Mezzocorona (; ''Mezacoróna'' in local dialect), is a ''
comune
The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...
'' (municipality) in
Trentino
Trentino ( lld, Trentin), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento, is an autonomous province of Italy, in the country's far north. The Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, an autonomous region ...
in the northern
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
region
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
it, Trentino (man) it, Trentina (woman) or it, Altoatesino (man) it, Altoatesina (woman) or it, Sudtirolesegerman: Südtiroler (man)german: Südtirolerin (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title = Official ...
, located about north of the city of
Trento
Trento ( or ; Ladin and lmo, Trent; german: Trient ; cim, Tria; , ), also anglicized as Trent, is a city on the Adige River in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. It is the capital of the autonomous province of Trento. In the 16th centu ...
and within of the
Südtirol
it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol
, settlement_type = Autonomous province
, image_skyline =
, image_alt ...
border.
Toponymy
The name is thought to derive from the
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
words ''mezzo'', meaning "middle" or "in-between", and ''corona'', which means "crown" (and is likely a reference to the shape of nearby ''
Castel San Gottardo''). Another possible origin is to be found in the dialect of the area: ''mez'' (with the variant ''miz'') which means "wet, soggy". In fact, Mezzocorona was a marshy area until the 19th century, when swamplands were eventually reclaimed and Noce's outlet into
Adige River
The Adige (; german: Etsch ; vec, Àdexe ; rm, Adisch ; lld, Adesc; la, Athesis; grc, Ἄθεσις, Áthesis, or , ''Átagis'') is the second-longest river in Italy, after the Po. It rises near the Reschen Pass in the Vinschgau in the prov ...
moved further downstream, near
Zambana
Zambana (german: Zalban) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about north of Trento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,654 and an area of .All demographics ...
.
In 1194 the
Counts of Tyrol
The (Princely) County of Tyrol was an estate of the Holy Roman Empire established about 1140. After 1253, it was ruled by the House of Gorizia and from 1363 by the House of Habsburg. In 1804, the County of Tyrol, unified with the secularised pr ...
took control of the area. After this event (the population of the town became predominantly German speaking till the 16th century) the toponym ''Mezzotedesco'' (
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
: ''Deutschmetz'') (= "German Metz") came into use, in opposition to her twin town
Mezzolombardo
Mezzolombardo (local dialect: ''Mezombart'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about north of the city of Trento. As of 31 December 2006, it had a population of 6,498 ...
in German called ''Welsch Metz''.
Welsch Welsch may refer to:
* Georg Hieronymus Welsch (1624–1677), German physician
* Gottfried Welsch (1618–1690), German physician
* Heinrich Welsch (1888–1976), Saarlandic politician
* Henry Welsch (1921-1996), American football and baseball pl ...
in German stands for speakers of a Latin language.
On 29 February 1902 the Viennese Ministry of the Interior allowed the name change from ''Mezzotedesco'' to ''Mezocorona'', in the corresponding German form of "Kronmetz".
[Mezocorona (''Kronmetz'') Zoomable map]
"TRIENT (1908) - K.u.K. Militärgeographisches Insti, tut - 1:75 000 - 810 - Zone 21, Kol. IV"
/ref> The current name dates back to 1924.
The inhabitants are called ''Mezzocoronesi'' or rarely ''Brusacristi''. Behind the latter demonym there is a bizarre story: its inhabitants were nicknamed ''Brusacristi'' (literally "Christburners") for burning a cross placed by the inhabitants of Mezzolombardo to mark the banks of the Noce River.
Geography
Mezzocorona is located in the Rotaliana Plain, an alluvial plain situated at the confluence of the Non Valley with the Etschtal. The village lies at the foot of a steep rocky mountain wall (''Monte di Mezzocorona'') that shields it from the cold northern winds. This particular conformation has resulted in a milder climate than that of the surrounding areas, allowing the vine to grow plentifully in this region. Its territory is crossed by two water streams, the Adige River
The Adige (; german: Etsch ; vec, Àdexe ; rm, Adisch ; lld, Adesc; la, Athesis; grc, Ἄθεσις, Áthesis, or , ''Átagis'') is the second-longest river in Italy, after the Po. It rises near the Reschen Pass in the Vinschgau in the prov ...
and the Noce River.
The Teroldego
Teroldego is a red Italian grape variety grown primarily in the northeastern region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy.
Description
Wine has been produced since ancient times in "Campo Rotaliano", an alluvial plain between the rivers Adige ...
grape variety is native to this area.
