Grumolo delle Abbadesse
A journey through the history of Grumolo delle Abbadesse
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about a town located in the province of Vicenza, in the Veneto region: Grumolo delle Abbadesse. Grùmoło or Grùmolo in Venetian language, as it is also called, is a small municipality with about 3749 inhabitants. But what makes it special? Let's discover it together, I will take you on a journey through its history, monuments and places of interest.
The history of Grumolo delle Abbadesse
Toponymy
The name of the municipality derives from the Latin "grumŭlus" which means pile of earth or hill. The predicate "delle Abbadesse" instead, reminds us that in the past the locality was administered by the Benedictine nuns of the Church and Monastery of San Pietro in Vicenza.
Middle Ages
There is no document left that attests to the existence of a castle in Grumolo, which however certainly existed, because it was listed among the episcopal ones that the imperial diploma of Otto III of Saxony of the year 1000 exempted from the fodro tax. According to tradition, the ancient castle was located on the site of the current parish church.
In 1004, Bishop Liudigerio granted the Grumolo parish, including a neighboring village and a forest, to the Benedictine nuns of San Pietro in Vicenza, along with all its rights and duties. Thanks to the abbey, the land was reclaimed and canals were built, transforming the marshy region into an agricultural area.
The ancient parish of Santa Maria included the chapels of the Saints Gervasio and Protasio of Torri di Quartesolo, San Martino di Lerino, Santa Maria di Marola, San Michele di Sarmego, San Pietro Intrigogna, San Michele di Grantortino, Santa Maria di Casale di Settecà and that of San Zenone di Rasega. The jurisdiction of the Benedictine nuns lasted until 1797, with the fall of the Venetian Republic and the arrival of the Napoleonic troops.
Towards the middle of the 14th century, during the Scaliger lordship, the territory of Grumolo was administered under the civil vicariate of Camisano Vicentino and remained so, even under Venetian domination, until the end of the 18th century.
Monuments and places of interest
Religious architecture
The municipality of Grumolo delle Abbadesse is rich in ancient churches, some of which date back to the 13th century. Here are some:
- Parish church of Santa Maria Assunta: reconstructed over the centuries, it was first restored between 1220 and 1250, and later in 1551. In 1836 it was lengthened and raised, while between 2007 and 2011 it was completely renovated, together with the bell tower.
- Parish church of San Michele Arcangelo: restored and enlarged in 1856, it houses a "Madonna with the Child on the throne and the two St. John", a work signed by the renowned artist Bartolomeo Montagna, and the "Pietà", a group of seven large painted terracotta figures dating back to the 15th-16th centuries. This church has also been recently restored.
- Church of San Silvestro: built in the 18th century, it is located on the SR 11 Padana Superiore.
- Chapel of San Zeno: dating back to the 8th-12th-17th centuries, it is located in the Rasega locality.
Civil architecture
In Grumolo there is also Villa Canal, a seventeenth-century residence inspired by Palladio, built as a summer residence for the Venetian patrician family Badoer - Canal. The villa is located in the Vicenza countryside among rice paddies and resurgent streams.
Conclusions
Grumolo delle Abbadesse is a small municipality with ancient roots and a fascinating history. Although it does not have a castle, the presence of the Benedictine nuns and the churches dating back to the 13th century trace an interesting historical path. If you are passionate about architecture, you cannot miss Villa Canal and the churches of Grumolo. It is a perfect destination for an outdoor trip in the nature of the Vicenza countryside.
