Sarmato
Welcome to Sàrmato!
Hello everyone! Today I want to tell you about Sàrmato, a small town located in the province of Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna.
Physical geography
Territory
Sàrmato is located in the Po Valley, right next to the Po River and the lower Tidone valley. It is located northwest of the province of Piacenza and borders the province of Pavia. The neighboring towns are Castel San Giovanni, Borgonovo Val Tidone, Rottofreno, Pieve Porto Morone (PV) and Monticelli Pavese (PV).
The territory of Sàrmato also includes the small villages of Agazzino, Cà dell'Acqua, Casoni, Cepone, Coste di Sotto, Madonna del Rosario, Nosone, Ponte Tidone, Salumificio, and Veratto. Just near the latter is the confluence between the Tidone stream and the Po River.
Climate
Sàrmato falls within the ''E'' climate zone. Like the rest of the Po Valley, the climate is continental.
History
The foundation and origin of the name ''Sarmato''
Legend has it that Sàrmato was founded by the Sarmatian barbarians, from whom the name derives. The church of Santa Maria Assunta dates back to the 8th century, built by the Lombard prince Burnengo, who was buried under the church threshold. The history of the town is closely linked to the castle of Sàrmato, built at the beginning of the 1200s, probably on the ruins of an old Lombard tower. The castle was used as an outpost of the Guelphs of Piacenza, defending the Tidone valley against the Ghibellines of Pavia. The castle was also the site of numerous clashes between the two factions. Together with the castle of Sàrmato, the castles of Borgonovo Val Tidone and San Giovanni were also built. The Sàrmato complex was the main access route to the Tidone valley, so much so that until the end of the 18th century there was a port in the Bosco di Litta area that connected Sàrmato to the Lombard bank. This strategic position explains the larger size of the castle of Sàrmato compared to the other fortresses in the area, such as Borgonovo and Castel San Giovanni (the latter destroyed).
The fief of Sàrmato
Sàrmato's documented history begins in 1216 when Piacenza and Milanese militias gathered under its walls, waiting to wage war against the enemy of Pavia. In 1270, the fortress was seriously damaged by the militias of the Lord of Bardi, Ubertino Landi, one of the leaders of the imperial faction. The Pallastrelli of Sàrmato, whose history was tied to the tradition of St. Rocco and St. Gottardo, had to sell the fief in 1363. They later moved to Portugal, where they obtained honors and privileges. A descendant of Gottardo, Felipa Perestrello (actually Pallastrelli), married the explorer Christopher Columbus, who discovered the Americas. The castle and fief of Sàrmato then passed to the wealthy merchant Bartolomeo Seccamelica, invested in 1376 by Galeazzo II Visconti, lord of Milan. Later, the fief passed to the counts Dal Verme and then to the counts Zanardi Landi di Veano.
Sàrmato has a very interesting history and I am sure that, if you visit it, you will appreciate the beauty of the town and its territory.
