Quaregna
Quaregna: the story of a Piedmontese municipality
Quaregna was a small Italian municipality with 1,430 inhabitants, located in the province of Biella in Piedmont. As of January 1, 2019, it merged with the municipality of Cerreto Castello to create the new municipality of Quaregna Cerreto, of which it is the main center. In this text, you will discover the origins of the name of the municipality, its history, and its main characteristics.
The Origin of the Name
The suggestive tradition upon which the name Quaregna is based attributes its origin to the Latin expression "aqua regnat," which means "a place where water reigns." In fact, the territory is rich in springs and is crossed by the Quargnasca, a stream, and several small streams.
The History of Quaregna
Quaregna has a very ancient history: in the past, there was a Romanesque church (now destroyed) located where today the parish church of the Madonna delle Grazie stands. In addition, the famous scientist Amedeo Avogadro was buried in the town's cemetery. Quaregna's coat of arms was granted by a decree of the President of the Republic on December 24, 1991.
Society in Quaregna
In the past, the municipality of Quaregna experienced an increase and a decrease in population. In 1951, the town had 1,868 inhabitants, while in 1981 it had only 1,484 inhabitants. Then, in the 1990s, the population slightly increased to 1,624 inhabitants, only to decrease again in the following decades.
Infrastructure and Transport
From 1891 to 1958, the area was served by a stop on the Biella-Cossato-Vallemosso railway. Today, the territory of Quaregna Cerreto is served by a good road network, and public transport is the main means of transportation, with several bus lines connecting Quaregna to nearby cities.
Administration of Quaregna
The municipality was part of the now-defunct Val Sessera, Valle di Mosso e Prealpi Biellesi mountain community, while until 2010, it belonged to the Prealpi Biellesi mountain community, abolished following the merger ordered by the Piedmont Region in 2009.
Conclusions
Quaregna is a small Piedmontese municipality with an ancient and rich history full of curiosities. Today, with the merger with Cerreto Castello, Quaregna Cerreto becomes a single municipality, opening a new chapter in the history of this beautiful part of Piedmont.
