Reggio Nell'Emilia
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Reggio nell'Emilia (; ), usually referred to as Reggio Emilia, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, and known until 1861 as Reggio di Lombardia, is a city in
northern Italy Northern Italy (, , ) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. The Italian National Institute of Statistics defines the region as encompassing the four Northwest Italy, northwestern Regions of Italy, regions of Piedmo ...
, in the
Emilia-Romagna Emilia-Romagna (, , both , ; or ; ) is an Regions of Italy, administrative region of northern Italy, comprising the historical regions of Emilia (region), Emilia and Romagna. Its capital is Bologna. It has an area of , and a population of 4.4 m ...
region. It has about 172,518 inhabitants and is the main ''
comune A (; : , ) is an administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions () and provinces (). The can also have the City status in Italy, titl ...
'' (municipality) of the
province of Reggio Emilia The province of Reggio Emilia (; Emilian: ''pruvînsa ed Rèz'') is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The capital city, which is the most densely populated ''comune'' (municipality) in the province, is Reggio Emilia. It has an ...
.The inhabitants of Reggio nell'Emilia are called ''Reggiani'', while the inhabitants of Reggio di Calabria, in the southwest of the country, are called ''Reggini''. The old town has a hexagonal form, which derives from the ancient walls, and the main buildings are from the 16th–17th centuries. The commune's territory lies entirely on a plain, crossed by the Crostolo stream.


History


Ancient and early Middle Ages

Reggio began as a historical site with the construction by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus of the Via Aemilia, leading from
Piacenza Piacenza (; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, and the capital of the province of Piacenza, eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with more ...
to
Rimini Rimini ( , ; or ; ) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. Sprawling along the Adriatic Sea, Rimini is situated at a strategically-important north-south passage along the coast at the southern tip of the Po Valley. It is ...
(187 BC). Reggio became a judicial administration centre, with a forum called at first ''Regium Lepidi'', then simply ''Regium'', whence the city's current name. During the Roman age Regium is cited only by Festus and
Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...
, as one of the military stations on the Via Aemilia. However, it was a flourishing city, a ''
Municipium In ancient Rome, the Latin term (: ) referred to a town or city. Etymologically, the was a social contract among ('duty holders'), or citizens of the town. The duties () were a communal obligation assumed by the in exchange for the privileges ...
'' with its own statutes, magistrates and art colleges.
Apollinaris of Ravenna Apollinaris of Ravenna (; , ''Apollinarios'', Late Latin: ''Apolenaris'') is a Syrian saint, whom the Roman Martyrology describes as "a bishop who, according to tradition, while spreading among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ, led h ...
brought
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
in the 1st century CE. The sources confirm the presence of a
bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
ric in Reggio after the Edict of Milan (313). In 440 the Reggio diocese was placed under the jurisdiction of
Ravenna Ravenna ( ; , also ; ) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its Fall of Rome, collapse in 476, after which ...
by Western Roman Emperor Valentinianus III. At the end of the 4th century, however, Reggio had decayed so much that Saint Ambrose included it among the dilapidated cities. Further damage occurred with the Barbarian invasions. After the deposition of Romulus Augustulus in 476 Reggio was part of Odoacer's realm. In 489 it came under Ostrogothic control; from 539 it was part of the Roman Empire (Italy), but was taken by
Alboin Alboin (530s – 28 June 572) was List of kings of the Lombards, king of the Lombards from about 560 until 572. During his reign the Lombards ended their migration period, migrations by settling in Kingdom of the Lombards, Italy, the northern ...
's
Lombards The Lombards () or Longobards () were a Germanic peoples, Germanic people who conquered most of the Italian Peninsula between 568 and 774. The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the ''History of the Lombards'' (written betwee ...
in 569. Reggio was chosen as Duchy of Reggio seat. In 773, the
Franks file:Frankish arms.JPG, Aristocratic Frankish burial items from the Merovingian dynasty The Franks ( or ; ; ) were originally a group of Germanic peoples who lived near the Rhine river, Rhine-river military border of Germania Inferior, which wa ...
took Reggio.
Charlemagne Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...
gave the bishop the authority to exercise royal authority over the city and established the diocese' limits (781). In 888, Reggio was handed over to the Kings of Italy. In 899, the
Magyars Hungarians, also known as Magyars, are an ethnic group native to Hungary (), who share a common culture, language and history. They also have a notable presence in former parts of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian language belongs to the ...
heavily damaged it, killing Bishop Azzo II. As a result of this, new walls were built. On 31 October 900 Emperor Louis III gave authority for the erection of a ''castrum'' (castle) in the city's centre. In 1002, Reggio's territory, together with that of
Parma Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...
,
Brescia Brescia (, ; ; or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the region of Lombardy, in Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Lake Garda, Garda and Lake Iseo, Iseo. With a population of 199,949, it is the se ...
,
Modena Modena (, ; ; ; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It has 184,739 inhabitants as of 2025. A town, and seat of an archbis ...
,
Mantua Mantua ( ; ; Lombard language, Lombard and ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Italian region of Lombardy, and capital of the Province of Mantua, eponymous province. In 2016, Mantua was designated as the "Italian Capital of Culture". In 2 ...
and
Ferrara Ferrara (; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, capital of the province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main ...
, were merged into the March of Tuscany, later held by Matilde of Canossa.


