Pederobba
Pederobba: a municipality that extends between plain and mountain
Pederobba is a Venetian municipality with a population of approximately 7,306 located in the province of Treviso. Its geographic location is strategic, as it is located on the right bank of the Piave river and at the foot of the Belluno Prealps. In this way, it connects the mountain area with the plain through the Feltrina State Road 348. The municipality of Pederobba is defined as a scattered municipality, as the municipal seat is located in the Onigo fraction, but there is also a homonymous fraction to the municipality.
The physical geography of Pederobba
The territory of Pederobba extends over a wide area between the Asolani hills and the Belluno Prealps. The inhabited areas of Pederobba and Curogna are located at the beginning of the Valcavasia, on a flat area, while Onigo, Levada and Covolo are located further south, on a plateau that opens towards Crocetta del Montello and Cornuda. The city reaches a peak of 780 meters above sea level in the Monfenera, the eastern end of Mount Grappa and the northern limit of the municipality. The minimum altitude is 134 meters above sea level in the Covolo area. Among the watercourses, in addition to the Piave, the other noteworthy watercourses are the Curogna, coming down from the prealps, and the Brentella di Pederobba, an artificial canal built under the dominion of the Serenissima.
The history of Pederobba
Ancient testimonies of Pederobba’s history are represented by Roman age artifacts. Moreover, the toponym would come from the Latin expression ''petra rubla'', referring to the characteristic red stone of the area. The presence of numerous places of worship facing the road suggests the passage of pilgrims. The area was long linked to the Onigo family who resided in a castle near the homonymous fraction, of which there are still some ruins. The struggles between the Onigo family and the Ezzelini opposed the latter in the command of the territory in the 13th century. Over time, the Serenissima brought a certain economic recovery thanks to the construction of mills and factories, which made Pederobba one of the most important markets for fodder in the 16th century. Subsequently, under the Napoleonic and Austrian dominations, an attempt was made to give impetus to local agriculture, but poverty and hunger spread among the population who were forced to emigrate. Pederobba was devastated during the Great War, being located in the front line of the Piave and near Mount Grappa and Montello, and for this reason, testimonials of this period are the various monuments erected in this territory, among which the French ossuary stands out.
In short, Pederobba is a municipality that extends between plain and mountain, characterized by the significant passage of the Piave river and the strategic position that allows communication between the mountain area and the plain. The territory of Pederobba witnessed the presence of the Romans and the struggle between Ezzelini and Onigo. The Serenissima brought a certain economic recovery, and agriculture was incentivized under the Napoleonic and Austrian dominations. The city was severely hit during the First World War and was burnt down by the Germans during the Second. Today, Pederobba is renowned for the practice of paragliding, which attracts tourists and enthusiasts of this sport.
