History

The territory administered by the Commune of Negrar has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as findings in the area between Montecchio and Montericco dating back to the Paleolithic Age have shown. Many other archaeological finds date back to the Copper Age, particularly in the area of Colombare. At this time the inhabitants of area extracted flint stone which was exported to the Po’ valley and other places.

The well-defined natural boundaries of the area have favoured the development of its historical and cultural identity, despite the significant differences between the mountain areas and the lower-lying foothills.

In Roman times, the area of Negrar belonged to the pagus degli Arusnates, a population of uncertain ethnic origin (Etruscans, Venetics, Rhaetians and Celts) who had lived in Valpolicella before the arrival of the Romans. Negrar was also home to the country residences of several important Veronese families.

A tomb found in 1952 on land now belonging to Negrar hospital suggests that the Longobards passed through the area.

From 1000 A.D. on, the increase in population meant that settlements with a rural Signoria became increasingly important. We have evidence from this period of a number of castles in the area (Negrar, S. Vito, Roselle, Fane and Arbizzano). The rural communes of Fane, Prun, Mazzano, Torbe, Negrar, San Vito, Novare and Arbizzano were established and carried out important administrative functions for centuries, taking over other settlements in the area.

In 1238, during a period of civil wars, a statute for the defence of the territory was issued, which established that all the inhabitants of the area should undertake guard duty. By then Negrar had become the main commune in the valley.

In the 14th century Negrar was part of the Valpolicella area, under the jurisdiction of the Scaliger Signoria. Many houses with courts and dovecot towers were built and profitable crops such as grapes, olives and cereals were grown.

In the following centuries, now under the rule of the Venetian Republic, the commune of Negrar consolidated its position thanks to the wealth of its natural resources and its profitable economic activities, as well as the continuing growth in population.

The plague of 1575-76, and more particularly that of 1630, decimated the population, which recovered slowly, partly as a result of the contribution of families from the city who came in ever-greater numbers to live in the Negrar area during the 16th and 17th centuries.

In 1791, while still under the rule of Venice, the weekly cattle market was established in Negrar. A year later, the column with the winged lion was erected next to the parish church, where it can still be seen, in memory of the concession granted by Venice.

Between the Napoleonic period and the period of Austrian rule, the Valpolicella area was subject to various administrative divisions. After annexation to the Kingdom of Italy, Prun became an autonomous commune, separate from Negrar. The migrations of the early 20th century did not affect Negrar significantly and between 1927 and 1929 the commune was organised administratively as it is today. Starting from the North, it was divided up into the “frazioni” of Prun, Fane, Torbe, Negrar centre, Montecchio, San Vito, Santa Maria and Arbizzano.

Since the Second World War, when among other things the “Sacred Heart” Hospital of Negrar was founded, there has been a constant increase in the population, apart from a slight fall during the 1950s. The population of the commune grew from 8,346 inhabitants in 1961 to about 16,400 in 2001.

Nowadays, the commune of Negrar maintains its traditional activities, specialising in agricultural products including fruit, particularly grapes and cherries, high quality wine for the export market, animal farming and by-products such as salami and Monte Veronese cheese, and the quarrying and export of Prun stone.

The Territory

Distance from Verona: 12 km
Distance from Lake Garda: 25 km
Area: 44 sq. km.
Height above sea level: from 80 m. (Arbizzano) to 750 m. (Schioppo di Fane)
Dialling code: 045
Postcode: 37024 (37020 for Arbizzano, Fane, Mazzano, Montecchio, Prun, S. Maria and Torbe)
Population: 16,455 inhabitants (based on 2001 census)
Province: Verona
Boundaries: North: S. Anna d’Alfaedo; North-East: Grezzana; South and South-West: S. Pietro in Cariano; East: Verona; West: Marano