Free commune

Reggio became a free commune around the end of the 11th or the beginning of the 12th century. In 1167 it was a member of the Lombard League and took part in the Battle of Legnano. In 1183 the city signed the Treaty of Konstanz, from which the city's
consul Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states thro ...
, Rolando della Carità, received the imperial investiture. The subsequent peace spurred a period of prosperity: Reggio adopted new statutes, had a mint, schools with celebrated masters, and developed its trades and arts. It also increasingly subjugated the castles of the neighbouring areas. At this time the Crostolo stream was deviated westwards, to gain space for the city. The former course of the stream was turned into an avenue called Corso della Ghiara (gravel), nowadays Corso Garibaldi. The 12th and 13th century, however, were also a period of violent internal struggle between the Scopazzati (meaning "swept away from the city with brooms", noblemen) and Mazzaperlini (meaning "lice killers", plebeians) parties, and later those of Ruggeri and Malaguzzi, involved in a bitter domestic rivalry. In 1152 Reggio also warred with Parma and in 1225 with Modena, as part of the general struggle between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. In 1260 25,000 penitents, led by a Perugine
hermit A hermit, also known as an eremite (adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions. Description In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Chr ...
, entered the city, and this event calmed the situation for a while, spurring a momentous flourishing of religious fervour. But disputes soon resurfaced, and as early as 1265 the Ghibellines killed the Guelph's leader, Caco da Reggio, and gained preeminence. Arguments with the Bishop continued and two new parties formed, the Inferiori and Superiori. Final victory went to the latter. To thwart the abuses of powerful families such as the Sessi, Fogliani and Canossa, the Senate of Reggio gave the city's rule for a period of three years to Obizzo II d'Este. This choice marked the future path of Reggio under the seignory of the latter's family, as Obizzo continued to rule ''de facto'' after his mandate has ceased. His son Azzo was expelled by the Reggiani in 1306, creating a republic ruled by 800 common people. In 1310 the Emperor Henry VII imposed Marquis Spinetto Malaspina as vicar, but he was soon driven out. The republic ended in 1326 when Cardinal Bertrando del Poggetto annexed Reggio to the
Papal States The Papal States ( ; ; ), officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope from 756 to 1870. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th c ...
. The city was subsequently under the suzerainty of
John of Bohemia John of Bohemia, also called the Blind or of Luxembourg (; ; ; 10 August 1296 – 26 August 1346), was the Count of Luxembourg from 1313 and King of Bohemia from 1310 and titular King of Poland. He is well known for having died while fighting ...
, Nicolò Fogliani and Mastino II della Scala, who in 1336 gave it to Luigi Gonzaga. Gonzaga built a citadel in the St. Nazario quarter, and destroyed 144 houses. In 1356 the
Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
ese Visconti, helped by 2,000 exiled Reggiani, captured the city, starting an unsettled period of powersharing with the Gonzaga. In the end the latter sold Reggio to the Visconti for 5,000 ducats. In 1405 Ottobono Terzi of Parma seized Reggio, but was killed by Michele Attendolo, who handed the city over to Nicolò III d'Este, who therefore became seignor of Reggio. The city, however, maintained a relevant autonomy, with laws and coinage of its own. Niccolò was succeeded by his illegitimate son Lionello, and, from 1450, by Borso d'Este.


