Although legend has it that Salò hasEtruscan origins, recorded history starts with the founding by ancient Romans of the colony ofPagus Salodium. There are numerous ruins of the Roman settlement, as shown by theLugonenecropolis (in via Sant'Jago) and the findings (vase-flasks and funeral steles) in the Civic Archaeological Museum located at theLoggia della Magnifica Patria.[4]
During the high Middle Ages, the city shared the same history as that ofLombardy.
The origins of the municipality of Salò are barely known: its autonomy fromBrescia can be dated towards the end of the 13th century or the beginning of the next one, and the most ancient statues conserved by the city authorities are dated 1397.[5]
Prior to 1334, the town was part of a sort of federation of town councils of the territory along the western lakeshore of Lake Garda (fromLimone down toDesenzano) and theValsabbia areas, calledRiperia Lacus Gardae Brixiensis with the chef-lieu ofMaderno.[6]
The federation did not want to form an alliance withBrescia nor withVerona deciding instead to request the help of Venice. Due to the distance of Venice,[7] this strategy did not guarantee the independence of the area and, after a short protectorate under the rule of Venice (from 1336 to 1349), Salò became a stronghold of theMilanese Visconti family.[8] In 1377 Beatrice della Scala, the wife ofBernabò Visconti, wanted Salò to be the capital of the area, reducing the influence ofMaderno: the city was provided with solid walls and the castle was built.
On 13 May 1426, after a long period of war, the towns of western bank of the lake spontaneously joined theVenetian Republic, where they remained for the following three centuries: in the main square a column with theLion of St Mark, symbol of Venice, can be found still today.
Over the years, Venice gave large autonomy to this province of itsStato da Tera, that remained ade facto independent area and was given both the titles ofMagnifica Patria (Magnificent Homeland) andFiglia primogenita della Serenissima (firstborn daughter of theSerenissima).
The general council of thePatria and its other institutions remained all centred in Salò (which gained importance and influence), although a governor was sent by the capital, who was given the titles ofProvveditore (Superintendent) andCapitano della Riviera (Captain of the Riviera) and the power to act as penal judge for the whole Riviera (whilst civil justice was entrusted to a Brescianpodestà who also resided in Salò). Besides farming and trade, thelinen industry developed in this period.
In 1796 Napoleons troops fought with Austrian troops in Northern Italy during theFirst Italian campaign. The end of the Venetian republic (Treaty of Campo Formio) ended Salò's position as the capital of the western riviera: on 1 January 1797, the provisional Brescian government instituted the Canton of Benaco with the capital of Benaco, "aforesaid Salò":[9] the town joined theCisalpine Republic and then theNapoleonic Kingdom of Italy (1805–1814).
In 1848 Salò joined the Milan revolution against the Habsburg rule and during theSecond Italian War of Independence, there were many volunteers that fought with Garibaldi serving in the Piedmontese Army. On 18 June 1859, Garibaldi entered Salò and was welcomed by a happy crowd. Salò received the honorary title ofCittà (City) with a royal decree on 15 December 1860.
In 1866 the town was the headquarters of the Italian navy during thewar with Austria. After thebattle of Custoza the Austrians temporarily retook control of the town, but despite their victory and a naval defeat of the Italians atLissa, the Austrians surrendered to the Prussians a month later and were forced to cedeVenetia after theTreaty of Vienna.
From 1943 to 1945 Salò was thede facto capital (seat of government) ofBenito Mussolini'sNazi-backedpuppet state, theItalian Social Republic, also known as the Republic of Salò: Villa Castagna was the seat of the police headquarters, Villa Amedei was the head office of theMinistry of Popular Culture, Villa Simonini (nowadays Hotel Laurin) was the seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and theStefani Agency, which distributed official press releases, was located in Via Brunati.[10]
ThePalazzo della Magnifica Patria ("Palace of the Magnificent Fatherland", 16th century). The palace is home to the Historical Museum of the Azure Ribbon, an exhibition of documents on Renaissance history, on Italy's colonial wars, the Spanish Civil War and the Resistance against Fascism.
The Communal Palace is the seat of the Civic Archaeological Museum, with findings from the ancientSalodium.
The area around the lake is aseismic zone. In 1877 ameteorological observatory was established under the supervision Prof. Pio Bettoni, to whom it was later dedicated. In 1889, a geophysical observatory (seismic station) was added, which became an important scientific research centre after the 1901 earthquake (5.5Mw, intensity VII–VIII, no fatalities, buildings damaged). Another earthquake occurred in 2004 (5.1Mw, intensity VII–VIII, nine injuries, many buildings damaged).
Salò is headed by amayor (sindaco) assisted by a legislative body, theconsiglio comunale, and an executive body, thegiunta comunale. Since 1995 the mayor and members of theconsiglio comunale are directly elected together by resident citizens, while from 1945 to 1995 the mayor was chosen by the legislative body. Thegiunta comunale is chaired by the mayor, who appoints others members, calledassessori. The offices of thecomune are housed in a building usually called themunicipio orpalazzo comunale.
Since 1995 the mayor of Salò is directly elected by citizens, originally every four, then every five years. The current mayor is Francesco Cagnini, acenter-left independent, elected on 10 June 2024 with the 40% of the votes.
^The number of the council involved in the federation varies from 32 to 46, according to the different sources cited in this page. This is because the number of town in the federation has changed over the time.
^Verona submitted to Venice only 1405, the control of a separated territory like Salò at the time was not easy.
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