Cavriana

Cavriana is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy.

Geography

Cavriana is in the northern part of the Province of Mantua. It is located about east of Milan and about northwest of Mantua. It is on a hilly territory (with a minimum altitude of 43 m and a maximum of 202 m). Cavriana borders with the Province of Brescia, with the municipalities of Pozzolengo and Lonato del Garda, while the Province of Verona and the Garda Lake are just a few kilometres away.

History

Settlements in Cavriana started in the Bronze Age, specifically in 2040 B.C. with the pile-dwelling of Bande. Many findings of that age have been discovered, among which some important brotlaibidoles, small clay objects dating back to the 2100-1400 B.C. periods, engraved with symbols whose meaning is still unknown and found throughout Europe. The phase of Romanization started in 225 b.C. Cavriana was a centre of commerce thanks to the main roads passing near the settlement (''Via Postumia'' and ''Strada Cavallara''): this is why many Roman villas have been discovered, as well as two necropolis and a worship place. In 1367 Cavriana became part of the territories of the House of Gonzaga, princes of Mantua. Cavriana saw a flourishing time and its decline started in 1630. It fell under Austrian domination in 1707. On the 24th June 1859 Cavriana saw the Battle of Solferino, when the Austrian army was defeated by Napoleon III. Cavriana joined the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

The road between Cerlongo and Guidizzolo, in the communal territory of Cavriana, was the location of Alfonso de Portago's fatal accident in the 1957 Mille Miglia. A memorial slab remembers the event along the road.

Main sights

There are two main churches, the parish church of Santa Maria Nova - a Baroque building dedicated to the patron San Biagio - and a ''Pieve,'' a Romanic building dedicated to Saint Mary. Numerous oratories have been erected when Christianity spread in the area, as any small community built their own worship place.

The main historic buildings are Villa Mirra, which belonged to the Gonzaga family, and the ruins of the old castle, which was demolished in around 1770 by the Austrians.

Unesco World Heritage Site

The hamlet of Bande is home to some prehistoric pile-dwelling (or stilt house) settlements. They were declared part of the World Heritage Site of Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps by UNESCO in 2011.

Culture

Museums

There are two museums in Cavriana:

* the ''Museo archeologico dell'Alto Mantovano'' (Archeological Museum of the upper part of the Province of Mantua), which hosts a variety of archaeological findings and remains.
* the ''Museo Vecchio Mulino e Antichi Mestieri,'' home to a number of tools used in the area between 1800 and 1960.

Wines

Cavriana, as proven by the archaeological findings of the prehistoric era, has always been a territory with a vocation for wine. Today, the hills are covered by vineyards and some DOC wines are produced.

''Palio della Capra d'Oro''

The ''Palio della Capra d'Oro'' has taken place in Cavriana. It is a goat race (capra=goat) held once a year in July. A goat for each ''contrada'' has to complete a brief route and it is accompanied by a ''cavrer'', usually a child, who cannot touch it, just call in order to be followed until the finish line. Before the race, people belonging to the different ''contrade'' parade toward the town center in Renaissance costumes. Each ''contrada'' has a specific colour: Villaggio (in yellow), San Rocco (in light blue), la Pieve (in violet), Castello (in bordeaux and white), Pozzone-Bande (in red and white), Scarnadore (in orange) and San Cassiano (in green). The winner of the race brings the prize to their own ''contrada'': the Golden Goat (''Capra d'Oro'').

See also

* Gonzaga
* Mantua
* Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps
* Lake Garda

References

External links

Official website

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Cities and towns in Lombardy