Lonigo

Of the “strong and well-fortified Castle, also called Castellazzo for its immense size,” only a few towers remain, arranged in such a way that one can see that the area occupied by the castle of Lonigo was indeed very extensive.

It stood on the slightly elevated site where the Cathedral, Palazzo Cassia, and Palazzo Mugna (the seat of the municipal administration) now stand, along with some fine residential houses. It was also identified by the land surveyors sent from Rome about 2,000 years ago, who chose it as “the center, the umbilicus of the centuriation that extended north to Gambellara and Montebello and south reached the western Berici, beyond Orgiano.”

That natural mound of land, lapped to the north and west by the Guà river, was ideally suited for the settlement of a village, and it is likely that a Roman vicus or colony was built there, as documented by numerous findings; however, we must go back to 976/977 to find a written document attesting to the existence of the Castle of Lonigo. Something well-protected must have been built there since the first Roman occupation.

The construction of a proper castle with stone walls and towers must have occurred at the beginning of the 10th century, when the Hungarians repeatedly invaded our fertile plain, sowing death and destruction; Lonigo, in fact, had the fortune first, and the misfortune later, of being located at a very important road junction.

A boundary stone found in the locality of Lobbia, dating back to 135 BC, marked the borders between the Roman municipalities of Vicenza and Este. A major road passed through there, a Callis Magna, which suggests that the name Calmano attributed to the castle originated from this.

In some documents from the beginning of the year 1000, Calmano Castle is defined as “the major castle,” which suggests there may have even been two castles. Indeed, there is mention of Castelgiuncoli, and for many authors—starting from Maurisio, a contemporary chronicler of Ezzelino and Alberico da Romano, and more recently, in the 1700s, in some maps by Crestani and Colombari—Castelgiuncoli must have been located in that wide space between the Village and the Castle enclosure that now corresponds to Piazzetta San Marco.

The great Castle was held, albeit through alternating fortunes, for much of the 12th and 13th centuries by the Maltraversi Counts, a powerful family from the Vicenza area who claimed Longobard origins. Some were good and wise lords, others less so. In particular, one of them, from the Malacapella branch, committed many misdeeds against the population and political opponents, so much so that he was forced to flee, first to his other castle in Cologna, and then to the one in Montebello, held by his relatives. In reality, throughout the 13th century, the Castle of Lonigo was besieged, plundered, and burned by Guelphs and Ghibellines, by Veronese, Vicentines, and Paduans; its entire territory was devastated by the soldiers of the Emperor, the Marquis of Este, the Count of Sambonifacio, and Ezzelino da Romano. It essentially continued to pay the price for being in that strategic position mentioned earlier. And there was no lack of struggles against the Municipality of Lonigo.

The Signories succeeded one another. For much of the 14th century, the Castle was governed by the Scaligeri, to whom we actually owe a fair period of tranquility and a strengthening of the walls of the Village and the Towers. At the end of the 14th century, for about twenty years, it even came under the rule of Gian Galeazzo Visconti; finally, from May 8, 1404, the entire Community and the Castle of Lonigo signed the Acts of Dedication to the government of the Serenissima Republic of Venice. But this did not mean the population could enjoy long periods of peace: they were often oppressed by the soldiers of Venice themselves, or by their enemies.

Let us now visit what remains of this great Castle.

We recommend starting with a visit to the Torrione: it stands imposing with its 34 meters in height and a square base of 68 square meters. For about half of its height, it is built with squared stones; the other half bears the typical mark of Scaliger defensive construction.

A plaque at its base, above the small fountain, tells us that in 1882 the Municipality of Lonigo demolished the remains of the Scaliger Castle and widened the surrounding squares to build the new Temple. Upon request, it can also be visited and offers an excellent view over the entire city: it was, after all, the keep of the Castle.

We continue by passing in front of the steps of this Temple, which for us is the Cathedral; we leave via Castelgiuncoli on our right and enter via Pontedera, avoiding the gentle stepped ramp that leads to a small tower of Palazzo Mugna: let us not be deceived, it was only built in the 19th century.