Duchy of Reggio

In 1452, Borso was awarded the title of Duke of Modena and Reggio by Frederick III. Borso's successor, Ercole I, imposed heavy levies on the city and appointed the poet Matteo Maria Boiardo, born in the nearby town of Scandiano, as its governor. Later another famous Italian writer, Francesco Guicciardini, held the same position. In 1474, Ludovico Ariosto, author of '' Orlando Furioso'', was born in the Malaguzzi palace, near the present day townhall. He was the first son of a knight from
Ferrara Ferrara (; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, capital of the province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main ...
, who was in charge of the Citadel, and a noblewoman from Reggio, Daria Maleguzzi Valeri. As a grown man he would be sent to Reggio as governor on behalf of the dukes of
Ferrara Ferrara (; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, capital of the province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main ...
, and would spend time in a villa outside the town ("Il Mauriziano") that still stands. In 1513, Reggio was handed over to
Pope Julius II Pope Julius II (; ; born Giuliano della Rovere; 5 December 144321 February 1513) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1503 to his death, in February 1513. Nicknamed the Warrior Pope, the Battle Pope or the Fearsome ...
. The city was returned to the Este after the death of Hadrian VI on 29 September 1523. In 1551 Ercole II d'Este destroyed the suburbs of the city in his program of reconstruction of the walls. At the end of the century work on the city's famous Basilica della Ghiara began, on the site where a miracle was believed to have occurred. The Este rule continued until 1796, with short interruptions in 1702 and 1733–1734.


Napoleonic age and restoration

The arrival of the republican French troops was greeted with enthusiasm in the city. On 21 August 1796, the ducal garrison of 600 men was driven off, and the Senate claimed the rule of Reggio and its duchy. On 26 September, the Provisional Government's volunteers pushed back an
Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
n column, in the Battle of Montechiarugolo. Though minor, this clash is considered the first one of the Italian Risorgimento.
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
himself awarded the Reggiani with 500 rifles and 4 guns. Later he occupied Emilia and formed a new province, the Cispadane Republic, whose existence was proclaimed in Reggio on 7 January 1797. The Italian national flag, named Il Tricolore (three-colours flag), was sewn on that occasion by Reggio women. In this period of patriotic fervour, Jozef Wybicki, a lieutenant in the Polish troops of General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, an ally of Napoleon, composed in Reggio the '' Mazurek Dąbrowskiego'', which in 1927 became the Polish national anthem. The 1815 Treaty of Vienna returned Reggio to Francis IV of Austria-Este, but in 1831 Modena rose up against him, and Reggio followed its example organizing a corps under the command of General Carlo Zucchi. However, on 9 March, the Duke conquered the city with his escort of Austrian soldiers. In 1848, Duke Francis V left his state fearing a revolution and Reggio proclaimed its union with
Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...
. The latter's defeat at the
Novara Novara (; Novarese Lombard, Novarese: ) is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont (Italy), Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With 101,916 inhabitants (on 1 January 2021), it is the second most populous ...
brought the city back under the Este control. In 1859 Reggio, under
dictator A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute Power (social and political), power. A dictatorship is a state ruled by one dictator or by a polity. The word originated as the title of a Roman dictator elected by the Roman Senate to r ...
Luigi Carlo Farini, became part of the united
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
and, with the plebiscite of 10 March 1860, definitively entered the new unified Kingdom.


Contemporary history

Reggio then went through a period of economic and population growth from 1873 to the destruction of the ancient walls. In 1911, it had 70,000 inhabitants. A strong
socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...
tradition grew. On 7 July, the city hosted the 13th National Congress of the
Italian Socialist Party The Italian Socialist Party (, PSI) was a Social democracy, social democratic and Democratic socialism, democratic socialist political party in Italy, whose history stretched for longer than a century, making it one of the longest-living parti ...
. On 26 July 1943, the fascist régime's fall was cheered with enthusiasm by the Reggiani. Numerous
partisan Partisan(s) or The Partisan(s) may refer to: Military * Partisan (military), paramilitary forces engaged behind the front line ** Francs-tireurs et partisans, communist-led French anti-fascist resistance against Nazi Germany during WWII ** Ital ...
bands were formed in the city and surrounding countryside. On 27 April 2023 the City of Reggio Emilia is one of the winner of the prize European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity.


