitant and founder, or from "caveus," which means a place excavated in a semicircle.
The History of Caviola
The Regole
After the year 1000, the first stable settlements with populations adopting democratic forms of social organization called "Regole" were created in the Biois Valley. The assembly of heads of the families administered the public goods with equal dignity. Sappade and Caviola formed an autonomous Regole compared to that of Falcade. In the Lower Agordino, there were 13 Regole, while in the Upper there were 10.
The Republic of Venice
From the beginning of the 15th century, the territory came under the rule of the Republic of Venice, which legalized existing social structures, granting extensive autonomy. The organization of the Regole lasted until the end of the Republic of Venice in 1797.
Invasions
The Biois Valley was plundered several times by invaders in the 16th and 17th centuries. The invaders passed through the San Pellegrino pass. As a result of these invasions, there were fires, famines, epidemics, death, and destruction.
Austria
In 1797, Napoleon ceded the Venetian Republic to Austria, and the Austrian domination lasted until 1866.
Kingdom of Italy
With the Third War of Independence, Veneto became part of the Kingdom of Italy, and the Biois Valley became a borderland until the First World War.
World War II
The Biois Valley underwent the German massacre of August 20, 1944, during which the Germans burned down the village of Caviola. Almost forty people, including civilians and partisans, were killed. Every year, a public commemorative ceremony remembers the event with a monument to the martyrs of the massacre, sculpted by the artist Augusto Murer, placed in Piazza Sandro Pertini.
Conclusion
Caviola, a hamlet of Falcade, represents a place rich in history and national culture, especially during World War II. In the area surrounding Caviola, mountains and shelters can be found for hiking, cycling, or motorcycling during the summer season, skiing and off-piste skiing during the winter season. Caviola also hosts playgrounds for children, soccer fields, bocce courts, and radio broadcasting. It is a place suitable for everyone, which combines history, tradition, and the natural beauty of a unique landscape in Italy.
