Sianno is a small town in the Viciebsk Region, located on a picturesque lake called Siannо. Since 1938 it has been a district center.

People have settled on the shores of Lake Sianno since ancient times. In written sources, Sianno was first mentioned in 1534, so this date is officially approved as the year of foundation of the town, although there is evidence of the existence of a settlement in 1442. In the 16th century, Sianno was a place in the Viciebsk Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which belonged to the Vidnickis-Liubieckis and Sienienskis-Hryboŭskis princes. In the first half of the 17th century, the town passed into the possession of the Sapiehas. In the second half of the 17th century, representatives of the Ahinskis' family became the owners of Sianno.

As a result of the first division of the Commonwealth in 1772, Sianno became part of the Russian Empire, received the status of a town and became the center of the Sianno District. In 1781, the town's emblem was approved — two crossed golden braids on a green field, which symbolized the abundance of hay.

During the 19th century, the town grew and developed. In 1903, the Sianno Women Parish School was founded. A tannery, a pottery, and a cigarette cases factory operated in the town. A telegraph line passed through Sianno.

The appearance of the town was formed by the Franciscan monastery, the Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity, the wooden church of the Prophet Elijah (in its place, in 1867, a stone church of St. Nickolas was built). Sianno landscapes of the 19th century are reflected in the paintings of Napalieon Orda.

In 1918, Sianno was part of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, and since 1919 — part of Soviet Russia. In 1924, the Sianno Region was returned to the BSSR. In the interwar period, several schools operated in Sianno, including a Jewish one. At the beginning of the Nazi invasion of the territory of Belarus, on July 6–10, 1941, a major tank battle between German and Soviet troops took place in the Sianno area.

In the postwar period, the Soviet authorities blew up the Holy Trinity Church as part of an anti-religious policy. It happened on 17 September 1962.

Since 1991, Sianno has been a district center of the independent Republic of Belarus.

Publication date: 15.02.2022.

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