Benacum Reprint Highlights Toscolano’s Paper Industry and Local History
On the occasion of the “Gardesano Book Exhibition”, which will remain open at the Toscolano Maderno library until October 31, Professor Antonio Foglio presented Donato Fossati’s book “Benacum”, reprinted by the Ateneo di Salò and the Municipality, with the contribution of the paper mill and the mountain community park.
“An unobtainable volume,” explains Dr. Vittorio Pirlo in the preface. “The original publication dates back to 1941. It is the history of Toscolano, the legendary Benacum, a small hamlet destined, in the 15th century, to gain fame in Europe for paper-making and the art of printing.”
“A fundamental text for understanding one of the most vibrant social and economic realities of the Riviera,” adds Mayor Paolo Elena. “The work developed on terraces cultivated with olive trees, in the mountains, along the riverbank, first in the factories of Covoli, Luseti, Caneto, Maina, Garde and in the forges of Camerate, then in the printing houses of Messaga and Cecina.
Texts by Ovid, Terence, Juvenal, Boethius, Dante, Petrarch, Bembo were printed here. Reprinting this book, written by a distinguished citizen of Toscolano, is a cultural operation of particular interest. I thank Domenico Fava, Antonio Foglio, Gianfranco Ligasacchi, Giuseppe Scarazzini, and the Centro studi per il territorio benacense for the idea of the reprint and for their efforts to realize it.”
Dr. Pirlo demonstrated his usual courteous availability by supporting the initiative.
The Fossatis, originally from Lucca, moved to Garda in the 14th century. An ancestor of the family, Francesco de Fossato, hosted Isabella d’Este and Elizabeth Gonzaga in 1490, during their stay on the lake.
Donato, born in 1870, moved to Villa di Salò after earning his law degree. A liberal moderate, in 1902 he was elected municipal councilor and later an assessor. He actively participated in Salò’s reconstruction after the earthquake of October 30, 1901 (exactly a hundred years ago this week).
In 1906, he gave the official speech from the municipal building for the inauguration of the new lakeside promenade. In 1908, he was appointed president of the Provincial Deputation. With the advent of fascism, he suffered the most intransigent ostracism, which forced him into a disdainful solitude.
During those years, he dedicated himself to historical studies. After the war, in April 1945, the National Liberation Committee appointed him mayor, a position he was confirmed in after the spring 1946 elections. A few months later, he resigned for health reasons. He died in the summer of 1949.
“In the 21 chapters of Benacum,” emphasizes Fava, “there is discussion of geography, geology, climate, religion, economy, education, charity, notable individuals, toponymy. Central topics also include the river, the hamlets, the Riviera, Venice, innovations in the paper industry, the state of agriculture, and the evolution of commerce.”
“A work that remains unsurpassed for the history of Toscolano, just as ‘La pieve e il comune’ by Guido Lonati, published in ’34, is for the history of Maderno.”
“In truth, other interesting contributions have appeared since then, such as ‘Sant’Andrea’ by Gabriella Paterlino, ‘La valle delle cartiere’ by Flavio Piardi, ‘Maderno e Toscolano’ by Andrea De Rossi, ‘Cartai e stampatori’ by Carlo Simoni, ‘Borghi, ville e contrade, il nome e il volto dei luoghi’ by Foglio, Ligasacchi, and Piercarlo Belotti.”
But Fossati, together with other Garda scholars like Grattarolo, Bettoni, and Solitro, remains a witness to an era and a reality worth observing with interest.
Curiosities and interpretations
During the presentation held at Palazzo Benamati, Foglio mentioned a series of curiosities, noting that the volume was enriched with a detailed index. By the way, Benacum derives from the Celtic Bennach, “horned”, meaning “promontory, ridge, elevation”. Modern linguistics no longer doubts this.
