Known until 1927 as “Mologno”, the town of Casazza has very ancient origins. Recently, the remains of an ancient Roman settlement, Cavellas, were found there.
Casazza is in the northern part of Val Cavallina.
Recently, the village was the protagonist of a remarkably relevant archaeological discovery, that of the ancient Roman “Vicus” (urban settlement) of Cavellas. Here, the discovery of burials from the Roman period makes it possible to establish the existence of an important road connecting with Val Camonica.
The archaeological site of Cavellas, which has recently turned into a museum, offers an exceptional opportunity to visit one of the largest Roman rural settlements in the region. Documents dating back to the 9th century also attest to the existence of Cavellas, which placed the entire Val Cavallina under its jurisdiction.
In more recent times, however, Casazza was known as Mologno, designating a settlement that developed around the year 1000 in a hilly area, from which the present town emerged. The name Casazza appears only in 1927, after the unification between the municipalities of Mologno and Molini di Colognola, the current hamlet located on the hill on the other side of the valley.
It is interesting to discover that among the narrow streets of this small village, at the centre of a fortified nucleus, is one of the best-preserved monumental tower houses in the entire valley, the Colognola Tower. Built-in local stone, the tower house dates back to the 13th century and was fortified to assert power and protect against enemies.
Among the many relevant buildings in the municipality of Casazza, it is worth mentioning Palazzo Bettoni, also mentioned in the chronicles as having given hospitality to Giuseppe Garibaldi. The building now houses the Val Cavallina Historical and Environmental Museum: Cavellas Museum, which aims to collect, catalog, and study the history, environment, and inhabitants by promoting conservation and scientific research on the various materials that are part of the local tradition.
The town is animated by numerous associations that annually promote and enhance the area through the organization of cultural events, sports festivals, fairs, and festivals. Casazza’s excellences also include the school “I Piccoli Musici,” whose polyphonic children’s voice choir has distinguished itself and achieved notoriety nationally and internationally thanks to numerous significant collaborations and notable placings at choral competitions. The choir is Europe’s cultural ambassador for the Union Federation of Choirs.
