Grisignano di Zocco
Grisignano di Zocco: a Venetian municipality
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk about a small municipality in Veneto, Grisignano di Zocco, which has about 4268 inhabitants. As the name suggests, it is located in the province of Vicenza and its name derives from different hypotheses.
Origin of the name
Grisignano seems to be a predial derived from "Graecinius" or "Grisinius", which was probably the name of a Roman landowner. However, there is not much information on the subject. As for the specification "di Zocco", it seems to derive from the Venetian word "soco", which means stump. It is said that this name may have a connection with the annual horse market or with a post station, but there is not much certainty about it.
History
Middle Ages
The area of Grisignano underwent a rural colonization by the bishops of Padua from 1000 AD onwards. The first document that refers to Grisignano is from 1088, where the bishop of Padua Milione donated several rural companies to the female Benedictine abbey of San Pietro. In 1090, the bishop sent a confirmation document to Theophila, the abbess, where the locality of Grisignano was mentioned. In 1183, on the other hand, another document of the Paduan Diplomatic Code divided the assets of Albertino da Baone among his children, in which the daughter Sofia received the possessions of Grisignano, Barbano, and other neighboring countries.
Grisignano Castle
At the beginning of the thirteenth century, a rural community was formed in Grisignano. In 1216, reference was made to the assets of the municipality of Grisignano, attesting to the existence of an active community. According to Giambattista Pagliarino, Grisignano was a castle surrounded by a rampart and a ditch, but the castle was destroyed by the Paduans during their movements towards Vicenza. There is not much precise information about the castle, however, since the whole area was fortified by the Vicentines to protect the borders towards Padua.
Barbano Castle
The information regarding Barbano Castle is few but convincing. Some sources indicate that there was a castle in the hamlet of Barbano, but it was ruined by the Paduans in 1234.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Grisignano di Zocco is a Venetian municipality with a fascinating history and cultural heritage. If you are traveling to Vicenza, do not miss the opportunity to visit it!
