Pramaggiore
Pramaggiore: a historic municipality in the heart of Veneto
Pramaggiore is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Venice, located in the heart of Veneto. With a population of about 4,700 inhabitants, the town boasts a long and interesting history.
History
The history of Pramaggiore dates back to ancient times. The earliest historical artefacts date back to 1600-1300 BC, but the first mention of Pramaggiore dates back to 1225, when it was still part of the patriarchal State of Aquileia.
The territory of the municipality did not correspond to the current municipality, as there was a separate community for the fractions of Salvarolo and Blessaglia, which had an even more ancient history. Salvarolo developed a castle at the end of the 10th century, while Blessaglia is mentioned as early as the 9th century.
With the arrival of the Serenissima in 1420, feudal power was reduced. The feudal lords of Salvarolo ceded their castle to the Altan family, who took care of it and made it more important. After this period, the castle was abandoned and is now gone.
In 1806, during the Kingdom of Italy under Napoleon, the municipality of Pramaggiore was established. In 1838, under the Austrians, the municipality passed from the province of Friuli to the province of Venice.
During World War II, the territory of the municipality was the scene of a Nazi reprisal that took place in the Blessaglia massacre, where 8 partisans of the Ippolito Nievo B Brigade were hanged by the Schutzstaffel.
Symbols
The coat of arms and the banner of the municipality of Pramaggiore were granted by the decree of the President of the Republic of February 4, 1955. The coat of arms is divided into green and red, with a gold button in the center of the red. The banner is a split drape of red and blue.
Monuments and places of interest
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta in the fraction of Blessaglia is definitely the most interesting monumental place in Pramaggiore. The church was built between 1656 and 1672, in Baroque style. The church preserves a late Renaissance crucifix and an eighteenth-century statue of Santa Maria Assunta.
Society
Demographic evolution
The population of Pramaggiore over the years has remained fairly stable. In 1951 there were about 4,600 inhabitants, while in 2021 the population stood at about 4,700 inhabitants.
Ethnicities and foreign minorities
The municipality of Pramaggiore was characterized by a certain increase in foreigners in recent years. As of December 31, 2017, foreigners residing in the municipality were 604, or 13.0% of the population. The most substantial groups were Romanians, Moroccans, Albanians, and Bosniaks.
Infrastructure and transportation
Roads
The municipality of Pramaggiore is crossed by the State Road 14 of the Julian Alps, which connects it with other important centers of Veneto.
Railways
The municipality of Pramaggiore hosted a railway stop on the Treviso-Portogruaro line, called "Pramaggiore-Blessaglia Station". The stop was closed in 1966.
Administration
The municipality of Pramaggiore has been governed by different administrations from 1946 to the present. The first mayor of the municipality was Lino Masat, a member of the Christian Democracy, who remained in office from 1946 to 1956. From 1956 to 1970 the municipality was governed by Piero Arrigo Moras, also a member of the Christian Democracy. From 1970 to 1995 the municipality was governed by Luciano Moretto, once again from the Christian Democracy. Afterwards, the position of mayor was elected directly by the citizens.
Other administrative information
In 2006 a referendum was held to ask the population whether Pramaggiore should be an integral part of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, together with the neighboring municipalities of Teglio Veneto, Gruaro, and Cinto Caomaggiore. However, the referendum did not bring about any change.
Conclusions
The municipality of Pramaggiore is certainly a place rich in history and culture. From its ancient historical artefacts to the natural beauties of the territory, Pramaggiore has much to offer its inhabitants and tourists who visit it. With its monuments and wonders that surround it, Pramaggiore is a small jewel of Veneto that is worth discovering.
