Borgo Grappa
A small piece of history in Borgo Grappa
Hello friends, today I want to talk to you about Borgo Grappa, a village in the municipality of Latina. This small town was founded in the 1930s with the aim of being a rural center. The name of the village comes from Monte Grappa, one of the theaters of the First World War.
Ancient localities before reclamation
Before reclamation, the area was known by the names of Porcareccia and Archi di San Donato. These toponyms were already attested in the eighteenth century. With the first reclamation works, the area was renamed Casal dei Pini.
The construction of the workers' village
The reclamation project was drawn up by the national government in 1929. The construction of the Litoranea road was planned, with the extension towards the sea of the Migliara 45 road. Near the intersection of these two road axes, the workers' village was built. Initially, there was a deciduous forest called ''Macchia della Vozza'', so it was necessary to remove the plants and stumps from the area.
The chapel of Villa Fogliano
In the vicinity of the workers' village, there was a place called Casale dei Pini. Here four plants were planted near a building owned by the Caetani family. In this area, there were also groups of huts inhabited by shepherds from the mountainous areas of the Campagna and Marittima. Mass was celebrated every week by a canon from the Sezze cathedral in the chapel of Villa Fogliano, which still exists.
The construction of the village
Construction work on the village began in the spring of 1929. The house of the head-farmer, the doctor's house, the oven, the barracks of the royal carabinieri, the school, the house for the hydraulic guards, the pantry, the post office, a hall for after-work and related accommodation, the church and the electrical cabin with the potable water tank on top were built. The Rio Martino also passed near the village.
The population of Borgo Grappa
Towards the end of 1931, the village was almost completed and the first technicians and workers took up residence there. It was also the first reclamation work in the area. During the excavations, remains of Roman tombs, amphorae and small chapels were also discovered. Subsequently, the area around Borgo Grappa was populated by Venetopontine community families from Veneto, Friuli and Emilia.
Economy of Borgo Grappa
Today, the economy of Borgo Grappa is mainly based on agriculture. The proximity to the sea, the Circeo National Park and the coastal lakes such as Lake di Fogliano, Lake di Sabaudia and Lake dei Monaci has allowed the development of small tourist activities in the area.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a small corner of history, Borgo Grappa may be the right place for you. This village, founded in the 1930s, was the result of a reclamation and construction project by the national government, and was populated by descendants of Venetopontine community families. Borgo Grappa awaits you with its wonderful chapel of Villa Fogliano, the history of the First World War and the agriculture of the surrounding area.
