Colombaro
Colombaro: a millenary history
Hello everyone, today I want to talk to you about the geographical hamlet of Colombaro, located in the municipality of Formigine, in the province of Modena, which has about 1,380 inhabitants. Its history dates back to the Paleolithic age, as evidenced by the numerous archaeological finds found in the area. Over the centuries, human settlement developed around the road that led to the monastery of the Order of St. Benedict with the hospital of San Giacomo al Colombaro, attested since the 12th century.
The growth of the hamlet
In the 1970s, Colombaro had about 800 inhabitants, but since then it has undergone considerable growth, thanks to which it has now reached around 1,380 inhabitants. In 1987, in particular, the ancient La Tegagna agricultural estate was transformed into a large 18-hole golf course, which later became the headquarters of the Modena Golf & Country Club, inaugurated in 1991 by German golf champion Bernhard Langer. Every year the "Pro-Am City of Modena" golf tournament is also held.
Sports in Colombaro
But in Colombaro, they are not only interested in golf: the hamlet is the seat of the Colombaro Sports Association, which in 2012-2013 won the First Category soccer championship and will play in Promotion in 2013-2014. Consequently, there is also a soccer field in the area.
The Parish of San Giacomo il Maggiore in Colombaro
The hamlet is home to the Parish of San Giacomo il Maggiore in Colombaro, which also includes some houses beyond the municipal border of Maranello. The parish was founded in the 12th century and its artistic heritage includes the Pieve di San Giacomo, already the Priory of San Giacomo al Colombaro and then Commendatory Abbot, dating back to the 12th century, as well as the Priorato Tower from the 13th century.
The list of Priors and Rectors of the Pieve del Colombaro
Regarding the history of the parish, in particular, I report the list of Priors and Rectors of the Pieve del Colombaro starting from 1600:
1600/1633 Don Francesco Cavani Prior 1634/1637 Don Francesco Lenzotti Prior 1638/1647 Don Giacomo Cavani Prior 1648/1660 Don Sebastiano Adani Prior 1660/1681 Don Domenico Bellei Prior 1682/1734 Don Domenico Ferrari Prior 1734/1735 Don Domenico Ferrari (homonymous and relative) 1735/1775 Don Simone Manzini (first Rector) 1776/1813 Don Gio Batta Manfredi (Rector and then Curate from 1794) 1813/1824 Don Leopoldo Mucci Curate 1824/1869 Don Matteo Tonozzi Curate 1870/1889 Don Arcangelo Zanni Curate 1890/1936 Don Giuseppe Pasini Curate 1937/1967 Don Luigi Giberti Curate 1967/1981 Don Francesco Domati Curate 1981/1992 Don Renzo Franchini Curate 1992/2000 Don Faustino Pinelli 2000/2000 Don Luigi Berselli Curate 2000/2012 Don Andrea Giannelli Curate 2012/.... Don Gabriele Semprebon Curate
The villas of Colombaro
In Colombaro, there are also some villas of architectural interest, such as Villa Lucchi, dating back to the 18th-19th centuries, Villa Maria (or Aggazzotti), in eclectic-neorenaissance style, built in the 19th century to replace the ancient family residence "La Ca' Bella", which was demolished, and Villa Aggazzotti Pezzuoli, built between the 19th and 20th centuries, which was the summer residence of Alberto Aggazzotti and his daughter Rosanna with her husband Giuseppe Pezzuoli and their family.
The Garden of the Fallen
Finally, in the Garden of the Fallen in Colombaro, there are some millenary trees, such as the bisecular cypress trees planted in 1827.
In short, Colombaro is a hamlet rich in history and culture, but also in sports activities and monuments to visit. If you are in the area, do not hesitate to pay it a visit!
