Biancade
Welcome to Biancade: the history and geography of the enchanting hamlet of Roncade
Welcome to Biancade, a splendid hamlet in the province of Treviso, located about 3 km from the municipal capital. The territory is crossed by the river Musestre, while the Vallio marks the border with Monastier di Treviso. While exploring this enchanting place, we will guide you in understanding the physical geography, the origins of the name, and the millennia-long history of these beautiful lands.
Physical geography
Biancade is located in the heart of the province of Treviso, a place of great natural and cultural interest. Thanks to its strategic position, north of the provincial capital, it is easy to reach the main tourist destinations of the province, such as Treviso itself, Monastier di Treviso, San Biagio di Callalta, and Silea. The territory is crossed by the river Musestre, which flows from north to south, while to the northeast the Vallio marks the border with Monastier di Treviso.
Origins of the name
The toponym Biancade derives from the Venetian word ''sbiancade'', which indicates deforested areas. In fact, starting from the year 1000, thanks to the reclamation of the territory and the felling of the surrounding forests, there was a great agricultural development.
History
Prehistory
The first evidence of human presence in Biancade dates back to the Neolithic period. Archaeological excavations conducted in San Andrea del Riul have allowed the discovery of interesting finds dating back to the end of the 5th millennium BC or the beginning of the 4th millennium BC. These settlements were then abandoned due to flooding of the Vallio river.
The Roman era and the barbarian invasions
In Roman times, human settlement in Biancade was favored by the proximity of the Claudia Augusta road and the presence of the river Musestre, which could be navigated from here by modest boats to the mouth on the Sile and to the Venice lagoon. During the early Middle Ages, there is not much documentation about this area, while during the Middle Ages, Biancade was under the lordship of the Collalto counts.
The Middle Ages: the Collalto family
During the communal period, Biancade was under the control of Treviso, divided into the three ''Colmello (rural commune)'' of Biancade, Castello, and Montiron. During the Middle Ages, the Collalto family governed these territories, and in the Castello locality there was a stronghold of the family, which was then sold to the Sanzi in 1316. Despite this, the Collalto family owned much of the territory. Even today, we can admire traces of the castle such as the wide sloping earth embankment and some ditches.
The Serenissima
After a brief submission to the Scaligeri, Treviso was definitively conquered by the Republic of Venice in 1338. The new season of peace and security brought new economic development to the area, especially thanks to the activity of the shipyards of Venice, which required an increasing consumption of wood that was taken from the forests of the plain. From Biancade, the wood was transported by river to the lagoon. It was during this period that the noble families of Venice found in the now safe inland territory the site for the construction of villas and service facilities for the new activities related to the cultivation of fertile fields.
In summary, visiting Biancade means immersing oneself in the millennia-long history of these beautiful lands, appreciating their natural beauty and local culture, and discovering how the local people have been able to enhance every aspect of their land in order to pass it on to future generations. That there is a special atmosphere in Biancade is beyond doubt: you just have to come and discover this treasure of the province of Treviso!
