Padergnone
A Fraction from the Millennial History
Hello everyone! Today I'll talk about a fraction of the municipality of Zanica, in the province of Bergamo, located on the border with the municipality of Grassobbio: Padergnone. The name may come from the Latin ''paternus fundus'' ("land inherited from the father"). "Padergnone" identifies both the fraction and the villa, from which the first was born. The village is the result of various architectural stratifications, including those from the 11th to the 19th centuries. The history of this area is very interesting, and there is evidence of frequentation dating back to Roman times.
Roman Times
Three funerary inscriptions dating back to the 1st century AD were found during the restoration works of the 16th-century oratory dedicated to St. Michael in 2006. This shows that the area was already frequented in Roman times. One of the inscriptions mentions the name "Vettius," which derives from the toponym of the village because the area was formerly called ''(prata) vettianica'' ("Vettii's meadows"). In 1875, the archaeologist Gaetano Mantovani attested the discovery of flooring remains belonging to a ''Tepidarium,'' which came to light during the demolition of a centuries-old tree; Elia Fornoni thus supported the hypothesis of the existence of a thermal complex on the site where the villa stands. A trace of Roman frequentation is represented by the so-called "Sempronius Stele," found in the area in the 18th century and preserved in the archaeological museum of Bergamo.
Middle Ages
The written history of Padergnone begins in May 1010 when, ''in loco Paternioni," notarial deeds concerning the sale of land parcels were stipulated. Thanks to these deeds, we came to know the first inhabitants of the place: Teuzo, son of Milone, his sons Gumperto, Gosperto, and Vincenzo, Audeverti and his father Giovanni, and the archdeacon Reginfredo, son of Oberto. Subsequently, the area is also mentioned in fourteenth-century documents relating to the definition of the borders of Azzano San Paolo, Orio al Serio, Grassobbio, and Seriate, which also include another vanished locality: Breniadesco. Its name derives from the term ''bregnato,'' which means “covered in ruins”. This indicates that ancient buildings now in disuse were located in these lands.
At the end of the fourteenth century, Padergnone was made up of an ancient ''castrum'' located in the southern part of the complex, occupied by the garden. The ''castrum'' included a chapel, a lime kiln, and undoubtedly other medieval buildings in decline. They were surrounded by a no longer visible moat, and the massive brick columns of the north side of the central courtyard probably date back to the same period.
Renaissance
In 1570, the villa of Padergnone passed to the Bongiorno family, who enlarged and renovated the buildings. In 1866, the property passed to the Olivetti Brothers, who carried out restoration work, illuminating the landscape once again. Subsequently, the estate was bought by Senator Tomaso Cazzaniga, who enriched it with new buildings, including the neo-Gothic palace, the lemon house, and the aviary.
Today, the villa belongs to the Benaglio family, who have carried out the historical-architectural recovery of the area. Since 1996, Padergnone has been part of the "Parco del Romanico Bergamasco".
The village of Padergnone was largely rebuilt in the nineteenth century, when many of the current houses were built. There are houses that still retain the peculiarities of local architecture, such as the arrangement of windows, stone frames, churches, bell tower, former school, and fountain.
Tourism
Padergnone is a popular tourist destination for its history and architecture. There are many accommodation facilities of various categories. You can take walks to discover nature and its history, visit the villa and its stables, or taste local specialties such as polenta cooked in a cauldron, casoncelli, cold cuts, and cheeses.
Padergnone is also perfect for nature and sports enthusiasts: activities such as cycling, trekking, and paragliding are available.
Conclusion
In short, for those who haven't understood yet, I strongly recommend visiting Padergnone. Its millennial history, the charm of its buildings, and the beauty of nature will make your visit a unique experience. What are you waiting for? Plan your trip now!
