Serina
An ancient history
Serina, with its little over two thousand inhabitants, is a small town in the Bergamo area. It is located in the Val Serina, one of the districts of the Val Brembana, about 30 kilometers north of Bergamo. Its history dates back to the 1st century BC, during the Roman Empire, when the valley was united under the municipality of Bergamo and developed thanks to the discovery of iron mines. Today, the village, although small, is an important transit point, as the Via Mercatorum, the ancient trade route that connected the valley to the Brembana, passed through its area.
Economic splendors of the valley
Serina experienced periods of great splendor thanks to the Roman iron mines, which allowed the development of workshops for the processing of the extracted material, used for the construction of various iron tools. The wool industry also benefited from the presence of the Ambria stream, which allowed the operation of machinery for the production of Bergamo coarse cloth.
Middle Ages and Renaissance
The power of the Guelph family of the Torriani began in Serina in 1265 and lasted until the 15th century, when the arrival of the Republic of Venice made Serina the capital of the upper Brembana Valley. It held this role until 1797, when the area became part of the Cisalpine Republic. It is worth remembering that in 1480, the painter Jacopo Negretti, better known as Palma il Vecchio, was born in the town.
Symbols of the town
The municipality of Serina has a coat of arms with the figure of the Siren, which is also present in the noble Carara or Carrara family, originally from the area. The original coat of arms has been modified over time, and today it consists of a golden Siren on a blue background, with three stars symbolizing the three most important families of the town: Carrara, Tiraboschi and Della Valle.
Curiosities
The inhabitants of Serina are known by the nickname "Serinotti". The robust cheese "Gorgonzola" has its origins in the area, where "stracchino" was produced and then combined with the mould present in the caves near the town, giving rise to the delicacy that is now famous all over the world.
In conclusion, the history of Serina over the centuries has been characterized by moments of splendor, but also of difficulties, between wars and changes of power. However, this small town has always been able to maintain its importance as a place of transit, production, and trade. Its coat of arms, with the figure of the Siren and the stars representing the most important families, is a way to remember this important past.