Jewish history

Jews began arriving to Reggio in the early 15th century. Many Jews were
Sephardim Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, and rarely as Iberian Peninsular Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population associated with the historic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and their descendan ...
from Spain, Portugal and other parts of
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
. Nearly all were fleeing religious persecution. The Jewish community was prosperous and enjoyed considerable growth for the next several hundred years. The Synagogue of Reggio Emilia was relocated in 1672 into the ghetto, and rebuilt in 1858. After the Napoleonic era the Jews of Reggio gained emancipation and began to migrate to other parts of Europe looking for greater economic and social freedom. Thus, the Jewish community in Reggio began to lower. The German occupation during World War II and the Holocaust hastened the decline. Today, only one Jew remains in Reggio Emilia. The Jewish Community of Reggio Emilia was merged with Modena's. However, an unused synagogue and burial ground still exist. In 2016 the City Council posed some small street plates in front of the houses of the deported Jews to preserve their remembrance. Many notable rabbinic scholars have resided in Reggio. These include Isaac Foa, Immanuel Sonino, Obadiah ben Israel Sforno, Nathan ben Reuben David Spira, Menahem Azariah Fano, Baruch Abraham ben Elhanan David Foa, Hezekiah ben Isaac Foa, Isaac ben Vardama Foa, Israel Nissim Foa, Israel Solomon Longhi, Isaiah Mordecai ben Israel Hezekiah Bassani, Israel Benjamin ben Isaiah Bassani, Elhanan David Carmi, Benjamin ben Eliezer ha-Kohen, Joshua ben Raphael Fermi, Moses Benjamin Foa, Abram Michael Fontanella, Judah Ḥayyim Fontanella, Israel Berechiah Fontanella, Raphael Jehiel Sanguinetti, Isaac Samson d'Angeli, R. J. Bolognese, Hananiah Elhanan Ḥai ha-Kohen, Jacob Levi, Moses Benjamin Levi, Israel Berechiah Sanguinetti, David Jacob Maroni, Giuseppe Lattes, Alessandro da Fano, Lazzaro Laide Tedesco, and Shimshon Chaim Nachmani.


Climate

The climate in Reggio Emilia is temperate continental, with hot rather moist summers (the temperatures can sometimes rise above 35 °C) (95 °F) and fairly frigid winters with frequent frosts (the temperatures can go below -10 °C) (14 °F). Precipitations are evenly distributed all year long, but October, November and April are the most rainy months, while July and January are the most arid. In the city you can rarely see snow, even though almost every year there is a period when it is snowing. Due to the rather high temperatures, it does not settle, or if it does, the layer of snow is not very consistent. During Autumn and Winter it is very common, especially in the areas outside the city, to encounter very thick fog, even though nowadays it is less frequent than in the past. Other meteorological phenomena that one can expect in the area is the hard rain, freezing rain during winter, and hail during summer but rarely during spring. The area is not particularly windy and there are often days of total calm, especially during the anticyclonic phases in winter, while spring is more ventilated. The most intense winds are the ones blowing from North-East (Bora) or from South-West (Libeccio). The latter, during its descent from the Northern Apennines, it sometimes tends to become a downslope wind and thus being very dry and hot. In rare and particular conditions, the downwind of the Alps, the Foehn, can reach Reggio Emilia from the North-West. In Reggio Emilia, the average annual high temperature is , the annual low temperature is , and the annual precipitation is .


Government


Childhood education

The Reggio Emilia approach to preschool education was started by the schools of Reggio Emilia after World War II and is well known around the world. It is based and inspired on theories of Malaguzzi, Bruner, Vygotsky, Dewey, Piaget and Gardner. Reggio Emilia holds the Reggio Children - Loris Malaguzzi Centre Foundation, Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, a modern structure where the Reggio Emilia approach is implemented, exported and spread around the world.