It was built, in fact, in 1405, and was of considerable importance both for the inhabitants of the Castle and for those of the Community. It was repeatedly flooded by the Guà, which flowed alongside it, and was devastated and plundered by soldiers of various origins. It was demolished in 1876-77 to make way for the new Temple. Joined to it was also the Convent of the Poor Clare Nuns, inaugurated in 1536 with a solemn ceremony. Gradually, it welcomed all the nuns coming from S. Maria della Fontana; then, after having assumed great importance, it was finally abandoned in 1796.

We turn to the west and see the last still-existing Tower, recently renovated. It too was built, or restructured, by the Scaligeri; it still bears the marks of when, in the modern era, it was used as a prison until a few decades ago.

It has recently been restored and stands out in the perfection of its original forms; so too does the building flanking it, as powerful as a fortress.

Looking toward the west, we can glimpse that small remnant of a tower I mentioned earlier, in the Lovato garden.

A little further to the left, having left the large parking lot behind us, we take the last stretch of via Castegiuncoli; this ends right in the Chiampan-Purelli garden, on the corner of which, to the right, are the remains of the other Tower already mentioned. Retracing our steps, we pass through the gate that leads into the Villa Mugna complex, the seat of the Municipal Administration and other social service buildings. Right at the end is the seat of the Municipal Library and, on the far left, a wonderful small garden overlooking the other Scaliger tower already seen; and, with a small leap into the past, why not enjoy the songs and jests of the minstrels and troubadours who arrived from Provence or Sicily to cheer the gentle ladies intent on weaving princely warps? And why not advance well-founded hypotheses that the brick structures, discovered and immediately covered in the immense courtyard, are precisely the storehouses (canipe) mentioned in many, many documents? And why not think that right there, at the highest and most easily defensible point, the first “castrum” of Lonigo was built?

At the beginning of the 15th century, the crisis into which the Duchy of Milan plunged following the death of Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1402) led to a profound restructuring of Italian geopolitical arrangements: in particular, the Venetian territories conquered by the Milanese in the previous century came into the sights of the Carraresi, lords of Padua, to the great concern of Venice. The Paduan conquest of Verona was therefore enough to convince the Serenissima of the need for direct intervention on the Mainland. In 1404, with Venice’s acceptance of the dedication of Vicenza (which thus escaped both the Visconti and the Carraresi), a period of warfare began that would soon lead the lagoon republic to be mistress of a state extending from the Adda to Friuli.

In that crucial year of 1404, Lonigo also offered itself to the city of San Marco with a pact independent of that of Vicenza, demonstrating a certain political clarity. In exchange for a negotiated conquest, Lonigo aimed to obtain control of a vast independent administrative district located between the Vicenza and Verona areas, thus challenging the authority exercised by Vicenza over the countryside.

The desire remained frustrated, however: the new Venetian state intended to maintain a formal status quo as far as possible, reaffirming the traditional supremacy of city institutions over rural areas. Nevertheless, in exchange for a peaceful acceptance of this order, Lonigo obtained important tax exemptions and the status of podesteria, albeit of a lower grade (the podestà sent annually from Venice could exercise jurisdiction only in civil matters, and with strong limitations).

As early as 1441, the ambiguous conduct of the people of Lonigo during the war with Milan then in progress (Lonigo had momentarily gone over to the enemy in 1439 to escape the siege) provided Venice with the opportunity to reduce Lonigo’s tax privileges in favor of Vicenza.

A greater tax burden, therefore, as well as the substantial peace that affected the Lower Vicenza area from the second half of the 15th century, caused an abandonment of the ancient medieval fortifications and their progressive decay. To confirm this, here is how the Venetian diarist Marin Sanudo described Lonigo in 1498: “(…) a castle surrounds about half a mile, and it is narrow; it has two gates: that of the square comes from Cologna, and that of San Marco goes to Vicenza; it has 300 hearths (…) It is a castle in poor condition, because it is uninhabited, it is falling apart and is not guarded (…)”.

