Barghe
POPULATION: 1,123 inhabitants
AREA: 5,4 sq km
ALTITUDE: 295 metres above the sea (968 feet)
POST CODE: 25070
COUNCIL ADDRESS: Via Nazionale, 4
TEL: 0365-84123
FAX: 0365-84055
E-MAIL: info@comune.barghe.bs.it
WEB SITE: www.comune.barghe.bs.it
Barghe is a small village located in the middle of the Valle Sabbia. Since old times the positioning of the village at an intersection point influenced its fortune and development.
According to the tradition and opinion of some researchers, Barghe originated during the Middle Age, when the settlers of the valley built fences and shelters to protect the domestic animals such as goats, cows and sheep. This point of the valley was favorable as it was protected by the rock wall of the mountain and well exposed to the sun.
It seems that the name of Barghe originated from these wooden shelters known as “baracche”.
In 43 BC, when the Romans occupied the whole valley, this place possibly had strategic importance, at least in the period between 16 and 14 BC, when the borders were moved beyond the Alps. Later, during the Middle Ages, the Roman settlement was possibly enlarged by beginning as shelters that hosted cattle and wayfarers and later developing into a village. From 1385, Barghe was under the control of Serenissima, the Republic of Venice, and belonged to the district of Valle Sabbia. This continued on in the whole of the following century.
The wealth of Barghe originated from the mines of argentiferous lead, and later, from making of woolen clothes and the production of coal destined to smithies and forges of the local area.
In 1610 the Venetian rector Giovanni da Lezze, through the Catastico, recalls two bridges on the shores of the river that linked the quarters of Barghe, both called “Avogadre”. At this time the village had a population of 700 residents.
With the arrival of Napoleon, Pietro Randini, a silk trader of Barghe, participated in the provisory government of Brescia, which, on the 24th of March, 1797, sent him to spread propaganda throughout the Valle Sabbia. It was here that don Filippi also originating from Barghe, was the leader of the anti-Jacobins group, opposing the activity of Randini. On the 14th of May, when the French invaded and destroyed the valley from Tormini to Lavenone, Barghe was the object of particular violence with arsons and destructions. Giacomo Randini, brother of Pietro Randini, who remained a follower of the Serenissima was captured and held as a hostage. The Austro-Russians entered Barghe on the 10th April, 1799, setting their headquarters in Randini house, where the general Landon sojourned in 1800.
In 1848, the priest, don Marciano Bonardelli, interceded with the Austrian authorities to avoid retaliations and reprisals against some young people who waved tricolours. Perhaps, it was in this eventful period that the citizens of Barghe were nicknamed “fura baghe”, a dialect expression that means “belly hole makers”, in order to describe their irksome and touchy attitude.
In 1866 the Randini-Beccalossi house hosted Giuseppe Garibaldi during the eve of the battle of Montesuello.
Finally, during the two Fascist decades, Barghe was joined to the Commune of Sabbio Chiese and was given back its autonomy in 1956.
TO SEE:
- RANDINI PALACE (now known as BECCALOSSI HOUSE): it contains interesting 18th century ceilings. The most notable is the ceiling of the living room, where the four season are represented.
- SAINT CROSS in LOCALITY FIER – The Valle Sabbia is rich with mountains, which are scattered with crosses in the remembrance of the death of Jesus. The most important is the cross of Barghe, which is 7 metres high (23 feet). The particular devotion of the citizens, named Barghesi, towards Saint Cross dates back to 1865 for initiative of the priest don Marciano Bonardelli, while the construction and the installation of the Cross date back to the Saint year 1933.
- PARISH OF SAINT GIORGIO
- CHAPEL OF SAINT GOTTARDO
- SANCTUARY OF SAINT GIORGIO
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