Oderzo
Encyclopedia
Oderzo is a town and comune
in the province of Treviso
, Veneto
, northern Italy
.
It lies in the heart of the Venetian plain, about 66 km to the northeast of Venice
. Oderzo is traversed by the Monticano River, a tributary of the Livenza.
The centro storico, or town center, is rich with archeological ruins which give insight into Oderzo's history as a notable crossroad in the Roman Empire
.
, around the 10th century BC.
From the mid-9th century BC the Veneti
occupied site and gave it its name. Etymologically, "-terg-" in Opitergium stems from a Venetic root word indicating a market (q.v. Tergeste, the old name of Trieste
). The location of Oderzo on the Venetian plain made it ideal as a center for trade.
road, finished in 148 BC, increased the importance of Oderzo.
During the Roman Civil War, Caius Volteius Capito, a centurion born in Oderzo, fought on the side of Julius Caesar
against Pompey
.
In 48 BC the city was elevated to the rank of Roman municipium
and its citizens assigned to the Roman tribe Papiria. With the reforms of Augustus Oderzo was incorporated into Regio X of Italia, Venetia et Histria. The Roman era witnessed prodigious building projects including a forum, a basilica, temples and many private homes.
(167) while, according to a local legend, Attila hid a treasure in a town's pit. Under the Byzantine Empire
, it became the seat of an exarch
and was held by the Byzantines until its destruction by the Lombard
king Grimoald
in 667. Much of its population fled to the nearby city of Heraclea
, still under Byzantine control. Most of its territory passed to the Count of Ceneda
.
According to tradition, the first Doge of Venice
, Paolo Lucio Anafesto
, came from Oderzo. The town, which had grown again around a castel from c. 1000, was contended between the bishops of Belluno and Ceneda, the comune
of Treviso and the feudal da Camino
(originary of the Camino castle, now part of Oderzo) and da Romano families until, in 1380, it became a stable possession of the Republic of Venice
.
, the town was damaged in the aftermath of the Italian rout at Caporetto
.
In 1943 it was a centre of the civil war between the German puppet Republic of Salò (RSI) and the partisan resistance. In 1945 120 people suspect of allegiance to the RSI were executed (see Oderzo Massacre).
The city was governed by the Italian Christian Democratic
party from 1945–1993, and lived a notable economic boom, which also attracted a massive immigration
from the southern Italy regions.
In the frazione of Colfrancui is the mysterious Mutera, an artificial hill of the Adriatic Veneti
, probably used as an observatory.
with: Pontremoli
, Italy Suffolk
, United States
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:...
in the province of Treviso
Province of Treviso
The Province of Treviso is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Treviso.The province has an area of 2,477 km², and a total population of 886.886 . There are 95 municipalities in the province .-Municipalities:-External links:*...
, Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
, northern 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...
.
It lies in the heart of the Venetian plain, about 66 km to the northeast of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. Oderzo is traversed by the Monticano River, a tributary of the Livenza.
The centro storico, or town center, is rich with archeological ruins which give insight into Oderzo's history as a notable crossroad in the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
Political division
The six suburbs or frazioni which surround Oderzo almost in the form of a hexagon. Starting from the north and then proceeding clockwise, they are:
|
|
Venetic period
The earliest settlement of the area can be dated to the Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, around the 10th century BC.
From the mid-9th century BC the Veneti
Adriatic Veneti
The Veneti were an ancient people who inhabited north-eastern Italy, in an area corresponding to the modern-day region of the Veneto....
occupied site and gave it its name. Etymologically, "-terg-" in Opitergium stems from a Venetic root word indicating a market (q.v. Tergeste, the old name of Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
). The location of Oderzo on the Venetian plain made it ideal as a center for trade.
Romanization
The Veneti of Oderzo appear to have maintained friendly relations with the Romans and the population was gradually Romanized. The Via PostumiaVia Postumia
The Via Postumia was an ancient Roman road of northern Italy constructed in 148 BC by the consul Spurius Postumius Albinus Magnus.It ran from the coast at Genua through the mountains to Dertona, Placentia and Cremona, just east of the point where it crossed the Po River...
road, finished in 148 BC, increased the importance of Oderzo.
During the Roman Civil War, Caius Volteius Capito, a centurion born in Oderzo, fought on the side of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
against Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
.
