Land in between

Belmonte Mezzagno was founded by Giuseppe Ventimiglia, Prince of Belmonte in the 18th century. Until 1776, the toponym was ‘Mezzagno’, then it changed its name in ‘Belmonte’ and in 1864 ‘Mezzagno’ was added again. The name of ‘Belmonte’ comes from Mount Belmonte, of the same name, 740 meters above the level of the sea overlooking the town. The origins of the second name, ‘Mezzagno’, are uncertain: it is thought it comes from the name of a farmhouse of Arab origin called Mezzagno or from the phrase mezz’agno, meaning ‘half lamb’, that the peasants, who held the land in emphyteusis, had to give to the Prince every year. The word might also mean ‘land in between’ or territory located between several valleys or half-height territory.