Zone
Zone: Discovering a small Italian treasure
Welcome to Zone, a town in northern Italy located in the province of Brescia. This small village, with its 1031 inhabitants, offers a true spectacle of nature thanks to the Pyramids of Zone, a geological wonder that represents the evolution of the glacial and post-glacial period of the Alps. In this article, we will take you on a journey to discover Zone, through its history, physical geography, and curiosities.
Physical geography
Territory
Zone is located in the Cislano fraction, where you can admire the famous natural reserve of the Pyramids of Zone. These huge pillars of earth topped by larger boulders protect the underlying column from the erosive action of water. Similar phenomena are present in other areas of the country such as Segonzano, Postalesio, and in some localities of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano.
Origin of the name
The toponym "Zone" would derive from the Roman term "jugone", translated as "pass". In fact, the territory is located near the Croce di Zone pass, between the municipalities of Pisogne and Marone, which connects the Val Trompia and the Val Camonica. The territory was inhabited since ancient times, becoming a passing place for travellers.
History
Origins
Zone still preserves traces of an ancient history. Already in Roman times, the locality represented a strategic passage point, thanks to its position at the Croce pass, which made it a possible seat of manors to protect the territory from the Camuni communities, people of the Val Camonica. Traces of Roman era buildings have been found in the Pagà locality, as well as traces of an ancient Roman road near the eighteenth-century Marian sanctuary of Disgiolo.
The expulsion of the Prefectural Commissioner in 1925
In February 1925, the new Prefectural Commissioner of Zone, Giovanni Berghinzoni, who had recently taken office, found himself having to face many problems with the local community. The political climate in those years in Italy was not the best, but the fascists were unpopular and threatened by the local population, so much so that the fascist hierarchs defined the town "outlaw". The measures taken by the Commissioner, such as the imposition of the tax on free grazing of goats and the ban on singing anti-fascist songs, did not contribute to calming the spirits.
Zone is a town rich in history and stories that are still passed down today. The local community is proud of its land and tries to keep it pristine and protected.
If you are looking for a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, where nature is still untouched, and where history comes alive in every corner, come and discover Zone.