Economy

The economy of the province of Reggio Emilia was for a long time based on agriculture. One typical product, known worldwide and imitated, is Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Another is Lambrusco wine. Reggio Emilia produce also the "Balsamic Vinegar", a condiment for salad but also cheese, strawberries and many other dishes. In the twentieth century Reggio Emilia and its territory saw also a rapid development of small and medium industries, particularly in the sector of agricultural machinery.
For more than 100 years, there has been a strong tradition that supported the development of consumers'cooperatives, as well as, building and banking cooperatives. New developments in mechanics and information technology are at the origin of some new companies operating in mechatronics.
Another well-established sector is the ceramic tiles industry (mainly concentrated in the districts of Scandiano and Casalgrande).
Other leading sectors include: electronics (Cellular Line, Phonocar, RCF audio); finance (Credito Emiliano); fashion (Marina Rinaldi, Max Mara); food (Newlat); machinery (ARGO SpA, Emak, Interpump Group, Landi Renzo, Lombardini S.r.l.; Preston & Barbieri, Smeg (appliances)); utilities (). The industrial growth has attracted immigration from North and Central Africa, East Europe, and Far East (China, Pakistan, India). The immigration rate in the province is about 25%. Researches on the quality of life indicate that in recent years Reggio Emilia is in very good position among Italian provinces.


Transport

Reggio Emilia railway station, opened in 1859, forms part of the Milan–Bologna railway. It is also a terminus of three secondary railways, linking Reggio Emilia with Ciano d'Enza, Guastalla and Sassuolo, respectively. The station is situated at Piazza Guglielmo Marconi, at the eastern edge of the city centre. The other major railway station, Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana railway station, Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana, is on the Milan–Bologna high-speed railway (there is also a connection with Reggio Emilia-Guastalla railway). It is located at the Mancasale locality, approximately north from the city centre. Along with this, there is a plan to construct a tram in the city. The tram will run from the Mancasale Industrial zone in the north to Rivalta in the south, stopping at the Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana railway station, Reggio Emilia railway station and other neighborhoods. The tram system has undergone a feasibility study, and is set to open in 2026.


Sports

Reggio Emilia is home to various professional sports clubs and arenas: *Pallacanestro Reggiana, which competes in basketball Serie A and has won 1 Italian Supercup and 1 Eurochallenge. *A.C. Reggiana 1919, which competes in Serie B. *Rugby Reggio, playing in Eccellenza (Italian rugby top division). *Volley Tricolore, playing in Serie A2. * Kaos Reggio Emilia, playing in futsal Serie A and formed in 2017 after the merging of F.lli Bari Reggio Emilia and Kaos Futsal Ferrara. The main sports venues in the city are: *Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore, Stadio Città del Tricolore (23,717 capacity), located near the A1 highway and home to Reggiana and U.S. Sassuolo home games. *PalaBigi (4,500 capacity), located in city centre. *Stadio Mirabello (4,500 capacity), located in the city centre. *Palasport Fanticini, located in the Tribunal hub. *Stadio Canalina, located in the Canalina borough.


