Scopa
Discovering Scopa, the small town in Piedmont
Hello friends, today I want to talk to you about Scopa, a town of 373 inhabitants located in the north-western part of the province of Vercelli, in Piedmont. Its municipal territory presents very accentuated altimetric variations, with a valley floor placed at about 622 meters above sea level, where the village is located, and the highest point reaching 1883 meters above sea level. Interesting, isn't it?
The origin of the curious name
Scopa takes its name from the Latin word "scopa", which indicates the plant whose branches were used for sweeping. Another meaning could derive from the Piedmontese word "scup" in the sense of "pruning". What do you think? In short, the name has to do with the care and cleanliness of the territory, a beautiful metaphor for citizens' care for their own municipality.
The history of Scopa
There is not much information about the first settlements in the Scopa area, but the name appears for the first time in the 13th century in a document ratifying the submission of the Valsesian people to the municipality of Vercelli. In 1306 Scopa was the meeting place for the troops of the Valsesians to drive out the heresiarch Fra Dolcino. Subsequently, from 1350, Scopa was subjected to the domination of the Visconti Duchy of Milan until 1703, when it was ceded to Vittorio Emanuele I of Savoy.
The coat of arms of the municipality of Scopa
The coat of arms and the flag of the municipality of Scopa were granted by decree of the President of the Republic on October 26, 1955. The municipal flag is a green cloth, while the coat of arms represents a stylized tree that refers to the forest present on the territory of Scopa.
What to visit in Scopa
If you are interested in art and culture, in Scopa you can visit the parish church of San Bartolomeo, dating back to 1596, which has a porch decorated with frescoes from the school of Gaudenzio Ferrari. Another place to visit is the oratory of Santa Maria Maddalena, with a portal decorated with a painting depicting the Saint, invoked by the faithful to ask for rain, and whose feast falls in August.
Demographic evolution
The population of Scopa amounts to 373 inhabitants, but over the years there have been demographic changes. For example, in 1921 the population was 423 inhabitants, while in 1961 it was 286 inhabitants. What do you think? Life in this small town has had ups and downs, but the beauty of the territory and the attention of those who live there make Scopa a precious treasure trove.
Conclusion and useful sources
I hope you enjoyed my virtual mini-tour and that it made you want to visit this small town! Below are some useful links to deepen your knowledge of Scopa:
- Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopa,_Piedmont
- Municipality of Scopa website: http://www.comune.scopa.vc.it/
