Lugagnano
Lugagnano: a village with uncertain origins
Lugagnano is a hamlet in the municipality of Sona, the most populous village with 9,035 inhabitants, but with an uncertain toponymic origin. The only other places with the name Lugagnano are Lugagnano Val d'Arda and Cassinetta di Lugagnano, while similar names with different etymologies are Lughignano, Lugugnana, and Lucugnano. The etymology of Lugagnano has several hypotheses, including "Lucus Jani" for forest and clearing dedicated to the Latin deity Janus, but the cult of Janus is not found in the Verona area. Another hypothesis is "Lucus Anneianus" for forest and clearing dedicated to Anneio, accepted by the municipality of Lugagnano Val d'Arda, or "Lucanianus" derived from "Lucanian or the gens lucana", which is also possible for Cassinetta di Lugagnano.
History of Lugagnano
Archaeological finds
The area around Lugagnano has seen various finds of pre-Roman artefacts, the most important of which is the "sword of Verona" found in 1672 in Ca' di Capri near a tomb where four semispheres, probably parts of a shield, were found. According to some more recent studies, the sword seems to be a votive fire-starter, as confirmed by the Etruscan inscription translatable as "gift offered to Remie Hirafasuva and thus to Velisane". Others argue that the sword was found in the same place where a battle between Gaius Marius and the Cimbri in 102 BCE took place, as recounted by Paulus Diaconus.
The birth of the village
Lugagnano is mentioned for the first time in the will of the archdeacon Pacifico on September 9, 844. However, the area was sparsely populated and used for grazing due to the dryness of the soil. In the 16th century, the cultivation of mulberry trees was introduced, which led to silk production activities in the area, and the population increased over time. In fiscal documents, one can read about the cultivation of maize, wheat, oats, millet, barley, rye, vegetables, and wine, although in small quantities and low quality. In 1712, Lugagnano was granted permission to build its own church, dedicated to Saints Anne and Bernard. In 1797, a separate parish was created from that of San Massimo (Verona), and the church was enlarged.
The 19th century
Lugagnano was the scene of the first skirmishes between Piedmontese and Austrian soldiers during the First Italian War of Independence. 1500 Austrian soldiers took refuge in the village at the end of April after their attempt to occupy the plain was discovered and cancelled by the attack of the Piedmontese troops.
Conclusions
Lugagnano is a charming village with a rich history, but still largely undiscovered. The toponym is fascinating, as are the various finds through which one can discover more about past events. However, the village has developed and today is considered the most populous in the municipality of Sona with a wide variety of crops. Its landscapes enchant and its history fascinates, making Lugagnano an unmissable destination for those who want to visit the Verona area.
