Offanengo
Offanengo: the town of the Alto Insediamento
Hello everyone! Today I'm taking you to discover Offanengo, a beautiful town in Lombardy, located just a few kilometers from the city of Crema. With its 5930 inhabitants, Offanengo is a municipality that extends from 76 to 87 meters above sea level. But do you know where its name comes from? Let's try to find out together.
Etymology of the name
Offanengo owes its name to the Lombards, a Germanic people who arrived in Italy in 568 and settled mainly in the Po Valley. According to history, the name Offanengo derives from the preposition "au", which means "high, elevated", followed by the suffix "engo", which indicates "inhabited, settlement". Thanks to a book entitled "Offanengo from the Lombards", it is possible to trace a chronology of the names assumed by the town over the centuries. Here's how the name changed over time:
- "Obeningo" (905-946)
- "Ausoningo" (947-965)
- "Aufoningo" (966-980)
- "Aufeningo" (981-992)
- "Apponingo" (993-998)
- "Offenengo" (999-)
Heraldry
But now let's move on to Offanengo's coat of arms. It depicts a shield with a river running along the bottom, representing the Serio River that flows just a few steps from the town. At the top, there is a tower that symbolizes the castle of Offanengo, a fortified building with four defense towers and battlements, but unfortunately no longer present today.
History
Like many towns in Italy, Offanengo has a history that goes back centuries. In Roman times, this area was part of Gallia Cisalpina, inhabited by the Insubri. With the fall of the Roman Empire, it was occupied by the Lombards, who gave the town the name we know today. The inhabitants of Offanengo, high-ranking nobles, were proud and courageous warriors, as demonstrated by the weapons found in the tombs by researchers a few decades ago. Later, Offanengo was enfeoffed to a branch of the Gisalbertini of Bergamo, namely the Counts of Offanengo. The town, due to its strategic position, was also the subject of disputes between two nearby cities, Crema and Cremona, for the possession of Isola Fulcheria. However, Offanengo sought to stay out of these conflicts, and over time developed as a peaceful and welcoming town.
Conclusions
In conclusion, Offanengo is a town rich in history and charm, with its toponyms with a Lombard flavor and the suggestive image of its coat of arms. A place that encompasses a past that blends with the present, a place to discover and love. If you have the chance, don't hesitate to visit it and walk its ancient streets, I assure you that you won't regret it!
