Santa Maria Hoè
Discovering Santa Maria Hoè
Are you ready to explore the beautiful municipality of Santa Maria Hoè? With just over 2000 inhabitants, Santa Maria Hoè is a small gem in the province of Lecco, Lombardy. In this article, we will discover together the history, traditions and attractions of Santa Maria Hoè.
Physical geography
Santa Maria Hoè is located in Valletta, a valley in Brianza. It is composed of five hamlets: Tremonte, Hoè, Bosco, Paù and Alduno. The municipal territory is crossed by the Bevera stream, a tributary of the Lambro river.
Origins of the name
The toponym "Hoè" probably derives from the German word "Höhe" which means "height". The village was in fact characterized by the fenced castle of the De Capitani family, who also had a signaling tower.
History
During the medieval period, the village of Hoè belonged to the De Capitani family. Over the centuries, the village underwent various feudalizations and moments of crisis. In 1456, some Servants of Mary founded a convent and built some water mills, which promoted the economic development of the village.
Monuments and places of interest
Santa Maria Hoè offers several tourist attractions, including numerous churches and historical monuments. The church of the Addolorata, elevated to the rank of parish in 1914, is the most important religious building in the municipality. The church of Santa Veronica in Tremonte, dating back to 1280, is located within the walls of the fortified castle of Hoè. The complex of Villa Vimercati Erba Semenza is a historic villa dating back to 1588 that is definitely worth a visit.
Society
The municipality of Santa Maria Hoè has seen an interesting demographic evolution over the years. In 1751 it had only 281 inhabitants, while in 1805 it reached 545. After the annexation of Bagaggera, Castello di Brianza and Rovagnate, the population rose to 1607 in 1809. In 1931, after the annexation of Rovagnate and Perego in 1928, the municipality reached a total of 3864 inhabitants. Today, the population is just over 2000 people, but it is still very heterogeneous, with a significant presence of foreigners and different religious communities.
Other
Santa Maria Hoè was the birthplace of Giuseppe Di Stefano, a famous Italian tenor. Di Stefano loved this land very much and decided to be buried in the local cemetery. The municipality is also famous for the annual livestock fair of the Addolorata, which attracts visitors from all over Lombardy.
In conclusion, Santa Maria Hoè is a municipality rich in history, culture and traditions. Thanks to its privileged location, historical monuments and the beauty of its territory, it is the ideal destination for those who want to discover authentic Brianza.