On the other hand, private bequests and the arrival of new religious orders in the village caused sacred architecture to flourish: in 1486, the Olivetans began the construction of the sanctuary and monastery of Madonna dei Miracoli, while the Canons Regular of San Giorgio in Alga proceeded with the reconstruction of the monastery of Saints Fermo and Rustico, as did the Franciscan Minors with San Daniele. In those same years, the community of Lonigo committed itself to the construction of its church, programmatically dedicated to the evangelist Mark.

The War of the League of Cambrai

But new concerns were already appearing on the horizon: in 1508, Pope Julius II unleashed a powerful coalition against Venice. The Empire, Spain, France, and most of the Italian States allied against the Lion of Saint Mark with the intent of driving it back into the sea.

After initial skirmishes, a pitched battle took place on May 14, 1509: at Agnadello, in the Crema area, the Venetian armies commanded by Nicolò Orsini di Pitigliano suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of the French. In disarray, the republic’s army had no choice but to retreat in haste to Mestre, leaving the Mainland at the mercy of the invading armies.

But already in the late summer of 1509, taking advantage of internal distrust within the enemy coalition, Venice prepared for reconquest: the most glorious moment was probably the capture, fortification, and defense of Padua from the siege of the imperial armies. The tide had turned: with the emperor fleeing toward Verona, Orsini was able first to retake Vicenza, and then to station himself with the bulk of the troops to the south, in the castle of Lonigo, where he decided to spend the winter. But Nicolò Orsini di Pitigliano, captain general of the Serenissima Republic of Venice, never left Lonigo: worn out by age and the hardships of war, the commander died on January 10, 1510, in the convent of San Daniele. A few days later, the illustrious Vicentine Luigi da Porto would report the news with these words: “The most excellent captain Nicolò da Pitigliano was taken from us by death here in Lonigo a few days ago, being, I believe, wasted by old age and the hardships suffered in the siege of Padua (…)”.

But the war did not stop, continuing with alternating fortunes: in 1512, during a retreat of the Venetian front, the Franco-Germans reconquered Lonigo, slaughtering the population and burning its castle. It was the last war trauma suffered by Lonigo in the modern era: with the Peace of Noyon in 1516, a period of substantial peace began for the Lower Vicenza area that would last until the Napoleonic campaigns.

The Venetians in Lonigo

In the mid-16th century, the acquired security of the Mainland dominion convinced the Venetian patricians of the opportunity to invest in land resources: in the territory of Lonigo, the Pisani family stood out among others, if only for the three magnificent residences (the Rocca, Villa Pisani, and Palazzo Pisani) they had built there. More slowly but steadily, the reconstruction of the Community palace burned in 1512 proceeded, a symbol of renewed political and institutional fervor: the 16th century saw the emergence in Lonigo—as in other minor centers of the Venetian plain—of a new ruling class, which, although still traditionally linked to land ownership, began to justify its power through the possession of specific legal and professional skills. Those people of Lonigo who, by virtue of their knowledge of the law, established themselves monopolistically as representatives of the Municipality, were notaries and legal experts, implementing a progressive closure of the community institutions of medieval origin. The convicinia (ancient assembly of heads of families) was thus replaced by a council with authority over the election of its own members.
To oversee the work of the council, as well as to represent the community in external relations, there was the banca, a college composed of six accountants (rasonieri), two deans, and a syndic—a governing body elected periodically by the council itself, which also had jurisdiction over the administration of the local pawnshop (monte di pietà).
From the mid-16th century, a second syndic began to be elected to be sent to the newly formed institution of the Territory, a body that brought together the 13 representatives of the districts of the Vicenza area, primarily desired by the rural communities in an attempt to curb the overwhelming power of the City of Vicenza in tax matters. The people of Lonigo were among the protagonists of the formation and institutional life of the Territory, on several occasions presiding over the assembly as procurators general.
The entire institutional structure survived the reform attempts of the 16th and 17th centuries, reaching 1796 substantially intact, the year in which Napoleonic troops caused the exhausted Republic of Venice to collapse. In Lonigo, the French were welcomed with general jubilation, destined to turn into disappointment as early as the following year, when at Campoformio Napoleon decided on the Cession of Veneto to Austria.

