Cerealto
Welcome to Cerealto!
Hi everyone! Today we will talk about Cerealto, a hamlet of the municipality of Valdagno, in the province of Vicenza. We are in a hilly area at about 700 meters above sea level and about two hundred people live here. Cerealto is a very picturesque place because it is crossed by a small stream, the Garzaro, which forms three valleys: the Valley of Trogari, the Valley of Frigo and the Zanetti Valley. But let's see together some curiosities about its origins, the church and more.
The history of Cerealto
The name Cerealto, according to some historians such as Bergamini, Maccà and Mantese, derives from the cerris oaks that are found in this area. The place name is mentioned for the first time in the 14th century. From the documents of the Historical Archive of the Diocesan Curia of Vicenza, we know that in 1310 the municipality of Cornedo Vicentino bought the woods of Muzzolon and Cerealto from the bishop of Vicenza. Moreover, it is said that in the last decades of the 13th century, these lands were cleared by workers of German origin, the Cimbri. In short, Cerealto has an ancient and interesting history.
The church of Cerealto
The church of Cerealto is dedicated to Saint Catherine and has existed since 1444. Initially, it did not have its own priest and the population turned to the priest of San Nicolò di Altissimo who was also the priest of Cerealto. In 1525, the priest of Cerealto, Don Leonardo de Velchio in Alemania, was still of German origin to be understood by the population. In 1736, a lightning bolt destroyed the bell tower and parts of the church. Twenty-two heads of households decided unanimously to rebuild the two buildings "to render it perfect, to the glory of the Lord God." The new church had three altars: the main one was dedicated to Saint Catherine, while the two side ones were dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, Saint Roch and Saint Anthony Abbot. In 1923, it was decided to demolish the old church to make way for the new one, and in the fifties the new bell tower was erected.
Notes and bibliography
I recommend to those who want to deepen the history of Cerealto the books of G. Maccà, Storia del vicariato di Valdagno e delle ville soggette, and G. Mantese, Storia di Valdagno. For more information, I suggest consulting the website of the municipality of Valdagno.
Conclusions
Cerealto is a very picturesque and peaceful hamlet. The fact that it is crossed by Garzaro makes it even more beautiful and interesting. The church is an important building and has an ancient history closely linked to the population that has lived here over the centuries. If you are lovers of hilly areas and local history, I absolutely recommend visiting Cerealto!
