Where does the name Bagnolo come from? Mazza suggests it might be from the Latin “balneolum.” It could mean a small bath or pool. Or maybe it comes from the personal name Albagnolo.
Welcome to Bagnolo Mella. It is a town with a rich past. The name “Mella” was added later. The Royal Decree of August 24, 1862, made it official. The town council requested the change. They wanted to honor the Mella River. It is near Bagnolo Mella even though it does not flow through it.
Let’s explore Bagnolo Mella’s history together.
Long ago, during the Bronze Age, people lived here. Archeologists found traces of a “terramare” settlement near Fontanellato. Romans also made their mark. A stone dedicated to a veteran from the Legio II Italica proves their presence. Back then, the Via Brixiana passed through Bagnolo Mella. This Roman road connected Cremona to Brescia.
Mazza thinks a “castrum” or fort, was built to defend against barbarian invasions. The first record of it is from 1169. The Bishop of Brescia reminded nuns to pray. They were to pray for Countess Ferlinda’s soul. She had given the Bagnolo court to the Bishop. The Bishop then gave titles to important families like the Palazzi and Avogadro.
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa’s army seized Bagnolo. This happened because the Bishop of Brescia, Raimondo opposed him. By the 1200s, the Bishop’s power weakened. On November 14, 1272, town representatives gained control of a fiefdom. Bishop Berardo Maggi tried to regain authority. However, families like the Avogadro and the town council held the power.
The 1400s saw fighting between Venice and the Visconti family. They fought for Brescia. In 1438, Gattamelata captured the castle. In 1440, Taliano del Friuli bombed and burned it. Francesco Sforza’s army took Bagnolo in 1441. Eleven years later, Sforza burned the castle. This was because Bagnolo supported Venice.
Bagnolo became the main town of a “quadra” under Venetian rule. This included nearby towns. Bagnolo was excused from paying for a vicar. The quadra council managed the area.
The War of Ferrara touched Bagnolo. In 1483, Alfonso of Aragon occupied its fort. He abandoned it after Vincenzo Orsini’s defeat. The “Peace of Bagnolo” ended this war. The meeting took place in Poncarale in August 1484.
The castle lost importance in the 1500s. Marin Sanudo wrote in 1493 that Bagnolo had two castles. The old one gave its name to Castelvecchio. Mazza believes the new one was built in the 1400s.
In 1570, the Monte di Pietà was established here in Bagnolo Mella.
Between the 1500s and 1700s, many noble buildings were constructed. So were the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella and the Parish Church.
Daniel de Bagnolo was born in Bagnolo in 1685. He was a Capuchin friar. He led missions in the Canton of Grisons. He also wrote texts in the Romansh language.
Bagnolo followed Brescia’s fate during Napoleon’s time. In March 1797, it joined the Republic of Brescia. Later, it became part of various districts.
Austrians took over in 1814. After the Congress of Vienna, Bagnolo was part of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. In 1816, Bagnolo became the capital of the Third District.
In 1848, barricades were set up in Bagnolo to stop Austrian troops. The following year, many people from Bagnolo fought in the Ten Days of Brescia. Four of them died.
After Italy united, Bagnolo became part of Brescia province. In 1862, its name officially changed to Bagnolo Mella.
The Brescia-Cremona railway arrived in 1866. In 1873, the Girolamo Chiodi agricultural consortium opened. The late 1800s saw growth in cheese production and farming.
In 1914, a tram line connected Brescia and Ostiano. The part serving Bagnolo closed in 1936.
On December 23, 1944, Allied forces bombed Bagnolo Mella. Sixteen people died. After World War II, industries grew and the town expanded.
Today, Bagnolo Mella stands as a testament to resilience. It is a vibrant community with a compelling story. The town’s coat of arms features a red cross. It has four five-pointed stars. The blue banner symbolizes its spirit.