It can be argued that the 19th century was a turning point in the formation of modern-day Lonigo.

In those years, Lonigo was a town populated by 7,742 inhabitants, of whom 1,235 were farmers. The strong presence of people from an agricultural background was reflected in the events and products of excellence that made the town famous even beyond national borders in the 19th century.

The product that primarily established itself for its quality and fame was wine.

At that time, the contracts for the management of fields and vineyards used for the cultivation of various products, including grapes, were diversified: they ranged from short-term rentals to rentals guaranteed by deposits. Once harvested and processed, the grapes became highly prized wine, thanks to which Lonigo began to be known for its excellence.

Closely linked to wine was the horse fair event.

Already known and appreciated in the modern era, the fair reached its peak in the second half of the 19th century.

From a document of 1806, we know that it took place three times a year to celebrate as many anniversaries connected to the cult of the Virgin Mary: specifically on March 25, August 15, and September 8, but of these three appointments, the one that survived and has reached us was the meeting on March 25.

The 19th century was also a century of great urban changes. Three schools were founded in Lonigo: in 1868, the Technical School, where classical subjects such as Latin and Greek were taught; then the Kindergarten, a building constructed in 1870 by the Charity Congregation; and finally the Elementary School, in 1871, which consisted of five male classes, four female classes, and 15 teachers paid by the municipality. Regarding the Elementary School, it is curious to remember that, as was customary in those years, the buildings were divided by gender; therefore, the male site was in the Old Hospital, while the female site was at the entrance of the Contrada, later moved to Palazzo Scortegagna.

It is interesting to highlight that in 1882 a new “temporary” school joined the three described above: it was the Agricultural School. The archetype of the still existing and renowned Agricultural Technical Institute, this school was not autonomous but worked alongside the Technical School, differing from it, however, by a specific and special course in Agriculture.

Since there were schools, there had to be a library.

Founded in 1869 by some wealthy figures from Lonigo, the facility already boasted 1,078 volumes twelve years after its opening and 3,421 in 1914. Despite being dependent on the Circulating Library Society, the building managed to acquire its own autonomy and become a point of reference for the population.

The construction of the municipal theater further contributed to Lonigo’s excellent reputation.

After the private Concordi theater was sold in 1890, the municipal council of the time immediately moved to secure the monopoly for the construction of a public work.

The then-mayor Filippo Maffei had the construction project approved on March 30, 1891, which was entrusted to the engineer Giovanni Carraro.

From some articles in L’Arena, we know that the work began and was completed between July and October of the same year. The inauguration took place on October 23, 1892, with Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, an essai opera suitable for this important milestone.

At the end of the century, in 1895, a project was approved to enlarge the “old” hospital.

Thanks to the intervention of patrons such as Prince Giovanelli, C. Pasqualigo, D. Donati, P. De Gobbi, and A. De Lazzara, the “new” hospital was inaugurated on May 28, 1899.

Coupled with this was the approval and construction of the public aqueduct, which served to channel and dispose of the town’s drainage water.

Three years after the approval of the aforementioned projects, on December 2, Lonigo was invited to connect to the electrical grid. The competition to be beaten for lighting was oil, but through the intervention of the Banca Popolare di Lonigo, the city was able to benefit from public electricity from 1892.

All these buildings, events, and products emphasize the importance and fame that Lonigo enjoyed in the 19th century, and equally help us understand how that century was the turning point for the evolution of a Lonigo that emerged and became “adult” in the 1900s.

On the mezzanine floor, you can visit the ornithological museum, containing 250 specimens, which constitutes one of the most prestigious collections from the historical period between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Not only local birdlife, but also furnishings, clothing, and various objects belonging to the Leonicena Carlotto family, which left the entire collection to the municipality – For information about visiting, contact the municipal culture office.