Malo
Malo, a Venetian municipality with a rich history
The municipality of Malo, located in the province of Vicenza, is a town with a very interesting historical past. With its population of 14641, this Venetian city is a place to discover for those who want to appreciate the beauty of local traditions and its numerous historical landmarks. In this article, we'll delve into Malo's physical geography, its history, toponyms, and ancient epochs that have contributed to its growth over the centuries.
Physical Geography
Malo is located in the northern part of the province of Vicenza, bordering the province of Trento. The municipality's terrain is predominantly hilly, with elevations exceeding 1000 meters. The area surrounding Malo is characterized by lush vegetation, with coniferous and deciduous forests, cultivated fields, and vineyards. The waters of the Leogra and Rio Craiglione flow through Malo's territory, offering picturesque natural landscapes that are part of the municipality's historical and cultural heritage.
History
Malo has a very ancient history that dates back to prehistoric times. The municipality's territory has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, as evidenced by artifacts found around Mount Oresco, the Sisilla hill, and Mount Palazzo. During the Roman era, the plain area of the Alto Vicentino was affected by centuriation, evidenced by the layout of roads and cart tracks that conform to the checkerboard pattern of cardines and decumans.
Toponyms
Malo, which is written as Mało in Venetian dialect, has had various names throughout its history. During the Roman era, the city was known as Maladum, while during the Middle Ages, it excelled as the court of Malo. Today, Malo has become a modern and lively city, but with a very rich and interesting historical past.
Ancient Epochs
During ancient times, the Maladense territory was inhabited by Euganeans until the 8th century BC. Subsequently, the Veneti invaded the plain and settled on the hill slopes. Traces of the Neolithic and Iron Age cultures have been found around Mount Oresco, the Sisilla hill, Mount Palazzo, near the San Tomio fraction, near Priabona, and the Buso della Rana. These traces relate to settlements located along the so-called ''path of the Veneti'', which connected all the valleys' outlets following the foothill line.
Early Middle Ages
With the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Maladense territory was affected by the invasions and settlement of barbarian peoples. In Via Porto, in the historic center, a Lombard sword was found, while Lombard-made bricks were found near the Santa Maria church. In 910, Emperor Berengar of Friuli donated three ''curtes'' of the Alto Vicentino to Bishop Vitalis of Vicenza, including the ''curtis'' of Malo. The bishop fortified the territory by building a whole series of castles to defend the villages and countryside. In 1000, Emperor Otto III exempted the bishop's castles, including that of Malo, from the fee of fodro, while in 1026, Emperor Conrad II the Salic referred to a castle "et castellum in eodem loco de Malado."
In 983, the monks of San Felice owned ''in Malado casali novem,'' as stated in the privilege of the Vicenza Bishop Rudolph. In this area stands the ancient church of San Giorgio, revered by the Lombards as a warrior saint. It is assumed that this was the Faras (Lombards) church that guarded the passage.
Conclusions
In summary, Malo is a Venetian municipality with a millenary history that boasts numerous testimonies from the past, from traces of the Neolithic and Iron Age cultures to bishop's castles. Malo is a town that still preserves its local traditions and offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in a distant era. If you want to discover the beauty of this Venetian city, don't hesitate to visit Malo!
