Bedonia
Encyclopedia
Bedonia is a comune
within the Province of Parma
, in Emilia-Romagna
(Italy
).
age, and later was a Roman
colony, under the name of Bitunia.
From the 11th century it was a fief of the bishops of Piacenza
, and later of the Malaspina. In 1257 it was included in the State of the Landi, to which it belonged until 1682, when it was confiscated by the Duchy of Parma
.
During the Risorgimento, the population was protagonist of an insurrectionary movement for the annexation of the country to Piedmont
.
In recent times Bedonia has been given an important role as a remembrance community that contributed to the Partisan fights (during World War II).
In the life of Bedonia an important role of cultural promotion has been carried out from the Seminary, instituted in 1846 from Mons. Giovanni Agazzi and Stefano Grapnels.
The city has two important churches: Sant'Antonino, a Baroque
church in the historical center, and the Basilica of San Marco , which is next to the Seminario Vescovile (built in 1846). In it there is a Planetarium, a Museum of Natural History
, a Xylographic Exposition, an Art Gallery
and a gigantic National Library
.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di S. Marco (Madonna of S. Mark), built in 1939, conserves one wooden statue created in 1531 representing the Madonna
with Child on throne.
The ancient Arc of Entrance to the old town is now being included in the breathtaking system of the "Peschiera Park". Also, in Via Trieste (Trieste street) there is an important historical building that shows the Landi family symbol. It's among the most important noble constructions in the whole valley of river Taro.
Of unquestionable value are the natural resources and beautiful landscapes. North of the town, the Mountain Pelpi
elevates to 1,410 meters, on top of which there is a huge cross. It's, indeed, a pilgrimage site after a miracle of the Virgin Mary occurred over a century ago.
In the center of the village a river runs (Pelpirana) which converges a few miles after into the Taro River.
A few miles west, the tallest mountain (Monte Penna) elevates to about 1745 meters. It is also a pilgrimage place and a suggestive rocky peak surrounded by green forests. However the province lies between 468m and 1745m above sea level.
During recent years, many sporting structures have been built (swimming pool, camping, tennis fields, etc).
Once in the region you are able to make use of the modern sports complexes (swimming-pools, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, skating and football) and an equipped camping complex, which is situated on one of the most beautiful hills of the town. The swimming pool is a major tourist attraction in the town and is a pleasurable place to swim and take in the surrounding panorama.
Also available are mushroom picking opportunities which includes the world famous Porcino Valtarese.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
within the Province of Parma
Province of Parma
The Province of Parma is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Parma.It has an area of 3,449 km², and a total population of 413,198...
, in Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
(Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
).
History
The communal territory was already settled during the NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
age, and later was a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
colony, under the name of Bitunia.
From the 11th century it was a fief of the bishops of Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
, and later of the Malaspina. In 1257 it was included in the State of the Landi, to which it belonged until 1682, when it was confiscated by the Duchy of Parma
Duchy of Parma
The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered on the city of Parma....
.
During the Risorgimento, the population was protagonist of an insurrectionary movement for the annexation of the country to Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
.
In recent times Bedonia has been given an important role as a remembrance community that contributed to the Partisan fights (during World War II).
In the life of Bedonia an important role of cultural promotion has been carried out from the Seminary, instituted in 1846 from Mons. Giovanni Agazzi and Stefano Grapnels.
Main sights
The city, just a few miles away from Liguria, is characterized by colorful buildings of obvious Ligurian influence.The city has two important churches: Sant'Antonino, a Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
church in the historical center, and the Basilica of San Marco , which is next to the Seminario Vescovile (built in 1846). In it there is a Planetarium, a Museum of Natural History
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, a Xylographic Exposition, an Art Gallery
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
and a gigantic National Library
National library
A national library is a library specifically established by the government of a country to serve as the preeminent repository of information for that country. Unlike public libraries, these rarely allow citizens to borrow books...
.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di S. Marco (Madonna of S. Mark), built in 1939, conserves one wooden statue created in 1531 representing the Madonna
Madonna (art)
Images of the Madonna and the Madonna and Child or Virgin and Child are pictorial or sculptured representations of Mary, Mother of Jesus, either alone, or more frequently, with the infant Jesus. These images are central icons of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity where Mary remains...
with Child on throne.
The ancient Arc of Entrance to the old town is now being included in the breathtaking system of the "Peschiera Park". Also, in Via Trieste (Trieste street) there is an important historical building that shows the Landi family symbol. It's among the most important noble constructions in the whole valley of river Taro.
Of unquestionable value are the natural resources and beautiful landscapes. North of the town, the Mountain Pelpi
Monte Pelpi (Emilia Romagna)
Monte Pelpi is a mountain 1,495 metres high located in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines in northern Italy. The mountain overlooks the towns of Bedonia to the south and Bardi to the north, and rises like a cone between the Taro, Toncina and Ceno valleys...
elevates to 1,410 meters, on top of which there is a huge cross. It's, indeed, a pilgrimage site after a miracle of the Virgin Mary occurred over a century ago.
In the center of the village a river runs (Pelpirana) which converges a few miles after into the Taro River.
A few miles west, the tallest mountain (Monte Penna) elevates to about 1745 meters. It is also a pilgrimage place and a suggestive rocky peak surrounded by green forests. However the province lies between 468m and 1745m above sea level.
During recent years, many sporting structures have been built (swimming pool, camping, tennis fields, etc).
Economy
An important voice of the local economy is represented by tourism. The area is dependent on summer tourists passing by to enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside. Although the area is not well known to many tourists the uniqueness of the area lets them enjoy the facilities in tranquility.Once in the region you are able to make use of the modern sports complexes (swimming-pools, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, skating and football) and an equipped camping complex, which is situated on one of the most beautiful hills of the town. The swimming pool is a major tourist attraction in the town and is a pleasurable place to swim and take in the surrounding panorama.
Also available are mushroom picking opportunities which includes the world famous Porcino Valtarese.