Medolla
Welcome to Medolla, a bit of history
Hello everyone, welcome to Medolla, an Italian municipality located in the province of Modena, north of the capital city, with a population of about 6,427. Medolla is located in the low Padana Plain and its soil is reclaimed alluvial land. It is the main headquarters of the Modena Union of Northern Areas.
Medolla's history dates back to 776 when Charlemagne donated the Church of Camurana and the surrounding lands to the Nonantola Abbey. The name of the town comes from the Latin word "Medulla," which refers to the straw hut, the first dwelling of the local inhabitants. Medolla is situated between the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, the Lombard-Venetian Kingdom, and the Pontifical States, near Mirandola, the capital city of the feudal family of Pico della Mirandola. These locations favored the development of Medolla as a thoroughfare and a center of trade.
The Millennial Fair of Bruino and the Plague
For over a thousand years, on the first Sunday of July, the Millennial Fair of Bruino has been taking place. Medolla was hit by the 1629 plague during the arrival of the Lanzichenecchi troops, and more fatalities occurred during the Napoleonic campaign of 1796, with the annexation of Medolla to the Cispadane Republic.
Medolla becomes a municipality
With the annexation to the Kingdom of Sardinia, Medolla became a municipality on January 1, 1860, with its present-day hamlets. Currently, Medolla has 3 churches, 1 chapel, 17 ancient manor houses, and various private chapels.
Earthquakes of 2012
Medolla was severely damaged by the Emilia earthquakes of 2012. The first major shock on May 20, 2012, with an epicenter in Finale Emilia, caused serious damage to the historical-cultural assets. The second magnitude 5.8 shock on May 29, 2012, had an epicenter within the municipal territory of Medolla, causing devastating repercussions on the industrial sector and claiming six victims, including four workers in the collapse of the biomedicine industry Haemotronic S.p.A. The town hall, gymnasium, municipal library, and two kindergarten schools, one of which had been opened a few months earlier, became unsuitable. It was necessary to dismantle the spire of the parish church bell tower that threatened to collapse on the surrounding homes.
The symbol of Medolla
The coat of arms of the municipality of Medolla, recognized by decree of the Head of the Government on March 18, 1936, depicts a hillock rising from the waters, connected to the mainland with a wooden bridge, surrounded by two poplar trees, and a high Battifredo (tower) in a blue field.
Conclusion
In summary, Medolla is an Italian municipality with an ancient history packed with significant events. The earthquakes of 2012 caused significant damage to the entire area, but the town is slowly recovering. Visiting Medolla means immersing oneself in the history of Emilia-Romagna and discovering the unique atmosphere of this welcoming and warm place.
