Ormelle
The History and Origin of the Name Ormelle
Ormelle is an Italian municipality located in the province of Treviso, Veneto, with a population of 4474 inhabitants. The name "Ormelle" derives from the term "Ulmus" and refers to the vegetation that characterized the area in the past. Today, the Venetian term "ormèe" refers to wine containers built with the wood of young elm trees. Roncadelle, the nearby locality, is linked to the Latin word "runcare," meaning "cutting trees with the scythe," as it was once a forested area cleared for agricultural use. Finally, the name "Tempio" refers to the church built by the Templars.
The History of Ormelle
The oldest archaeological finds identified in Ormelle date back to the Roman period when it is presumed that the territory was inhabited and cultivated thanks to the proximity of "Opitergium." In the Paleochristian era, the Stabiuzzo church was founded, the first religious reference for the area. Later, the territory suffered a decline due to barbarian invasions that depopulated the area. Only after the year one thousand did a recovery begin that led to the conversion of numerous unproductive lands to agriculture and to the formation of the inhabited centers of Ormelle and Roncadelle, although the first document that explicitly mentions them dates back to 1193.
During this period of economic and demographic growth, however, there was considerable political instability. Ormelle and Roncadelle, subject to the medieval municipality of Treviso since the thirteenth century, underwent the events of its political leaders. After several power shifts, the two localities helped the Serenissima. In this context, various political and military clashes took place, with the devastation of the villages by the imperial troops of Charles IV and Sigismund of the Holy Roman Empire.
The history of Tempio was different, maintaining a certain administrative autonomy as a possession of the Knights Templar (12th century), who were succeeded by the Hospitaller Knights.
The domination of the Venetian Republic in the fourteenth century ensured a period of peace to the Treviso region. However, the peasant population did not benefit from the favors of the Serenissima and suffered from famines, plagues, and floods of the Piave. With the fall of the Serenissima in 1797, Veneto was occupied by French troops and then by the Duchy of Austria. In 1805, Ormelle, Roncadelle, and Tempio were created as autonomous municipalities and later merged into a single municipality before being subordinated to fractions of Oderzo.
Conclusions
Ormelle is a municipality in the province of Treviso, Veneto, with a complex history and evident traces of the Roman era, part of the Serenissima, and under French occupation. The birth of Ormelle and Roncadelle brought prosperity but also political instability, while Tempio maintained its administrative autonomy and charm thanks to its church built by the Templars. Despite the difficulties, the territory has continued to thrive to this day and be a popular tourist destination with a rich history and culture.
