Salizzole
Salizzole: a Venetian municipality with a rich history
Hello friends, today I am going to tell you about Salizzole, an Italian municipality located in the province of Verona, in the Veneto region. With its 3,749 inhabitants, Salizzole is about 25 kilometers from Verona and the same distance from Legnago. In this text, I want to tell you more about the geography, origin of the name, history, and beauties of this place with a rich history.
Physical Geography
The municipality of Salizzole is located in the southern part of the province of Verona, with three geographical hamlets: Bionde, Engazzà, and Valmorsel. The settlements of the three hamlets develop in the southern part of the municipal territory and are about 4 km from the capital. The main watercourse is the Tregnon, which, like other rivers in the area, is a tributary of the Tartaro-Canalbianco.
Origin of the Name
The name Salizzole could derive from the Salix plant. In the past, the area was covered by swamps and other types of vegetation, including some species of willows. The hypothesis that derives the toponym from the willow plant is considered the most valid. Other towns in the lower Veronese have also chosen to derive their names from the names of plants or trees present in the area.
History
Salizzole boasts an ancient past, testified by the important buildings still visible today. The first settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age. The history of Salizzole is closely linked to that of Verona. In the past, Salizzole depended on the government of Verona, which managed it at a political and administrative level.
Recent Earthquakes
In December 2020, Salizzole was hit by a series of earthquakes that reached a local magnitude of 4.4. Fortunately, there were no damages to people or things.
Symbols
The coat of arms of the Municipality of Salizzole is a talking weapon and was granted by the decree of the President of the Republic of March 21, 1997.
Monuments and Places of Interest
Salizzole boasts some architectural and artistic beauties that are worth visiting. Among the religious buildings, we find the Church of San Martino Vescovo (Salizzole) from the sixteenth century, the Church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria from the fifteenth century (in Bionde), the Church of Santa Maria Assunta from the fifteenth century (in Engazzà), and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and San Rocco from 1951 (in Valmorsel). The latter was built thanks to the will of the inhabitants of the municipal hamlet, who collected funds for the purchase of building material, especially eggs and flour. That is why the church is nicknamed "the church kneaded with eggs." The structure is very simple and poor, without a bell tower but with a Valpolicella marble altar and a wooden statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus, together with one of San Rocco.
The church was declared unfit for use in the 1980s, but restoration and improvement work funded by local entrepreneurs and the municipality began only towards the end of the 1990s, and in 2005 it was finally reopened to the public.
In short, Salizzole is a small Venetian municipality, but with a history and beauties to discover. If you pass through here, I suggest you stop and visit its churches, symbols of the faith and history of its inhabitants, who have contributed to preserving and enhancing the artistic and cultural heritage of the area.
