Maresso
Maresso: a small hamlet in Brianza
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Maresso, a beautiful hamlet in the municipality of Missaglia, in the province of Lecco. It is located southeast of the town center, towards Lomagna, and is a small village in Brianza, set on the gentle hills between Montevecchia and Lomagna. Let's discover together some curiosities about this place!
Origin of the name
The name Maresso may derive from a term that means "watery" or "swampy" place. In fact, a stream flows through the valley and the land could be flooded. In short, it seems that the toponym is linked to the characteristics of the surrounding territory.
History
The history of Maresso dates back to 879, when it first appears in a document confirming the abbot Pietro of the monastery of Sant'Ambrogio. Later, in 1162, the name appears in an investiture given to the church of Monza by Frederick Barbarossa of the goods he owned in that locality. Maresso was a fiefdom of the archpriest of Monza, who had jurisdiction over many lands in Brianza.
The village suffered the consequences of the epidemics that hit the region over the centuries. The three plagues of the second half of the 14th century and that of 1451 had bled the countryside so much that Maresso was decimated; after the last plague, the village consisted of very few families.
Despite the difficulties, in 1558 Maresso became a separate municipality and in 1605 it also became a parish. Over the centuries, the population grew until it reached 149 inhabitants in 1788.
In 1809 Napoleon decreed the first union with Missaglia, later cancelled by the Austrians. In 1840, it was the German rulers who definitively cancelled the municipality, which was merged with Contra (Missaglia). In 1928, the Municipality's headquarters were transferred to Missaglia, when it annexed Contra. The application submitted in 1946 for the reconstruction of the Municipality did not have a follow-up.
The districts of Maresso
Maresso is divided into different districts, each with its own characteristics. The most consistent district is "Ossola", which rises to the east and south of the hamlet. This locality has remained unchanged since the sixteenth century, with the refurbishment of the farmhouses and a new housing settlement. A Lourdes grotto has been erected on the only small square. Ossola overlooks Maresso, which lies beyond the valley crossed by the Lavandaia stream.
Another district is Cascina Pianina, located in the Montevecchia and Valle del Curone Regional Park. Its economy is mainly agriculture and the territory is characterized by woods, streams and cultivated fields. In this context, one can admire a grotto consecrated to Mary, the mother of Jesus, renovated on the occasion of the five hundredth anniversary.
Conclusions
In summary, Maresso is an enchanting place immersed in nature, with an ancient history rich in charm. If you are passionate about characteristic villages and breathtaking landscapes, you cannot miss visiting this hamlet in Brianza. I hope that this brief summary has helped you to get to know this place a little better!