Main sights


Religious buildings

*''Basilica della Ghiara'': Main church of the city; begun in 1597, and completed in Baroque architecture, Baroque style. *''San Prospero, Reggio Emilia, Basilica di San Prospero'': Built in the 10th century and dedicated to Prosper of Reggio, a bishop of the city, it was rebuilt by Luca Corti and Matteo Fiorentini between 1514 and 1523. The façade, with eleven statues of saints and patrones, was redesigned by Giovan Battista Cattani in the mid-18th century. It includes a pleasant belfry/tower, begun in 1535 and never quite finished, with an octagonal plant. The interior of the church has a Latin cross plant, with three naves. The apse houses the splendid fresco ''Last Judgement'', by the Bologna, Bolognese artist Camillo Procaccini. Also noteworthy are the wooden choir from 1546 and the ''Assumption'' altarpiece by Tommaso Laureti and Ludovico Carracci (1602). *''Cathedral of Reggio Emilia, Cathedral'': Built in 9th through 12th centuries. It was rebuilt in the second half of the 16th century. It has three naves with works by Guercino, Palma the Younger, Prospero Spani and Alessandro Tiarini. *''Baptistery of Saint John the Baptist''. *''Sant'Agostino, Reggio Emilia, Sant'Agostino'': church once dedicated to Apollinaris of Ravenna, Saint Apollinaris, its dedication was changed to St Augustine in 1268 when it was rebuilt, along with the annexed convent, by the Augustinian friars. It was restored in 1452, when the tower was also erected. The current interior dates from 1645 to 1666, while the façade (1746) was designed by Alfonso Torreggiani and built by Giovan Battista Cattani. Its restored theatre hosted Model European Parliament sessions in 2015. *The small Baroque Christ's Oratory. *''San Girolamo, Reggio Emilia, San Girolamo e Vitale'': church mentioned in document in 857 and rebuilt in 1646 by Gaspare Vigarani. It consists of three separate churches in the same building, two above ground and one underground; the crypt church houses a replica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. *''San Francesco, Reggio Emilia, San Francesco'': church. *''San Giorgio, Reggio Emilia, San Giorgio'': Baroque church with cupola (1746) designed by Alfonso Torreggiani. *''San Giovannino, Reggio Emilia, San Giovannino'': (1545) church houses Baroque frescoes (1613) by Sisto Badalocchio, Lorenzo Franchi, Tommaso Sandrini, Paolo Guidotti and paintings by Tiarini. *''Santi Pietro Apostolo e Prospero Vescovo'' (1586): church designed by Giulio della Torre; cupola erected in 1625, façade in 1782, while the cloisters in the 16th century (the small cloister by Bartolomeo Spani in 1520, the works in the main cloister ended in 1580). The interior is in a Latin cross shape with a single nave. It houses notable Baroque paintings by Alessandro Tiarini, Pietro Desani, Luca Ferrari, Luca da Reggio, Camillo Gavasetti and Paolo Emilio Besenzi. *''San Filippo Neri'': Baroque church dedicated to St Philip Neri. *''Oratory of San Spiridione, San Spiridione Oratory'' *''San Stefano, Reggio Emilia, San Stefano'': church first mentioned when its site was outside the city walls, as a Knights Templar, Templars' church. * Synagogue of Reggio Emilia rebuilt in 1845 by Pietro Marchelli. * Chiesa Battista la Verità: Main Baptist church of Reggio Emilia.


Secular buildings

*''Bishop's Palace''. *''Palazzo dei Musei, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo dei Musei'' *''Palazzo Ancini''. *''Palazzo Busetti''. *''Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo'' (1280, restored in 1432, and again in the 1920s, when its northern and western façades were ''embellished'' with Ghibelline merlons and crests of ancient Reggio's Captains and Communities. In the interior is the ''Sala dei Difensori'', "Defenders' Room"), a wide hall once used for the council of the Reggiani people. *''Palazzo del Carbone''. *''Palazzo Cassoli''. *''Palazzo Cassoli - Tirelli''. *''Palazzo Comunale'' (begun in 1414), with the Sala del Tricolore (Reggio Emilia), Tricolore Hall and the Tricolour Flag Museum, Museum of the Italian Flag. The ''Torre del Bordello'' ("Brothel Tower"), built in 1489, houses a museum of the Reggiani's deeds of 1796–1831. *''Palazzo Corbelli'': 19th century palace, with facade designed by Pietro Marchelli *''Palazzo Ducale di Reggio Emilia, Palazzo Ducale'' (18th century) – see '':it:Palazzo Ducale (Reggio Emilia), italian article''. *''Palazzo Fontanelli Sacrati, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo Fontanelli Sacrati''. *''Palazzo Magnani, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo Magnani''. *''Palazzo Masdoni, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo Masdoni''. *''Palazzo da Mosto, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo da Mosto'' *''Palazzo Pratonieri, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo Pratonieri''. *''Palazzo San Giorgio, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo San Giorgio'' *''Palazzo Scaruffi''. *''Palazzo Spaletti-Trivelli'' *''Palazzo Tirelli, Reggio Emilia, Palazzo Tirelli''. *''Palazzo Torello Malaspina''. *''Teatro Municipale di Reggio, Teatro Municipale'': Neoclassical building *''Teatro Ariosto'' - see '':it:Teatro Ariosto (Reggio Emilia), Italian article''. *''Monumento ai Caduti, Parco del Popolo, Reggio nell'Emilia, Monumento ai Caduti, Parco del Popolo'' (1927) *''Monument to the Concordi, Reggio, Monument to the Concordi'', Parco del Popolo: Ancient Roman monument


Bridges

* Autostrada A1 (Italy), Autostrada A1 bridges, three bridges designed by Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2005–2006. The three bridges connect the Austostrada del Sole A1 (the main Italian north to south Controlled-access highway, motorway) to the city of Reggio Emilia. A central arch bridge spans the Milan-Bologna high-speed railway line and the motorway, while twin cable-stayed bridges are at either end. The twin bridges pass over service roundabouts and access roads to allow connections with the adjacent Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana high-speed railway station. :In 2009, the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork gave the three bridges a European Steel Design Award, stating that the twin bridges' original visual effects at different angles give the two bridges "the aspect of huge musical instruments."


Painters and sculptors

*Giacomo Benevelli *Francesco Burani *Antonio da Correggio ("Il Correggio") *Raffaellino da Reggio *Paolo da San Leocadio *Luca da Reggio, Luca Ferrari ("Luca da Reggio") *Antonio Fontanesi *Anselmo Govi *Cristoforo Munari *Lelio Orsi *Prospero Spani ("Il Clemente") *Antonio Ligabue


People

*Elvis Abbruscato, footballer *Daniele Adani, former footballer and television pundit *Carlo Ancelotti, football manager and former footballer *Luca Ariatti, former footballer * Ludovico Ariosto, poet *Stefano Baldini, marathon champion *Benny Benassi, musician *Orietta Berti, singer * Matteo Maria Boiardo, poet *Kobe Bryant, American basketball player. He lived in Reggio Emilia in his youth. *Riccardo Cervi, basketball player *Philip Corner, composer, Fluxus artist *Black Box (band), band *Graziano Delrio, politician *Giuseppe Dossetti, politician *Zucchero Fornaciari, singer *Sonia Ganassi, opera singer *Gino Giaroli, former footballer *Luigi Ghirri, photographer *Giovanni Guicciardi, opera singer *Nilde Iotti, politician *Maurizio Landini, general secretary of CGIL *Luciano Ligabue, singer *Hachim Mastour, footballer *Nicolo Melli, basketball player *Federico Mussini, basketball player *Antonio Pacchioni, scientist *Romano Prodi, economist and politician *Serge Reggiani, actor and singer *Meuccio Ruini, politician *Angelo Secchi, scientist *Marco Silvestri, footballer *Lazzaro Spallanzani, scientist *Ferruccio Tagliavini, opera singer *Pier Vittorio Tondelli, writer *Romolo Valli, actor *Giovanni Battista Venturi, scientist *Ermete Zacconi, actor *Iva Zanicchi, singer and politician *Cesare Zavattini, writer and painter *CCCP - Fedeli alla linea, band *Offlaga Disco Pax, band *Raw Power (band), band


''Frazioni'' (hamlets)

- Bagno - Cadè - Canali - Cavazzoli - Castellazzo - Cella - Codemondo - Corticella - Coviolo - Fogliano - Gaida - Gavassa - Gavasseto - Mancasale - Marmirolo - Masone - Massenzatico - Ospizio - Pieve Modolena - Pratofontana - Rivalta - Roncadella - Roncocesi - Sabbione - San Bartolomeo - San Maurizio - San Pellegrino - San Prospero Strinati - Sesso.


Boroughs

- Acque Chiare - Baragalla - Buco del Signore - Canalina - Centro Storico (Historical Centre) - Lungocrostolo - Mirabello - Ospedale (Hospital) - Ospizio - Quartier Giardino - Rosta Nuova - Stazione (Railway station)


International relations

* Reggio Emilia is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the European Commission Intercultural cities programme. * Reggio Emilia is a member city of Eurotowns network.


Twin towns – sister cities

Reggio Emilia is Twin towns and sister cities, twinned with: * Beit Jala, Palestine * Bydgoszcz, Poland * Chișinău, Moldova * Dijon, France * Fort Worth, Texas, Fort Worth, United States * Girona, Spain * Kragujevac, Serbia * Pemba, Mozambique, Pemba, Mozambique * Polokwane, South Africa * Schwerin, Germany * Zadar, Croatia


Friendship

* City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Ekurhuleni, South Africa * Nablus, Palestine * Rio Branco, Acre, Rio Branco, Brazil * Rizhao, China


See also

*Sacro Cuore, Baragalla


Notes


References


Bibliography


External links

*
Official tourist information in English
{{Authority control Reggio Emilia, Cities and towns in Emilia-Romagna Jewish Italian history Jewish communities in Italy Cities founded by Rome