Montorso Vicentino
Welcome to Montorso Vicentino, a municipality in the province of Vicenza in Veneto, with a population of approximately 3,000 people. Here you can immerse yourself in the history of Chiampo Valley and discover the treasures that this land has to offer.
History
The original name of the village was "Montursium," which became "Montursio" in the fourteenth century. It is believed to have originated from the name Ursio or Urso, a noble Roman who lived in these areas. Montorso developed in the eleventh century around the castle on Fratta hill, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In the sixteenth century, Luigi da Porto lived in the villa of da Porto in Montorso, where he wrote his most famous work, "Historia novellamente ritrovata di due nobili amanti," which later inspired Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." In 1404, the village became part of the dominion of Venice, which ruled until the fall of the Serenissima in 1797. During World War II, Montorso was bombed, causing the death of four people.
Symbols
The emblem of Montorso and its flag were granted in 1973. The flag is red and white.
Monuments and places of interest
Montorso has several interesting tourist attractions, including the Church of San Biagio, designed by architect Giovanni Luigi De Boni in 1854 in neo-Romanesque style; the Chapel of San Marcello, dating back to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and located in the locality of Bellimadore; the medieval tower on Fratta hill, the only remaining part of the old parish church dating back to the fourteenth century; Villa Da Porto Barbaran, dating back to 1750 and identified as the Villa Montorsiana where Luigi da Porto wrote "Romeo and Juliet." Finally, Villa Visentin-Sacchiero, a former canonical house dating back to the second half of the sixteenth century, with a beautiful external staircase and a painted terracotta engraving depicting Christ.
Society
Demographic evolution
Over the years, the population of Montorso has steadily grown, reaching 3,000 inhabitants.
Culture
Events
The village hosts several events throughout the year, such as the "composte di Montorso" week in January, the patron saint festival of San Biagio on February 3rd, the Sagra di Ponte Cocco in July, the Sagra del Rosario on the first Sunday of October, and the Christmas Market in Piazza Malenza on the second Sunday of December.
Administration
Montorso is governed by a mayor and the municipal council, elected by the people.
Notes
If you are visiting Montorso, make sure to explore every hidden corner of this beautiful Venetian municipality. Its hilly nature will give you breathtaking views and its history will transport you to a distant but fascinating past.
Bibliography
To deepen your knowledge of Montorso, we recommend reading "Tra Grime e Fratta in legger pendìo" by Candido Lucato, a book that tells the history and culture of the surrounding area.
