Loreggia
Loreggia: A small Venetian Municipality
Loreggia is a small municipality located in the province of Padua, in Veneto. With a population of about 7,596 people, the town is situated approximately 20 km north of the Capital city.
The physical geography of Loreggia
The territory of Loreggia covers an area of approximately 19.12 square kilometers, at an altitude of approximately 26 meters above sea level. The town is located in the heart of the Veneto Plains of Padua and is crossed by two rivers: the Muson dei Sassi and the Muson Vecchio. The former is an artificial stream created in the seventeenth century by the Republic of Venice, which runs throughout the town. Unfortunately, it was also responsible for two floods, one in 1998 and the other in 2009. Muson Vecchio, on the other hand, runs through Loreggia near Camposampiero and passes through the fraction of Loreggiola.
The history of Loreggia
Before the arrival of Venice
The town of Loreggia is mentioned in a diploma of the Emperor Otto I of Saxony dating back to 972. From the twelfth century to the fourteenth century, the town was contested between the cities of Padua and Treviso. During this period, the civic life of the town was managed by the "marigo" or "degan," who was elected by the council of elders and dealt with the problems of the community, collected taxes, and provided the lord with a certain number of soldiers.
After the arrival of Venice
In the fifteenth century, Loreggia came under the control of the Republic of Venice. The Venetian dominion brought peace and relative prosperity to the region, interrupted only by the long and bloody war waged by the Serenissima against the allied forces of the League of Cambrai.
After the Unification of Italy
The annexation of Veneto to Italy did not bring about the economic results hoped for by the patriots and, in fact, the situation worsened due to the new taxes imposed by the central government. Life in the countryside became increasingly difficult, also due to the speculation by landowners and moneylenders. In Loreggia, there were many problems, including environmental conditions, widespread illiteracy, poor health conditions, and socioeconomic difficulties, which caused many people to emigrate.
Symbols of the Municipality
The coat of arms and the banner of Loreggia were granted by decree of the President of the Republic on July 5, 1952. The banner is a blue-colored cloth.
Places of interest in Loreggia
Religious architectures
The parish church of Loreggia dates back to the eighteenth century and is one of the main monuments of the town. There are also other historically interesting churches such as the church of Santa Maria, the church of Sant'Antonio, and the church of San Lorenzo.
Hospital
The small hospital of San Rocco was built by the parish of Loreggia for its parishioners. It was the first in the Camposampiero area and the Paduan villages that were not district capitals.
In conclusion, Loreggia is a small town rich in history and culture. From its religious monuments to its history dating back to the tenth century, there is much to discover here.
