In the archives, an article dating back 33 years has surfaced that talks about the village of Bianzone, its origins, some of its points of interest and the projects that the administration of the time was planning. Here is a summary of it:
Bianzone: Between History, Faith and Agricultural Tradition
Bianzone is an ancient Valtellina village of about 1,300 inhabitants , located on a cone upstream of the Stelvio road. Once a holiday destination for nobles and bourgeoisie , Today, the village retains an old-world charm, where life flows at a slower pace than the modern frenzy.
The Roots between Mystery and Historical Documents
The origin of the name Bianzone remains partly a mystery. While some scholars assume Etruscan roots, others suggest a Roman derivation from the proper name Blandius.
However, the official birth of the village is set at a precise moment: the’8 February 1100. On that date, the sisters Nalucia and Pagana Della Torre donated the church of San Siro to the archpriest of Bormio. The link with Bormio lasted until 1521, when the parish of Bianzone became independent.
Faith and Territory: The Sanctuary of the Madonna del Piano
One of the strongest symbols of the community is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Piano, whose history is linked to an event of the 1675.
- The apparition: On 26 March of that year, the Virgin appeared in a dream to Battista dei Flagelli, asking for a church to be built.
- Water protection: Over the centuries, the shrine became a reference point for citizens during the frequent flooding of torrents from the Boalzo Valleys.
- Restoration: In order to preserve the monumental façade, the highway was moved further south, freeing the building from the debris and structures that were suffocating it.
A Heritage of Art and Architecture
The town centre offers several valuable historical testimonies:
- Church of San Siro: A monument of Romanesque art with a Latin cross plan, a bell tower decorated with mullioned and three-light windows and a Baroque façade.
- Palazzo Besta-Lambertenghi: A country residence famous for its wrought-iron dragons on the cornices and interior rooms frescoed with subjects from the Jerusalem Delivered.
- La Gatta“ seal”: A sober building in the centre of a wine estate, a symbol of the historical local dedication to wine production.
The Economy: From Wine to Apples
The history of Bianzone is intrinsically linked to the land. If during Graubünden's rule the wine was the main commercial attraction, over time, there has been a shift towards the apple cultivation. This change led to the emergence of cooperatives to manage land holdings that, due to inheritance, had been excessively fragmented.
Towards the Future: Sport and Youth
Under the administration of mayor Mauro Castelanelli, the municipality looks to the year 2000 by focusing on young people to counter emigration to larger centres.
- InfrastructureInvestments of approximately 400 million lire were made for a new multi-purpose sports field and 325 million lire for a gymnasium in Via Roma.
- Environment: The municipality started separate waste collection in cooperation with the dynamic Parish Centre.
Bianzone thus presents itself as a village that, while proud of its agricultural and noble past, seeks to offer new opportunities to new generations so that they can continue to live in the land of their ancestors.
Reading accounts of the past has its charm because it allows us to make a comparison with the present. Some things have been achieved, but still several problems remain, such as road safety and the depopulation of small towns. There is still a long way ahead, but the people of Bianzone, as mentioned in the article, when there is work to be done!
Also worth mentioning are the advertising pages for some companies, shops and premises of the past, some of which are no longer there. In this regard, if anyone has photos or information about shops and shops that once existed in the village, please leave them with the municipality or send them to the Ecomuseo email address: info@ecomuseoterrazzeretiche.it They will be used by the Primary School for a project to map the ancient crafts once present in Bianzone.
Archive photos found in the Library and related to the inauguration of the Gymnasium and Library during Mayor Mauro Castelanelli's term of office and archive images of the Palio delle contrade and the summer centre a few years ago.
