Piazza Brembana
Piazza Brembana: a jewel of Lombardy
Welcome to Piazza Brembana, an Italian municipality located in the province of Bergamo in Lombardy! With its 1201 inhabitants, this village is surrounded by the beautiful Orobie Alps and enclosed between the two branches of the Brembo River. In this text, I will take you on a journey to discover the origins of the name Piazza Brembana, its history through the ages, and the famous personalities born in that territory.
Origins of the name
The name Piazza Brembana seems to derive from the Brembo River, which runs through the village. Etymologically, the root "brem" could come from a pre-Roman language and mean "to resound". This may have been inspired by the course of the river, which seems to "resound" among the mountains of the valley.
History
Ancient times
The village of Piazza Brembana has very ancient roots dating back to the 2nd century BC, when the Romans included the area, together with the surrounding villages, in a "pagus" called "pagus brembanus". The Romans exploited the mining resources, mainly iron, present in the nearby mountains and built numerous connecting roads with the nearby "pagus Saturnius", which was located in Val Seriana, with a very active mining activity.
The Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, the area prospered thanks to mining activity and a demographic development aimed at improving living conditions. In addition, many groups of immigrants arrived in the village in search of refuge from the fights between the Guelfs and the Ghibellines. Piazza Brembana was under the domination of the Visconti family, which had a strong Ghibelline influence. Despite this, there were no clashes between the two factions.
With the advent of the Republic of Venice, trade increased thanks to the construction of the Via Priula, the road that connected Bergamo with the Canton of Grigioni.
Modern times
The Serenissima made Piazza the commercial and administrative center of the department "Oltre la Goggia", which included all the villages of the upper Brembana Valley. Even the regimes that succeeded maintained in the village the main administrative institutions.
In 1926, the section of the Valle Brembana Railway was built, which from San Pellegrino Terme led the terminus to Piazza Brembana. This led to a further boost to the economy and transport. However, the line was discontinued in 1966.
In 1927, the fascist regime decided to unite several municipalities in the Kingdom of Italy, including Piazza Brembana, with the neighboring Valnegra, Lenna, and Moio de' Calvi in a single municipality called San Martino de' Calvi. Only in 1956, did the municipalities return to their original form.
Among the famous personalities who have made history in Piazza Brembana, Giacomo Calegari (1848-1915), a well-known painter, Gerolamo Calvi (1801-1848), a musician and writer, and the four Calvi brothers: Attilio, Santino, Natale, and Giannino, heroes of the First World War.
Conclusions
Piazza Brembana is a village with very ancient origins, nestled between the dazzling Orobie Alps and crossed by the Brembo River. Mining and commercial activities have made it an important center in the past, remaining so even in the subsequent regimes. The railway had a significant impact on the economy, while culture could boast prominent names in the field of art and literature. Come and visit us and discover all the hidden treasures of this Lombard pearl!
