San Giusto Canavese
A Brief History of San Giusto Canavese
San Giusto Canavese (also known as L Zerb in dialect) is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Turin in Piedmont, with a population of approximately 3357 residents. The land on which the municipality is situated today was originally part of the neighbouring town of San Giorgio Canavese. However, due to numerous disputes between the two municipalities, San Giusto was recognised as independent from San Giorgio in 1778.
The Struggle for Independence
The struggle for the independence of San Giusto Canavese lasted for at least two centuries, during which the two municipalities engaged in numerous battles and conflicts. The rivalry between the two communities was of a political-religious and class nature: the San Giustesi were comprised mainly of peasants, merchants, and small landowners, while the San Giorgesi were represented by the nobility and artisans of the Biandrate castle borough.
The name Gerbo Grande of San Giorgio referred to the land where San Giusto Canavese is located today. Over time, the inhabitants of Gerbo Grande, also known as gerbolini, fought for the independence of their municipality and parish. The struggle was brutal and violent, and resulted in the separation of the two communities, only 3 kilometers apart, and gave the Sangiustesi the nickname Tirapere.
From Gerbo Grande to San Giusto
On October 9, 1778, King Vittorio Amedeo III issued a decree of dismemberment, recognising the independence of Gerbo Grande from the municipality of San Giorgio. In 1779, with a charter from King Vittorio Amedeo III, the new municipality was recognised under the name of San Giusto - chosen by the inhabitants as their protector. In 1862, the name of the municipality was definitively changed to San Giusto Canavese by a decree of King Vittorio Emanuele II, to avoid confusion with other 'San Giusto' municipalities throughout Italy.
The Fight for Their Parish and Their Priest
Even after obtaining administrative independence, the San Giustesi continued their struggle to have their own parish and priest. The authorities of San Giorgio prevented San Giusto from having a priest, in order to channel the faithful (and their offerings) into their own parish. The community of San Giusto had already been constructing a new Baroque church (the Church of Saints Fabian and Sebastian) for fifty years, but the bishop, under pressure from the nobility of San Giorgio, did not recognise it.
The Theft of the Crucifix from the Church of San Giorgio
An emblematic episode of this rivalry was the theft of the crucifix from the Church of San Giorgio, which occurred in 1750 during religious processions for the blessing of the fields. The theft was carried out by a group of gerbolini on the border between the two towns.
In conclusion, San Giusto Canavese is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Turin that has a long history of rivalry with the neighbouring municipality of San Giorgio Canavese. Although the struggle for independence was brutal, today the two municipalities coexist peacefully and share many common interests.
