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CENEDA
Its origin
probably dates back to the Palaeovenetic times. Some think
that it existed since Ceasar’s time and imagine it as a
modest “Statio militaris”, i.e. a military camp. According
to the latter opinion, it became an “oppidum”, a town, just
during the 3rd century.
During the
Longobard’s invasion, the Duches took up residence in the
San Martino’s Castle and made Ceneda a bishop’s see.
The first bishop was
Valentiniano (713).
At the end of
the Longobard rule, the Franks conquered the region and the
Ceneda’s duchy became a countship (Communitatis Cenetensis):
Ottone 1st granted the title of earl to the
bishop Siccardo in 962. Ottone 2nd confirmed the
investiture. Ceneda’s bishops became then feudal vassals of
the Holy Roman Empire. The bishops, who had their residence
in the San Martino’s castle, had not only the spiritual but
also the temporal power.
During many
centuries the territory was the scenary of wars, invasions,
sacks, disputes and internal fights. The political disorder
lasted till 1769. In that year, the Republic of Venice took
away the bishops’ temporal power. The administration was
assigned to a “podestà”, i.e. a mayor. The first Ceneda’s
podetà was the Venetian nobleman Emanuel Michiel Venier.
When the
Republic of Venice disappeared as a political entity, Ceneda
changed lord three times, as the Veneto region did. It was
taken by the French, then by the Austrian. At last, it
became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
SERRAVALLE
Serravalle lays to the north of the
neighbouring Ceneda, at the end of a valley. The name
Serravalle, meaning “close the valley”, comes from its
position. If compared with Ceneda, it is slightly smaller as
far as extention of the territory and population are
concerned.
The origin of the
built-up area is the “Castrum Cenetense”, a Roman castle
probably built from Ceasar’s till Augustus’ time. It was a
look-out and defence place. From the Roman camp, groups of
families began to form a village.
Serravalle
developed separatly from Ceneda. In 1000, it formed an
autonomous community the “Communitas Serravallensis”. Some
historical documents let us know that Ceneda’s bishops
enfeoffed several noble families. Among them, we have to
mention the Da Caminos, who were the lords of Serravalle
till 1335, year in which the last Da Camino earl died. The
Bishop of Ceneda enfeoffed then Venetian officers. By the
way, Serravalle’s inhabitants had always expressed the will
to become part of the Republic of Venice.
The first “podestà” was the nobleman Piero Canal.
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