Fiorenzuola d'Arda
Fiorenzuola d' Arda, with 15,262 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012) to Piacenza, the second largest municipality in the province of Piacenza in the Italian region Emilia -Romagna.
Geography
The small town Fiorenzuola is located on the Via Emilia, halfway between Piacenza and Fidenza. The suffix refers to the Arda, a right tributary of the Po.
The municipality Fiorenzuola d' Arda include the districts ( frazioni ) Baselica Duce, San Protaso and Paullo. The neighboring municipalities are Alseno, Besenzone, Cadeo, Carpaneto Piacentino Castell'Arquato and Corte Maggiore.
History
The settlement was founded in Roman times on the Via Emilia. 744 was mentioned for the first time, a monastery of the name, which was under the Bishop of Piacenza. On July 29, 923 defeated Rudolf II of Burgundy Fiorenzuola in a bloody battle the Emperor Berengar I was meaning the place by its position on the Via Francigena. Beginning of the 13th century was Fiorenzuola free commune and was from the 14th century, with interruptions to the rule of Milan. In 1441 it was commissioned by Filippo Maria Visconti Family Pallavicino as a fief, who kept it until the 16th century. At that time many Jews from Cremona and Piacenza settled in Fiorenzuola, and the place experienced a economic boom. End of the 16th century, he came to the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza under Pier Luigi Farnese II, after 1731 until the Italian unification of the Bourbons. The name was given additional Fiorenzuola in 1865. 1860 and 1927 the city was the capital of the district of the same.
Culture and sights
The city center is situated around Piazza Molinari and the main street Corso Garibaldi, a section of the ancient Via Emilia. Significant palaces and churches are:
- Palazzo Berta Mini Lucca - The palace was built in the early 18th century and today has a Publicly accessible park. The chapel of the palace has a cycle of frescoes with mythical and allegorical motifs, created by Bartolomeo Rusca and Francesco Natali ( 1723-25 ).
- Palazzo Grossi ( late 15th century )
- Collegiate of San Fiorenzo - The three-nave church is dedicated to Saint Florentius of Tours. Dating back to the medieval period ( late 13th century ), the present form dates from after rebuilding in the 15th century.
- Chiesa di San Francesco - The Franciscan church was built around 1519.
- Chiesa della Beata Vergine del Caravaggio - Baroque church ( 1731-49 )
- Convento San Giovanni - The former Cistercian monastery dating from the 17th century is now used by the local government and houses the municipal library.
Theater
- Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi - The Municipal Theatre was opened in 1853.
Sports
Fiorenzuola is the seat of the football club Unione Sportiva Fiorenzuola 1922. The place is also a significant six-day race takes place, the 6 giorni delle Rose.
Regular events
- Festa della Zobia - Traditional carnival parade
- Ponta e Cull - event at Easter. In the curious skill competition, the participants try to damage with hard-boiled eggs those of the opponents.
Twinning
- Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Personalities
- Vincenzo Maculani (1578-1667), Cardinal of the Catholic Church
- Giulio Alberoni (1664-1752), Cardinal and Spanish Minister of State
- Ferruccio Ranza (1892-1973), fighter pilot
- Aldo Braibanti (* 1922), writer
- Samuele Marzoli ( born 1984 ), professional cyclists