Nogaredo
Nogaredo: a Historic Town
Hello friends, today I will talk about Nogaredo, an Italian town located in the autonomous province of Trento, in Trentino-Alto Adige, which has 2087 inhabitants. Although its history is mainly related to the Lodron dynasty, Nogaredo is famous for the Witch Hunts, the "strie" in Trentino dialect, of the women in the area who were tortured in the cells of Castelnuovo, now known as Castel Noarna, in the 17th and 18th centuries and then burned or beheaded.
Origins of the Name
The name "Nogaredo" comes from "nux", which means "walnut" like the term "nogara" in the Venetian language that arrived here thanks to the Serenissima.
History
The first news of Nogaredo dates back to the 11th century and the Lodron dynasty had a great impact on its history. In 1456 Giorgio Lodron and Pietro Conte Lodron conquered the Castellano and Castelnuovo di Noarna castles from the Castelbarco family, also incorporating Nogaredo into the Feudo di Castellano. Nogaredo will be one of the central locations, after Castellano (Villa Lagarina) of the Feudo di Castellano, which ceased to exist in 1703.
The Lodron Palace and the Witch Hunts
The Lodron Palace is an important reference point in the history of Nogaredo, having been the seat of the inquisition court that held one of the last witch trials in Trentino in 1647. During these trials there were convictions for witchcraft and for causing diseases. These events are remembered annually with the "Calendimaggio delle strie" event. Although the Lodron influence was great, the people of Nogaredo managed to adopt, in 1760, a statute of family heads that was made enforceable thanks to the approval by Count Ernesto Maria Lodron. The rule book was then prohibited under Austrian Empire rule as it was considered an "illegal conspiracy of the people."
The Nogaredo Coat of Arms
The coat of arms of the Municipality of Nogaredo is blazoned as a "blue shield with golden walnut branches laden with its silver fruits. The shield is collared by a turreted gold crown, and to the left of the coat of arms, the flag of Nogaredo with the purple pole loaded with the reduced form of the coat of arms (shield without crown)."
Monuments and Places of Interest
Among the religious architectural elements in Nogaredo, there are the church of San Leonardo, the church of San Valentino in the hamlet of Noarna, the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the hamlet of Brancolino, and the church of San Matteo the Apostle in the hamlet of Sasso (Nogaredo). In addition, in the center of the town, there is the main square, surrounded by historic buildings, including the Candelpergher Palace (the town hall) and the Lodron Palace.
Events
The traditional festival of Nogaredo is Calendimaggio. This celebration differs from other similar Italian festivals for its explicit mention of the "strie" (witches). During Calendimaggio, the residence of the Lodron family, the long-time lords of Castel Noarna, is opened. It was during their rule that the tragic incident of the witch trials occurred in that manor in the 17th century, which is also remembered and strongly criticized by Girolamo Tartarotti.
In conclusion, Nogaredo is a historic town that encompasses its history in architectural elements and historical events such as the Witch Hunts. If you are looking for a tourist attraction in Trento, we suggest you visit Nogaredo.
