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Murta (Genoa)
Encyclopedia
Murta is a village included in the city of Genoa
in northwest Italy
.
In the past most people worked as peasants (the most famous product was the Polcevera white wine
, also produced today, although in limited quantity).
Today Murta is a residential area with many small villas built along the side of the hill.
The first documents on the Parish of Murta dates from 1143, when it was included on the Register of Diocese of Genoa (wanted by Archbishop Siro II) as a chapel subject to the main church of Rivarolo
.
In Murta was born Giovanni da Murta which was the second Doge
of the Republic of Genoa
from 1344 to 1350.
Like all Valpolcevera, in 1746 the village was involved in War of Austrian Succession and was occupied by an Austrian-Piedmontese army led by the General Botta Adorno
, which came up to Genoa, from where was expelled after the popular revolt of December 5th, 1746, set up with the legendary episode of Balilla.
Another Austrian army returned the following year and this time the occupation, lasted from April 11 to July 19, 1747, had even more devastating effects.
The Austrians had their headquarters in the Palace Bonarota (Villa Clorinda) and their troops devastated the entire village. All the church vestments an vessels were stolen and the church itself seriously damaged.
Also many private houses were plundered and many of them also burnt-out.
The local historian Luigi Persoglio wrote that 350 people died, some because of fighting against the invaders, but most for hardships and privations that people suffered in those tragic months.
The rebuilding was completed in 1770, and the inside was remade in Baroque
style.
Valuable paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries adorn the apse
and side altars.
The most precious painting is the icon of St. Martin, attributed to Flemish painter Antoon van Dyck. The painting was saved by the looting of 1747, as it had been carried to Genoa.
In the past the village of Murta was famous also for a great and very old oak
next to the church.
In some feasts among the branches of this tree was set a temporary cafè (like during the St. Martin feast of 1897). The old tree, already in decay, fell down in August 1948, during a violent storm.
Most of these palaces still exist and now, restructured, have become luxurious houses.
Among them the best known is Villa Clorinda, which belonged to several rich Genoese families (Bonarota, Doria and Costa) and today is a luxurious residence.
In 1747, during the Austrian occupation of Valpolcevera, it became the headquarters of the invaders' army.
It takes place for two consecutive weekends, during the feast of Saint Martin, on the middle of November.
This show is an interesting exhibition of pumpkins, squashes and gourds, including traditional and exotic as well. During the feast the bigger (in 2007 an Atlantic Giant
of 325 kg), the longest and the most strange pumpkins are rewarded.
At this exhibition people can enjoy many dishes and drinks based on pumpkin: pumpkin fritters, sweet and savoury, Genoese savoury pumpkin pie
and pumpkin grappa
.
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
in northwest 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...
.
Geography
It is part of the district of Bolzaneto, in Valpolcevera municipality, of which is a separate hamlet, located on the ridge a hill at the right bank of the torrent Polcevera.In the past most people worked as peasants (the most famous product was the Polcevera white wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, also produced today, although in limited quantity).
Today Murta is a residential area with many small villas built along the side of the hill.
History
The village name derives from the plant of myrtle, in Latin language just called "murta".The first documents on the Parish of Murta dates from 1143, when it was included on the Register of Diocese of Genoa (wanted by Archbishop Siro II) as a chapel subject to the main church of Rivarolo
Rivarolo Ligure
Rivarolo Ligure is a quarter in the north side of the city of Genoa, and is part of the Municipality Valpolcevera of Genoa....
.
In Murta was born Giovanni da Murta which was the second Doge
Doge of Genoa
The Republic of Genoa, in what is now northern Italy, was technically a communal republic in the early Middle Ages, although it was actually an oligarchy ruled by a small group of merchant families, from whom were selected the Doges of Genoa.- History :...
of the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
from 1344 to 1350.
Like all Valpolcevera, in 1746 the village was involved in War of Austrian Succession and was occupied by an Austrian-Piedmontese army led by the General Botta Adorno
Antoniotto Botta Adorno
thumb|Antoniotto Botta Adorno.Antoniotto Botta Adorno was a high officer of the Habsburg Monarchy and a plenipotentiary of the Austrian Netherlands.-Biography:...
, which came up to Genoa, from where was expelled after the popular revolt of December 5th, 1746, set up with the legendary episode of Balilla.
Another Austrian army returned the following year and this time the occupation, lasted from April 11 to July 19, 1747, had even more devastating effects.
The Austrians had their headquarters in the Palace Bonarota (Villa Clorinda) and their troops devastated the entire village. All the church vestments an vessels were stolen and the church itself seriously damaged.
Also many private houses were plundered and many of them also burnt-out.
The local historian Luigi Persoglio wrote that 350 people died, some because of fighting against the invaders, but most for hardships and privations that people suffered in those tragic months.
Church of San Martino
The church, dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, was completely rebuilt in the eighteenth century on the existing one. In 1747, during the War of Austrian Succession, it suffered serious damages.The rebuilding was completed in 1770, and the inside was remade in 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...
style.
Valuable paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries adorn the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
and side altars.
The most precious painting is the icon of St. Martin, attributed to Flemish painter Antoon van Dyck. The painting was saved by the looting of 1747, as it had been carried to Genoa.
In the past the village of Murta was famous also for a great and very old oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
next to the church.
In some feasts among the branches of this tree was set a temporary cafè (like during the St. Martin feast of 1897). The old tree, already in decay, fell down in August 1948, during a violent storm.
Villas and palaces
Since the 16th century on Murta hill were built many villas and palaces, used as summer residences by rich and noble Genoese families.Most of these palaces still exist and now, restructured, have become luxurious houses.
Among them the best known is Villa Clorinda, which belonged to several rich Genoese families (Bonarota, Doria and Costa) and today is a luxurious residence.
In 1747, during the Austrian occupation of Valpolcevera, it became the headquarters of the invaders' army.
Pumpkin exhibition
The village of Murta is known for the Pumpkin Exhibition called Dalla A alla ... Zucca (“Zucca” in Italian means “Pumpkin”).It takes place for two consecutive weekends, during the feast of Saint Martin, on the middle of November.
This show is an interesting exhibition of pumpkins, squashes and gourds, including traditional and exotic as well. During the feast the bigger (in 2007 an Atlantic Giant
Atlantic Giant
Atlantic Giant is the common name for a pumpkin variety bred publicly to produce huge fruit. More precisely, it refers to the round phenotypes of the giant squash variety of the species Cucurbita maxima, bred from simple Hubbard squash material....
of 325 kg), the longest and the most strange pumpkins are rewarded.
At this exhibition people can enjoy many dishes and drinks based on pumpkin: pumpkin fritters, sweet and savoury, Genoese savoury pumpkin pie
Pie
A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough casing that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients....
and pumpkin grappa
Grappa
Grappa is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Italian origin that contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume...
.