Montese
Welcome to Montese!
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Montese, a small municipality in the province of Modena where I was lucky enough to spend my vacations a few years ago. With its 3243 inhabitants, Montese is a tranquil place surrounded by nature, with forests, fields and a wide variety of plants and flowers that make it a real gem of Emilia-Romagna.
The history of Montese
But let's talk about history. Have you ever wondered how the name of this municipality came about? The toponym Montese derives from the Frignano dialect spoken in the area, which means "the mountains". This is because Montese is surrounded by mountains in the Apennine chain. The territory of Montese had great strategic value already in medieval times and was a fiefdom of the Montecuccoli family, a very important and powerful family at the time. Later, during World War II, Montese was the site of one of the most important battles fought by Brazilian soldiers overseas, an event that deeply marked the history of the village.
The symbols of Montese
But let's move on to curiosity: do you know what the symbols of Montese are? The coat of arms of Montese was recognized with a decree of the head of government on November 28, 1933. The eagle perched on the mountain recalls the toponym Montese and derives from the coat of arms of the ancient feudal lords, the Montecuccoli. The banner, on the other hand, is a blue cloth. In 2012, Montese was awarded the Bronze Medal for Civil Merit for its efforts during the war period.
What to see in Montese
For those who want to visit Montese, there are several places of interest to discover. One of the most important monuments is the fortress of the Montecuccoli, lords of Frignano, which dominates the village with its imposing tower. If you're interested in military history, you can also admire the remains of the trenches and shelters built during the Battle of Montese. Moreover, Montese is situated along the Gothic Line, the front that during World War II divided the Germans from the Allies, and you can still see the remains of the fortresses that were destroyed by the fighting. Finally, don't miss the museum "Raccolta di cose Montesine," located in the rectory of Iola di Montese, adjacent to the church. In this museum, you can admire pieces of history, including important artifacts related to the 10th Mountain Division and the FEB.
Conclusion
In short, Montese is truly a pearl of Emilia-Romagna and is worth a visit if you are in the area. Its natural beauty, its history rich in events and its monuments will leave you speechless. We have reached the end of my story about Montese, but I hope that this brief description has intrigued you enough to decide to visit this beautiful village soon!
