Morengo
Morengo: the history of a Lombard municipality
Hello everyone! Today I want to tell you the history of Morengo, a Lombard municipality located in the province of Bergamo. Here, 2484 people live on an area of 10.28 square kilometers, and its geographical location is really convenient: it is located about 19.2 kilometers from Bergamo, 7 kilometers from Treviglio, and 39.5 kilometers from Milan.
Origins
The origins of Morengo date back to prehistory, as evidenced by some artifacts found in Campo San Martino, an area that the inhabitants also know as "Morti di San Martino". These artifacts consist of a flint blade and a scraper, and it is believed that the first human settlements were in the northwest area of the inhabited center, linked to the stone industry.
But why exactly in this area? In reality, even in prehistoric times, the lower Bergamo area was crossed by roads along which flocks were moved from the plain to the hills and mountains, where the pastures of Maresana and Canto Alto were located. And Morengo was just on the road that led to these pastures, becoming a very important crossing point.
Roman villa
At the end of the 3rd century BC, Rome founded the colonies of Cremona and Piacenza, and the latter was connected to northern Italy via the Via Emilia. The Bergamo-Crema axis is the protagonist of the first Roman centuriation, which took place starting from 89 BC. Following the centuriation, the exploitation of the territory must have been systematized, and Morengo became a typical agricultural area of the time.
And in fact, numerous archaeological finds dating back to the Roman era have been found in Morengo, such as the numerous villas spread throughout the entire area southeast of Bergamo. It is believed that the area was subject to intense agricultural exploitation, of which these remains are evidence.
Curiosities
The name
But why is Morengo called that? The name probably derives from the Latin word Murinianum, which in turn is related to the name Murena, a Roman surname. However, there are also those who claim that the name derives from the Latin word maurus, which means "black", in reference to the color of the clay found in this area.
The legend of the battle
According to legend, Morengo was the scene of a great battle in the year 1522, between the French army and the Swiss army. It is said that the French, defeated, engaged in a fierce battle, even though things did not seem to be going well. And so, intoning a popular French song of the time, called "Jean de Paris", they attacked vigorously, finally managing to win the battle and imposing dominance over Lombardy. A really fascinating story, although of course there is no certain proof of its veracity.
Conclusions
In short, Morengo is a Lombard municipality with a really interesting history! Its origins date back to prehistoric times, when the area was a crossing point for flocks during the intermediate seasons. In Roman times, on the other hand, Morengo became a typical agricultural area of the time, as demonstrated by the numerous archaeological finds. And then there's the legend of the battle of 1522, which adds even more charm to this small Bergamo municipality. If you are in the area, do not hesitate to stop by: the history of Morengo will tell you a lot and leave your heart full of emotions!
