Loreo
Loreo: a municipality in the Delta del Po Interregional Park
Loreo is an Italian municipality located in the province of Rovigo, in the region of Veneto. The city has about 3,244 inhabitants and is included in the area of the Delta del Po Interregional Park. Loreo is situated to the east of Rovigo and its history is linked to the Republic of Venice.
The history of Loreo
According to historian Olivieri, the name Loreo refers to Laurus, an evergreen plant of the Lauraceae family which was abundant in the area. The territory of Loreo was once close to the coast of the Adriatic Sea and crossed by sandy dunes that represented a natural defense from the sea. The inhabitants of the area, the Veneti, settled in these adjacent places to the ancient Adriatic marshes. They used the islands of Loreo and Ariano as agricultural land and dedicated themselves to agriculture.
During Roman colonization, around 225 BC, the first inhabited nuclei arose around the Laureti port. The history of Loreo has always been linked to Venice, of which it was a military and economic stronghold. In 550, the city passed to the Byzantines after the reconquest of Justinian I following the Gothic War.
After the barbarian invasions of the Longobards and Magyars in 899, the Byzantine territory was reduced to maritime Venice. In 1002, Loreo was definitively ceded to the Republic of Venice by Emperor Otto III of Saxony. The Serenissima was a threat to the Frankish and German emperors who sought to control the area for commercial traffic.
In the Serenissima, the community of Loreo was represented by the Gastaldato (civil function) and the Pievano (spiritual function). During this period, there was an increase in population and constructions were built delimited by the typical Venetian calli. Today, Loreo has some small streets that branch off from the ancient Naviglio canal and take the name of calli.
On October 4, 1094, Venice signed a military pact with Loreo, granting the city particular privileges of autonomy in exchange for defense of the southern border with the Duchy of Ferrara. This pact included control over the current Rosolina and Porto Viro.
Since 1322, the Estensi, lords of Ferrara, controlled all the territory between the Adige and Po rivers, with the exception of the Delta del Po, where Venice sought to expand its sphere of influence. Loreo actively participated in the fortunes and political difficulties of Venice.
Physical geography of Loreo
Loreo is located in the Delta del Po Interregional Park, a vast protected area located in Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. The territory of Loreo was once close to the coast of the Adriatic Sea and is crossed by sandy dunes. Unfortunately, most of these dunes have been lost. The territory of Loreo is important for agriculture, as it was in the past.
Conclusion
Loreo is an Italian municipality important for its history, linked to the Republic of Venice. The city is located in the region of Veneto and is included in the area of the Delta del Po Interregional Park. Thanks to its strategic position, Loreo actively participated in the fortunes and political difficulties of Venice. Today, the territory of Loreo is important for agriculture. Despite the loss of coastal dunes, the natural beauty of the area is still present.
