Murta (Genoa)

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Murta is a village included in the city of Genoa in northwest Italy.

Genoa Comune in Liguria, Italy

Genoa is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of Genoa, which in 2015 became the Metropolitan City of Genoa, counted 855,834 resident persons. Over 1.5 million people live in the wider metropolitan area stretching along the Italian Riviera.

Italy republic in Southern Europe

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe. Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares open land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and the enclaved microstates San Marino and Vatican City, as well as a maritime border with Croatia. Italy covers an area of 301,340 km2 (116,350 sq mi) and has a largely temperate seasonal and Mediterranean climate. With around 61 million inhabitants, it is the fourth-most populous EU member state and the most populous country in Southern Europe.

Contents

View of Murta Genova Bolzaneto Murta.jpg
View of Murta
The Valpolcevera municipality is the dark blue area in the map of "Great Genoa". Municipi di Genova.png
The Valpolcevera municipality is the dark blue area in the map of "Great Genoa".

Geography

It is part of the district of Bolzaneto, in Valpolcevera municipality, of which is a separate hamlet, located on the ridge a hill at the right bank of the torrent Polcevera.

Polcevera river in Italy

The Polcevera is a 19-kilometre (12 mi) river in Liguria (Italy).

In the past most people were farmers (the most famous product was the Polcevera white wine, also produced today, although in limited quantity).

Wine alcoholic drink made from grapes

Wine is an alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol, carbon dioxide, and heat. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts produce different styles of wine. These variations result from the complex interactions between the biochemical development of the grape, the reactions involved in fermentation, the terroir, and the production process. Many countries enact legal appellations intended to define styles and qualities of wine. These typically restrict the geographical origin and permitted varieties of grapes, as well as other aspects of wine production. Wines not made from grapes include rice wine and fruit wines such as plum, cherry, pomegranate, currant and elderberry.

Today Murta is a residential area with many small villas built along the side of the hill.

History

The village name derives from the plant of myrtle, in Latin language just called "murta".

<i>Myrtus</i> genus of plants

Myrtus, with the common name myrtle, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, described by Swedish botanist Linnaeus in 1753.

The first documents on the Parish of Murta dates from 1143, when it was included on the Register of Diocese of Genoa (wanted by Archbishop Siro II) as a chapel subject to the main church of Rivarolo.

Rivarolo Ligure human settlement in Genoa, Liguria, Italy

Rivarolo Ligure is a quarter in the north side of the city of Genoa, and is part of the Municipality Valpolcevera of Genoa.

In Murta was born Giovanni da Murta which was the second Doge of the Republic of Genoa from 1344 to 1350.

Giovanni I di Murta Genoese doge

Giovanni di Murta was elected the second doge of the Republic of Genoa after the resignation of Simone Boccanegra, on December 25, 1345. His dogate was dominated by his attempts to break the circle of political violence which had crippled the city over the past century and to reassert the Genoese domination over the Mediterranean colonies.

Doge of Genoa Wikimedia list article

The Doge of Genoa was the ruler of the Republic of Genoa, a communal republic, from 1339 until the state's extinction in 1797. Originally elected for life, after 1528 the Doges were elected for terms of two years. In actuality, the Republic was an oligarchy ruled by a small group of merchant families, from whom the doges were selected.

Republic of Genoa former state on the Apennine Peninsula between 1005–1797

The Republic of Genoa was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, incorporating Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean.

Like all Valpolcevera, in 1746 the village was involved in War of Austrian Succession and was occupied by an Austrian-Piedmontese army led by the General Botta Adorno, which came up to Genoa, from where was expelled after the popular revolt of December 5th, 1746, set up with the legendary episode of Balilla.

Another Austrian army returned the following year and this time the occupation, lasted from April 11 to July 19, 1747, had even more devastating effects. The Austrians had their headquarters in the Palace Bonarota (Villa Clorinda) and their troops devastated the entire village. All the church vestments and vessels were stolen and the church itself seriously damaged. Also many private houses were plundered and many of them also burnt-out. The local historian Luigi Persoglio wrote that 350 people died, some because of fighting against the invaders, but most for hardships and privations that people suffered in those tragic months.

Church of San Martino di Murta. Genova Murta-chiesa san Martino.jpg
Church of San Martino di Murta.
Villa Clorinda. Genova Bolzaneto Villa Clorinda.jpg
Villa Clorinda.

Main sights

Church of San Martino

The church, dedicated to St. Martin of Tours, was completely rebuilt in the eighteenth century on the existing one. In 1747, during the War of Austrian Succession, it suffered serious damages. The rebuilding was completed in 1770, and the inside was remade in Baroque style. Valuable paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries adorn the apse and side altars.

The most precious painting is the icon of St. Martin, attributed to Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck. The painting was saved by the looting of 1747, as it had been carried to Genoa.

In the past the village of Murta was famous also for a great and very old oak next to the church. In some feasts among the branches of this tree was set a temporary cafè (like during the St. Martin feast of 1897). The old tree, already in decay, fell down in August 1948, during a violent storm.

Villas and palaces

Since the 16th century on Murta hill were built many villas and palaces, used as summer residences by rich and noble Genoese families. Most of these palaces still exist and now, restructured, have become luxurious houses.

Among them the best known is Villa Clorinda, which belonged to several rich Genoese families (Bonarota, Doria and Costa) and today is a luxury residence.

In 1747, during the Austrian occupation of Valpolcevera, it became the headquarters of the invaders' army.

Events

Pumpkin exhibition

The village of Murta is known for the Pumpkin Exhibition called Dalla A alla ... Zucca (“Zucca” in Italian means “Pumpkin”). It takes place for two consecutive weekends, during the feast of Saint Martin, on the middle of November.

This show is an interesting exhibition of pumpkins, squashes and gourds, including traditional and exotic as well. During the feast the bigger (in 2007 an Atlantic Giant of 325 kg), the longest and the most strange pumpkins are rewarded.

At this exhibition people can enjoy many dishes and drinks based on pumpkin: pumpkin fritters, sweet and savoury, Genoese savoury pumpkin pie and pumpkin grappa. web site: Murtaezucche.it

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References

Coordinates: 44°27′42″N8°53′22″E / 44.46167°N 8.88944°E / 44.46167; 8.88944