In 48 BC the city was elevated to the rank of Roman municipium
Municipium
Municipium , the prototype of English municipality, was the Latin term for a town or city. Etymologically the municipium was a social contract between municipes, the "duty holders," or citizens of the town. The duties, or munera, were a communal obligation assumed by the municipes in exchange for...
and its citizens assigned to the Roman tribe Papiria. With the reforms of Augustus Oderzo was incorporated into Regio X of Italia, Venetia et Histria. The Roman era witnessed prodigious building projects including a forum, a basilica, temples and many private homes.
Middle Ages
During the barbarian invasions, Oderzo was sacked by the MarcomanniMarcomanni
The Marcomanni were a Germanic tribe, probably related to the Buri, Suebi or Suevi.-Origin:Scholars believe their name derives possibly from Proto-Germanic forms of "march" and "men"....
(167) while, according to a local legend, Attila hid a treasure in a town's pit. Under the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, it became the seat of an exarch
Exarch
In the Byzantine Empire, an exarch was governor with extended authority of a province at some remove from the capital Constantinople. The prevailing situation frequently involved him in military operations....
and was held by the Byzantines until its destruction by the Lombard
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
king Grimoald
Grimoald I of Benevento
Grimoald I was duke of Benevento and king of the Lombards .Born probably before 610 to Duke Gisulf II of Friuli and the Bavarian princess Ramhilde, daughter of Duke Garibald I of Bavaria, he succeeded his brother Radoald as duke of Benevento...
in 667. Much of its population fled to the nearby city of Heraclea
Eraclea
thumb|250px|right|Location of Eraclea in the province of Venice.Eraclea is a town and comune in the province of Venice, Veneto, Italy. SP42 goes through it.Eraclea Mare is the Lido of Eraclea....
, still under Byzantine control. Most of its territory passed to the Count of Ceneda
Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto is a city and comune situated in the Province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, Italy, in the northeast of the Italian peninsula, between the Piave and the Livenza rivers.-Geography:...
.
According to tradition, the first Doge of Venice
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
, Paolo Lucio Anafesto
Paolo Lucio Anafesto
Paoluccio or Paolo Lucio Anafesto was the reputed first doge of Venice. A noble of Eraclea, then the primary city of the region, he was elected in 697 as an official over the entire lagoon that surrounded Venice, both to put an end to the conflicts between the various tribunes who until then had...
, came from Oderzo. The town, which had grown again around a castel from c. 1000, was contended between the bishops of Belluno and Ceneda, the comune
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:...
of Treviso and the feudal da Camino
Da Camino
The da Camino were an Italian noble family whose fame is connected to the medieval history of the March of Treviso, a city of which they were lords for a while.-History:...
(originary of the Camino castle, now part of Oderzo) and da Romano families until, in 1380, it became a stable possession of the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
.
Modern era
Oderzo was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866. In 1917, during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the town was damaged in the aftermath of the Italian rout at Caporetto
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
.
In 1943 it was a centre of the civil war between the German puppet Republic of Salò (RSI) and the partisan resistance. In 1945 120 people suspect of allegiance to the RSI were executed (see Oderzo Massacre).
The city was governed by the Italian Christian Democratic
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
party from 1945–1993, and lived a notable economic boom, which also attracted a massive immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
from the southern Italy regions.
Main sights
- The scenographic Piazza Grande
- The Duomo (Cathedral) of St. John the Baptist, begun in the 11th century over the ruins of the Roman temple of Mars, and re-consacrated in 1535. The original Gothic-Romanesque appearance has been modified by the subsequent renovations. It includes some notable works by Pomponio AmalteoPomponio AmalteoPomponio Amalteo was an Italian painter of the Venetian school.He was born at Motta di Livenza in Veneto. He was a pupil and son-in-law of Il Pordenone, whose style he closely imitated; he inherited Pordenone's studio at Friuli, where he led a long career...
. - Archaeological area of the Roman Forum. It includes the remains of the basilica and a wide staircase.
- Torresin (watchtower)
- The Renaissance Palazzo Porcia e Brugnera.
- The former Prisons (Porta Pretoria). It includes the remains of a Middle Ages prison, whose most famous guest was the trobadour Sordello da Goito.
In the frazione of Colfrancui is the mysterious Mutera, an artificial hill of the Adriatic Veneti
Adriatic Veneti
The Veneti were an ancient people who inhabited north-eastern Italy, in an area corresponding to the modern-day region of the Veneto....
, probably used as an observatory.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Oderzo is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Pontremoli
Pontremoli
Pontremoli is a small city, comune and bishop's see in the province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. Literally translated, "Pontremoli" derives from "Trembling Bridge" , with the commune having been named after a prominent bridge across the Magra.Pontremoli is situated in the upper...
, Italy Suffolk
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...