Polesine Parmense
A village on the banks of the Po
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about Polesine Parmense, a hamlet in the municipality of Polesine Zibello, in the province of Parma. This small locality is located on the right bank of the river Po, downstream of the confluence of the Arda stream.
Origins of the name
But where does its name come from? There are several hypotheses. According to some scholars, the term "Polesine" could derive from the Latin "pullus", meaning "shoot (botany)", with the addition of the pre-Roman suffix "-cinus". Others instead think that the name is of Etruscan origin, linked to the feminine gentile "Puleisnai". In both cases, the meaning would be "deposit of mud that emerges from river waters in the form of islands".
Another hypothesis concerns the locality of Poleximus S. Viti, which could derive from the Latin "Laesus a Pado" (i.e. "damaged by the Po") or from the Latin "Paeninsula", referring to the foundation on a piece of land surrounded mostly by water.
History
Let's now move on to the history of Polesine Parmense. In 962, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Otto I of Saxony assigned a number of lands in various parts of Italy to the Marquis Oberto I degli Obertenghi, including the entire territory between the Parmense and the Piacentino near Busseto. In 1145, Oberto Pallavicino ceded all the courts he owned in Parmense to the Municipality of Piacenza in exchange for the oath of vassalage.
In 1249, Emperor Frederick II of Swabia invested Uberto Pallavicino with numerous fiefs in Parmense, including Polesine Parmense, where the marquis built an Ancient Pallavicina Court to defend the adjacent river port and control the traffic of goods. However, following the fall of the Hohenstaufen, the Municipality of Cremona seized the possessions of the Pallavicino, annexing the territory of Polesine.
In the fourteenth century, with the takeover by the Visconti in the Duchy of Milan, the Pallavicino regained possession of their territories and in 1360, Marquis Oberto received confirmation of the investiture from Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg. In 1395, his son Niccolò Pallavicino was confirmed in the investiture by the King of the Romans Wenceslaus of Luxembourg.
A series of floods of the Po river caused the shifting of the riverbed and the castle, now abandoned, suffered damage. In 1408, Marquis Rolando il Magnifico built a new fortress near the course of the water.
Curiosities
But let's move on to the curiosities! Are you aware that the hamlet is known for the production of Culatello di Zibello, one of the most valuable cured meats in Italian cuisine? The Traditional Method of Culatello di Zibello involves salting the pork meat, then it is hand-tied in a natural bladder and placed in the cellar for at least 12 months. If you have never had the chance to taste it, I recommend you do it as soon as possible!
Furthermore, Polesine Parmense hosts a very suggestive place: the Church of San Vito. This sacred building dates back to the twelfth century and has recently been restored, bringing to light the medieval frescoes.
Conclusions
Here are some information about Polesine Parmense, a really interesting hamlet to visit. We are on the bank of the Po river, with the production of Culatello di Zibello and the Church of San Vito waiting for us for an immersion in history. I can't wait to visit this hamlet, and I hope you can do it as soon as possible too!
