Levate
Levate: a small town in the province of Bergamo
Hello everyone, today I will talk about Levate, a small town in the central plain of the province of Bergamo, in Lombardy. Levate has about 3691 inhabitants and is located only 10 kilometers south of the main city of Bergamo.
History of Levate
The municipal territory of Levate is very ancient and is located among the numerous signs of Roman presence in the central-western area of the Bergamo plain. The end of the Roman Empire brought a period of depopulation of the territory due to barbarian invasions and poor living conditions. However, with the arrival of the Middle Ages, there was a significant demographic increase thanks to the arrival of the Franks and the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire. The first document attesting to the existence of the toponym "Lavate" dates back to 875 AD. The etymological origin seems to derive from the word "Law", derived from the Celtic "water" or from the Latin term "elevatum", which indicates a territory located in a higher position compared to the rest of the low plain.
During the feudal regime, which had great development in the Bergamo area, there was profound political and social instability, also due to clashes between the factions of the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Even Levate experienced this situation, so much so that it had to equip itself with defensive fortifications, as evidenced by the walls and moat that protected the village since the 10th century.
From 1428, Levate became part of the Republic of Venice, which issued a series of measures aimed at improving the social and economic situation. From that moment on, Levate followed the political fate of the rest of the province, transforming from a rural center dedicated to agriculture to a small industrial center, with consequent demographic and building development starting from the second half of the 20th century.
Curiosities of Levate
Did you know that Levate has a Roman necropolis? It is located in an area north of the municipal territory and is one of the many signs of Roman presence in the central-western area of the Bergamo plain. The necropolis was discovered thanks to archaeological finds consisting of a pre-Christian funeral kit.
Also, do you remember Bartolomeo Colleoni? He was a famous Italian condottiero of the 15th century. Well, it was he who built an irrigation canal in Levate in 1472. And that's not all! Over the centuries, Levate was also sacked by French troops in the 16th century and German troops in the 18th century.
Visiting Levate
Levate is a small but very welcoming and quiet town. You can stroll among the old houses with their well-kept gardens or take a walk in the main square where you can find the church of San Bartolomeo dating back to the 16th century.
In addition, every year at the end of July, the town organizes the "Festa della Sagra del Carmine", a religious festival with parades, stalls, and musical performances.
For history and archaeology enthusiasts, a visit to the Roman necropolis north of the municipal territory is recommended.
Conclusions
There you have the history of Levate, a very interesting Bergamo town full of history. I hope I have intrigued you enough to make you want to visit it. If you are looking for a quiet place to stroll among old houses with their well-kept gardens, Levate could be a good choice!
I wish you a good day and see you next time!
