Ponteranica
Discovering Ponteranica: A journey through the Bergamo village
Welcome to Ponteranica, an Italian municipality in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy. Located at the foot of Mount Maresana and crossed by the Morla stream, the village has about 6,715 inhabitants. Together, let's discover the history of Ponteranica through its main stages.
History
Antiquity
The history of the village is ancient, dating back to periods prior to the Middle Ages when the communal territory was included in the Morla royal court established by the Lombards. Initially, the toponym was mentioned as "Poltraniga", later changed to "Poltranica". The ethymological origin of the name is not known for certain, but some hypothesize that it could be linked to the town of Ranica.
Middle Ages
During this period, Ponteranica often shared its political and administrative destiny with the nearby town of Sorisole. The following period saw the development of feudalism, inserted in the context of the Holy Roman Empire, which brought the two villages under the management first of the bishopric of Bergamo and later of the monks of the Astino Valley. In the twelfth century, the first documents attested to the existence of the village, citing the names of Ponteranica and the district "Prato della Rovere" (later Petos).
The Middle Ages were characterized by violent clashes between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, which did not spare even the village of Ponteranica, engaged in the Guelph faction. The need to defend itself led the town to equip itself with numerous fortifications around the settlement, the main one being the "Castle of Moretta" with towers and bastions. In the fourteenth century, there were numerous clashes, fires, and destructions. The intervention of Gian Galeazzo Visconti momentarily put an end to the reprisals, but already in 1404, the Ghibellines of the city of Bergamo attacked Sorisole and Ponteranica, destroying the defensive towers and causing more than three hundred deaths.
Modern Age
The situation changed with the arrival of the Republic of Venice which supported the Guelph faction. The Serenissima issued a series of privileges and incentives for Ponteranica and Sorisole, which had openly sided with Venetian domination during the struggles fought against the Duchy of Milan supported by the Ghibelline factions. Centuries followed that were socially and politically quiet, with agriculture as the driving force of the entire area's economy, considered fiscally "separated land" and therefore not subject to duties and taxes.
Contemporary Age
In the following centuries, Ponteranica did not have any particularly important events, following the fate of the rest of the Bergamo province. However, the town adapted to the changes of the times and transformed into a modern municipality with several commercial and tourist activities, including the Ponteranica Archaeological Museum, a place rich in history and archaeological finds that reconstruct the thousand-year history of the territory.
Architectural Beauties of Ponteranica
The village of Ponteranica boasts several important architectural beauties. Among the most important is the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul, built in the eighteenth century and recently restored. The church features a baroque stone and brick facade, a three-nave interior, and a frescoed dome. Another notable building is the Castle of Moretta, one of the village's fortifications during the medieval period [already mentioned in the previous section]. Finally, the Municipal Theatre is a jewel of nineteenth-century neoclassical architecture.
Events and Customs of Ponteranica
Ponteranica is a village that loves traditions and celebrates them through festivals and events. The first weekend of September, the village festival is held, where the streets come alive with stalls of local products and the music of folk groups. In May, there are the festivals of beer and grilled meat, with the opening of kiosks and stands that offer the best local products.
Conclusion
Ponteranica is a village of thousand-year history and architectural beauties that tell the life of its people through time. From the Middle Ages to today, the town has come a long way, transforming from an ancient fortress to a modern and welcoming municipality. The beauty of the village is discovered by walking through its narrow streets and participating in the events that bring its inhabitants together every year. If you are looking for a place to immerse yourself in the history and traditions of the Alto Bergamo area, Ponteranica is the right place for you.
