Illasi
Encyclopedia
Illasi is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Verona
in the Italian
region Veneto
, located about 90 km west of Venice
and about 15 km east of Verona
. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,112 and an area of 25.0 km².
The municipality of Illasi contains the frazioni
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Cellore and Donzellino.
Illasi borders the following municipalities: Cazzano di Tramigna
, Colognola ai Colli
, Lavagno
, Mezzane di Sotto
, and Tregnago
.
: during 2007 a burial ground with 63 tombs, dated II millennium B.C., was discovered near the village of Arano. Several remains were found of the Roman presence in the area: the stones, now mainly in the Museo Maffeiano in Verona, show a population composed of retired veterans, to whom, after service, the Roman Emperors assigned pieces of land to be cultivated (mainly cereals, but also vineyards and olive trees). The name Illasi is supposed to be after the name "Gelasius", probably a Roman centurion. Some scholars supposed a simple derivation from "Latii", that means the Latini, people from Lazio. In the late Roman period (IV century) one of the first Christian oratories outside the city of Verona was established in the hamlet of Saint Justina(S.Giustina). It became a center of evangelization, sending missionaries to all the eastern province of Verona. The early Middleage belltower of the religious complex can still be seen. After the fall of Rome
(476), the Lombards
conquered Northern Italy and mixed with the Roman and barbaric population: some remains (jewelry, weapons) were found in the village of Cellore. In the Middle Age the church of Illasi was granted a status of Pieve, a religious center controlling the area and collecting taxes. The castle, that today dominates the village and surroundings, was built in the XII century. The structure, composed by a fortified palace and a single tower, surrounded by a wall, is extremely peculiar and almost unique in Europe. It is still unclear which lord built it. It already existed when the tyrant Ezzelino da Romano
used it as a base for his wars. Then it became one of the main strongholds during the domination of the Della Scala family, lords of Verona. It was sieged several times, and at the end of the XIV century it was burned by the troops of the Da Carrara family, lords of Padua
, just before to be conquered, like all the province of Verona, by the Republic of Venice
. In the 15th century its military function was impaired by the use of guns: after an easy conquest by Milanese troops, the Venetians decided to dismiss it. They gave it to the Pompei family, one of the few noble families of Verona always faithful to Venice and without sympathies for the rival Austrian Empire. The Pompei shortly used the castle as a residence, before to move to the magnificent villas they built, down the hill, in the centre of the village (now Villa Sagramoso Perez-Pompei and Villa Pompei-Carlotti). The Pompei received the municipality of Illasi like a feud, and exercised civil jurisdiction until the arrival of Napoleone Bonaparte who ended the Republic of Venice (1797).
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:...
(municipality) in the Province of Verona
Province of Verona
The Province of Verona is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Verona.-Overview:The province has an area of 3,109 km², and a total population of 912,981...
in the Italian
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...
region 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...
, located about 90 km west 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...
and about 15 km east of Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 5,112 and an area of 25.0 km².
The municipality of Illasi contains the frazioni
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Cellore and Donzellino.
Illasi borders the following municipalities: Cazzano di Tramigna
Cazzano di Tramigna
Cazzano di Tramigna is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 20 km northeast of Verona...
, Colognola ai Colli
Colognola ai Colli
Colognola ai Colli is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 15 km east of Verona....
, Lavagno
Lavagno
Lavagno is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 12 km east of Verona...
, Mezzane di Sotto
Mezzane di Sotto
Mezzane di Sotto is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 13 km northeast of Verona. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,949 and an area of 19.6 km².Mezzane di Sotto borders the following...
, and Tregnago
Tregnago
Tregnago is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 90 km west of Venice and about 15 km northeast of Verona...
.
History
The area was inhabited since the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
: during 2007 a burial ground with 63 tombs, dated II millennium B.C., was discovered near the village of Arano. Several remains were found of the Roman presence in the area: the stones, now mainly in the Museo Maffeiano in Verona, show a population composed of retired veterans, to whom, after service, the Roman Emperors assigned pieces of land to be cultivated (mainly cereals, but also vineyards and olive trees). The name Illasi is supposed to be after the name "Gelasius", probably a Roman centurion. Some scholars supposed a simple derivation from "Latii", that means the Latini, people from Lazio. In the late Roman period (IV century) one of the first Christian oratories outside the city of Verona was established in the hamlet of Saint Justina(S.Giustina). It became a center of evangelization, sending missionaries to all the eastern province of Verona. The early Middleage belltower of the religious complex can still be seen. After the fall of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(476), the Lombards
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...
conquered Northern Italy and mixed with the Roman and barbaric population: some remains (jewelry, weapons) were found in the village of Cellore. In the Middle Age the church of Illasi was granted a status of Pieve, a religious center controlling the area and collecting taxes. The castle, that today dominates the village and surroundings, was built in the XII century. The structure, composed by a fortified palace and a single tower, surrounded by a wall, is extremely peculiar and almost unique in Europe. It is still unclear which lord built it. It already existed when the tyrant Ezzelino da Romano
Ezzelino da Romano
Ezzelino da Romano was the name of various seignors of fiefs and cities in northern Italy starting from the 12th century AD.*The family was founded by Ecelo , who received the fiefs of Romano, including Romano d'Ezzelino and Onara, near Cittadella, Veneto*Ezzelino II il Balbo*Ezzelino II da Romano,...
used it as a base for his wars. Then it became one of the main strongholds during the domination of the Della Scala family, lords of Verona. It was sieged several times, and at the end of the XIV century it was burned by the troops of the Da Carrara family, lords of Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, just before to be conquered, like all the province of Verona, by 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...
. In the 15th century its military function was impaired by the use of guns: after an easy conquest by Milanese troops, the Venetians decided to dismiss it. They gave it to the Pompei family, one of the few noble families of Verona always faithful to Venice and without sympathies for the rival Austrian Empire. The Pompei shortly used the castle as a residence, before to move to the magnificent villas they built, down the hill, in the centre of the village (now Villa Sagramoso Perez-Pompei and Villa Pompei-Carlotti). The Pompei received the municipality of Illasi like a feud, and exercised civil jurisdiction until the arrival of Napoleone Bonaparte who ended the Republic of Venice (1797).