Massanzago
Discovering the Beauty of Massanzago
Hello friends! Today I will tell you about Massanzago, an Italian municipality with a population of 6067 inhabitants, located in the province of Padua in the region of Veneto. Let's discover together the geographical and historical features of this wonderful place.
Physical Geography
Massanzago is located in the northeastern part of the province of Padua, bordering the province of Venice. The territory is entirely flat, with elevations ranging from 14 meters above sea level (at the southern end of the territory) to 20 meters above sea level (in the northern area, along the border with Trebaseleghe). The municipal capital and the hamlets of Sandono and Zeminiana are located at elevations of 18, 17, and 16 meters respectively.
The most important river is the Muson Vecchio, which crosses the territory from northwest to southeast. This watercourse represented an ancient boundary between the centuriae of Padua and Altino, and still today the roads, fields, and ditches have a different orientation north and south of its course. Other significant watercourses are the Marzenego river and its tributary, the Fossalta drainage ditch, which mark for a short distance the border with Trebaseleghe, and the Parauro drainage ditch, which defines the border with Noale.
History
Unfortunately, evidence dating back to Massanzago's earliest history is scarce, but it is certain that this territory experienced the same events as the surrounding area. The ancient Veneti inhabited the area, but were subjected to the Romans in the 2nd century BC.
Perhaps it was at the time of Augustus that the centuriae of Padua and Altino were defined, whose borders were marked by the course of the Musone (now the Muson Vecchio). The traces of this organization are still very evident, as demonstrated by the current via Cornara, which connected the two territories by means of a ford on the river. It was part of a route that branched off from the via Annia at Perarolo di Vigonza and reached the Piave near Cornuda.
The toponym Massanzago probably derives from the name of a landowner, Massenzio, and the church of Alessandro di Bergamo, the old parish church whose patron saint suggests the presence of soldiers or veterans, would have paleochristian origins.
The first mention of the toponym dates back to April 29, 1085, when some landowners donated various lands in the area to the monastery of Sant'Eufemia di Villanova (now Abbazia Pisani). In the late Middle Ages, the authority of the bishop of Treviso was consolidated, and Massanzago, dependent on the Rustega parish, became a fiefdom that guaranteed the holders the right to collect tithes. The first to be invested was Semenzin quondam Adalgentino Semenza, in 1270, and this privilege was abolished only in 1865, at the initiative of Bishop Federico Maria Zinelli.
From a political point of view, Massanzago and its hamlets were subject to the authority of the medieval commune of Padua and remained under its jurisdiction until the conquest of the Most Serene Republic in 1405. Subsequently, the territory followed the fortunes of the events of Ezzelino III da Romano and the Carraresi, until the influence of the da Camposampiero family became predominant.
With the Venetian occupation, the administrative organization of the mainland was reformed, and Massanzago was assigned to the podesteria of Camposampiero, while Sandono and Zeminiana were subject to Padua.
Conclusions
In conclusion, friends, Massanzago is a very fascinating place to discover and visit. Its geographical and historical characteristics make it a true gem of Veneto, and the charm of its history and nature will continue to enchant you every time you visit. I hope you can visit it in person soon and discover its beauties!
