“Salita Andrea Brenta” in Argegno, Lake Como: Who's The Hero To Whom It's Dedicated?
Statue of patriot Andrea Brenta by Inganni (Parco delle Rimembranze, San Fedele Intelvi)
If you know Argegno, the beautiful and quaint village south of Lake Como, you’ll surely have happened to stroll along the panoramic "Salita Andrea Brenta”.
Likewise, if you’ve visited Varenna, on the eastern coast, you’ll probably have noticed a lovely square called “Piazzetta Andrea Brenta”.
As you know, at Lakeside we love the stories behind the names of our streets, squares and villages: the amount of history that is hidden behind the toponymy of a place is often surprising.
So here we are with this article that tells you in 5 points the extraordinary life of Andrea Brenta (1812-1849), a hero of the Risorgimento born right on Lake Como: a brave and tireless patriot who headed a Mazzinian movement in Valle Intelvi in the wake of the First War of Independence of Italy.
The cover of book “L’uomo dei due laghi” (Italian version only) by Armanda Capeder
#1 Host, father, and then patriot
Andrea Brenta was born in Varenna in 1813. At the age of 20, with his strong spirit of adventure, he crossed the lake and landed in Argegno.
He then moved to San Fedele Intelvi (his house is still there and you can rent it!), where in 1831 he bought some farms and an inn. In the meanwhile, his wife Rina gave him nine children.
Andrea Brenta’s home (today “Ca’ Brenta Garden” B&B) in San Fedele Intelvi
Andrea had an adventurous, wild spirit, marked by freedom and a fierce love for his homeland. He soon devoted himself to the Risorgimento uprisings against Austrian domination, which broke out almost everywhere and throughout Valle Intelvi in 1848.
The insurrectionary committee in the valley was based in Muronico (Dizzasco): the meetings took place in the beautiful parish church of S. Sisinio.
#2 Hero of the First War of Independence
Andrea’s courage and his powerful and brigand figure immediately emerged on everyone. He fought with Garibaldi and participated in the liberation of Como, Valtellina and Valle Intelvi.
With Mazzini in Lugano, he led the insurrection of Valle Intelvi in the spring of 1848: he repelled the attack of the Austrian army in Dizzasco, protecting the valley from reprisals, massacres and looting.
#3 Don’t touch his Calabrian hat!
One of the most curious episodes in Andrea's life has to do with the seizure (by the commander of the Gendarmerie of Castiglione d’Intelvi) of his Calabrian hat and a cockade with feathers. What’s more, the Austrian had also insulted his wife. When Andrea found it out, he wrote a threatening letter to the commander, urging him to return the stolen goods within 24 hours. The officer showed up with two gendarmes at a local pub: here Andrea offered him a drink, but shortly after he made the gendarme understand that the whole tavern was armed against them. At that point the Austrian sent one of his soldiers to immediately recover the seized effects.
A few days later, Andrea disarmed the Argegno garrison with a few followers and raised the whole valley against the Austrians. The latter respond by sacking his tavern and burning his house; a size of 300 lire was placed on his head. Andrea then escaped between Switzerland and Turin.
#4 A brave death: “Long live Italy and my nine children”
On Easter night between April 7 and 8, 1849, Andrea was betrayed and captured by the Austrians together with his companions Andreotti and Vittori. He was taken to Bassone prison and sentenced to death along with his friends. On April 11, 1849 he was shot by an Austrian firing squad in front of Basilica of San Carpoforo. He was only 37. He died crying three times: "Long live Italy and my nine children". According to some witnesses, he chose to die by taking off the blindfold, as he wasn’t afraid of death.
#5 “Harsh in manner, but loyal and open”
Patriot Gabriele Camozzi wrote about Andrea Brenta:
“[…] he was tall, with resentful and severe features, harsh in manner, but loyal and open, he knew how to be loved by those in a higher condition than his, and his companions gladly obeyed him. Without having studied, he possessed the theories of the war of insurrection and applied them to action with extreme courage and cold blood.”
Sources: Treccani; Itinerari Folk
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