Mezzocorona borders the following municipalities: Mezzolombardo
Mezzolombardo (local dialect: ''Mezombart'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about north of the city of Trento. As of 31 December 2006, it had a population of 6,498 ...
, Ton
Ton is the name of any one of several units of measure. It has a long history and has acquired several meanings and uses.
Mainly it describes units of weight. Confusion can arise because ''ton'' can mean
* the long ton, which is 2,240 pounds
...
, Roverè della Luna, San Michele all'Adige and Nave San Rocco
Nave San Rocco (german: Schöffbrück) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 11 km north of Trento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,279 and an a ...
.
History
The Rotaliana plain has been continually inhabited since prehistorical times with documented evidence, such as the remains of an ancient woman dating back to the Mesolithic period. This finding sparked interest among the citizens, who refer to this skeleton as ''Nonna di Mezzocorona'' (= "Grandma of Mezzocorona").
Thanks to the Adige River
The Adige (; german: Etsch ; vec, Àdexe ; rm, Adisch ; lld, Adesc; la, Athesis; grc, Ἄθεσις, Áthesis, or , ''Átagis'') is the second-longest river in Italy, after the Po. It rises near the Reschen Pass in the Vinschgau in the prov ...
and the Claudia Augusta Imperial Road, the area of Mezzocorona has served as a strategic road junction between the valleys of the Adige, Noce and Avisio Rivers ever since the times of the Romans. But the first written evidence goes back to 1199 and refers to the church, the venue of the ancient Parish of Santa Maria, which also comprised some nearby villages.
Similarly to other realities in Trentino
Trentino ( lld, Trentin), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento, is an autonomous province of Italy, in the country's far north. The Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, an autonomous region ...
, Mezzocorona was also ruled by an agrarian community called ''Vicinia'' of Mezzocorona (''Comunitas Meçi de Corona''), which was first mentioned during the investiture of the Bishop of Trento, Egnone, dating back to 1271. The Mezzocorona ''Vicinia'' extended as far as Roverè della Luna and Grumo and consisted of many ''fuochi'' (entitled families) or ''masi'' (farmsteads): 50 in Mezzocorona, 18 in Roverè della Luna and 10 in Grumo. Everyday life was regulated by a set of rules called ''Carta di Regola'' or ''Vicinia'' Statute by which everyone had to abide. The seat of the community was the ''Palazzo della Vicinia'', today the public library.
In the first half of the 14th century, following the expansion policy of the Counts of Tyrol
The (Princely) County of Tyrol was an estate of the Holy Roman Empire established about 1140. After 1253, it was ruled by the House of Gorizia and from 1363 by the House of Habsburg. In 1804, the County of Tyrol, unified with the secularised pr ...
, the jurisdiction passed to their domain and the Tyrol Statute was implemented along with the ''Vicinia'' Statute. This represented the basic laws in force until the early 19th century.
Historical noble families of Mezzocorona were the Mez family and after them, the Firmian family. The Mez dynasty built their first manor in a crack of the mountain above the village, making it hard to be conquered. This castle, now known as Castel San Gottardo, was later abandoned for a more comfortable dwelling at the foot of the mountain under the Firmian family.
Society
As of 31 December 2017, Mezzocorona had a population of 5477.
Demographic evolution
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Transport
Motorway
Mezzocorona is connected to the motorway network A22- E45.
Rail
Mezzocorona has three railway stations:
*One railway station connected to the Brenner Railway
*Two railway stations (Mezzocorona Ferrovia and Mezzocorona Borgata) connected to the Trento–Malè–Mezzana railway
Cable car
The village is also served by a cablecar that connects the village to the top of the Monte di Mezzocorona. From here, Malga Kraun can be reached in an hour's walk on the marked forest path n°500.
Notable people
* Marvin Vettori, professional mixed martial artist
Gallery
File:Mezzocorona - Chiesa Maria Assunta.jpg, St Mary Church
File:Palazzo della Vicinia.jpg, Palazzo della Vicinia, now the public library
File:Castel Firmian e Castel San Gottardo.jpg, Castel Firmian (bottom) and Castel Gottardo (top)
File:Stazione di Mezzocorona.JPG, Mezzocorona Railway station
File:Funivia Mezzocorona-Monte - Stazione a valle.JPG, Cableway lower station
File:Initial Ladder in Burrone Giovannelli - Mezzocorona (TN) Italy - August 6, 2006 - panoramio.jpg, Via Ferrata Burrone Giovanelli
File:Il n° SAT del sentiero per Malga Kraun 03.jpg, Malga Kraun
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Cities and towns in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol