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Reggio Emilia

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Reggio Emilia is a significant city located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It sits entirely on a flat plain. A small stream called the Crostolo flows through this territory. The city is quite large, housing a population of 172,518 people. This makes it the 4th-largest city in Emilia-Romagna and the 22nd-largest in all of Italy. The people who live there are known as Reggiani.

Reggio emilia piazza san prospero sera
Reggio emilia piazza san prospero sera

The historic center of the city features a hexagonal shape. This unique layout comes from the design of its ancient walls. Many of the most important buildings date back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

The origins of Reggio can be traced back to the Roman era. In 187 BC, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus constructed the Via Aemilia. This major road connected Piacenza to Rimini. Reggio became a judicial administration center along this route. It was originally called Regium Lepidi, and later simply Regium. This name is the source of the city's modern title. During the Roman age, it functioned as a flourishing Municipium. This meant it had its own magistrates, statutes, and art colleges.

Palazzo ducale reggio emilia
Palazzo ducale reggio emilia

Later, Christianity arrived in the 1st century CE through Apollinaris of Ravenna.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the city experienced many shifts in power. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, different groups took control. The Lombards arrived in 569, and the Franks followed in 773. Charlemagne eventually gave the local bishop royal authority over the city. By the end of the 11th century, Reggio became a free commune. This allowed the city to manage its own affairs more independently. In 1167, the city joined the Lombard League. This led to its participation in the Battle of Legnano.

BattagliaLegnano
BattagliaLegnano

During this era, the city's development was so great that they redirected the Crostolo stream. They moved the water westwards to create more land for the city. The old riverbed became a wide avenue known today as Corso Garibaldi.

Internal politics in the 12th and 13th centuries were often violent. Different political factions fought for control of the city. One group was the nobility, while another was the plebeians. These groups were involved in bitter domestic rivalries. Later, the city was caught in the struggle between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. This conflict caused wars with nearby cities like Parma and Modena. In 1260, a large group of 25,000 penitents arrived in the city. This event temporarily brought peace and increased religious fervor. Eventually, the House of Este rose to power and ruled for a long time. They held the title of Dukes of Modena and Reggio.

The Napoleonic era brought major political changes to the region. In 1796, French republican troops arrived in the city. The local Senate claimed rule over Reggio and its duchy. This period was vital for Italian identity. In 1797, women in Reggio sewed the first Italian tricolour flag. This flag features three colors and was proclaimed in the Cispadane Republic.

Sala tricolore reggio
Sala tricolore reggio

During this time, Jozef Wybicki also composed the Mazurek Dąbrowskiego. This song later became the national anthem of Poland. After many years of shifting control, Reggio officially joined the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1860. This followed a plebiscite held on 10 March.

Reggio also has a deep and complex Jewish history. Jewish people began arriving in the early 15th century. Many were Sephardim fleeing religious persecution in Spain and Portugal. They formed a prosperous community that grew for several hundred years. The city's synagogue was rebuilt in 1858. However, the community began to decline after the Napoleonic era. The German occupation during World War II and the Holocaust caused a rapid decline. Today, only one Jewish person remains in the city.

CHIOSTRI SAN PIETRO RE
CHIOSTRI SAN PIETRO RE

To honor the past, the City Council placed small street plates near the homes of deported Jews. This helps preserve the memory of those who lived there.

The climate in Reggio Emilia is classified as temperate continental. This means the weather can be quite extreme between seasons. Summers are typically hot and can be moist. Temperatures sometimes rise above 35 °C (95 °F). Winters are often frigid and include frequent frosts. Temperatures can drop below -10 °C (14 °F). While it snows almost every year, it rarely stays on the ground for long. In the autumn and winter, thick fog is very common. Rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year. The wettest months are October, November, and April.

Tempio della Beata Vergine della Ghiara
Tempio della Beata Vergine della Ghiara
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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:BattagliaLegnano.jpg
BattagliaLegnano.jpg
File:Sala tricolore reggio.jpg
Sala tricolore reggio.jpg
File:Reggio emilia coviolo villa levi 2.jpg
Reggio emilia coviolo villa levi 2.jpg
File:Reggio emilia piazza san prospero sera.jpg
Reggio emilia piazza san prospero sera.jpg
File:Tempio della Beata Vergine della Ghiara.JPG
Tempio della Beata Vergine della Ghiara.JPG
File:San giorgio torre cupola reggio emilia.jpg
San giorgio torre cupola reggio emilia.jpg
File:CHIOSTRI_SAN_PIETRO_RE.JPG
CHIOSTRI_SAN_PIETRO_RE.JPG
File:Palazzo ducale reggio emilia.jpg
Palazzo ducale reggio emilia.jpg
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