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Province of Piacenza
Piazza Cavalli, Piacenza - Photo: Mario Carminati
Province of Piacenza

Piacenza Province: location, history, culture, interest

Piacenza is the most westerly of the provinces of Emilia Romagna and lying just south of the River Po it has a total area of 2,589 sq.km. It borders the province of Parma to the east and south east, the region of Liguria to the south and the region of Lombardy to the west and north.

Piacenza Province
Province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna

Two thirds of this province is mountainous with the remaining third being green and fertile with a network of rivers running through the plains which are backed by craggy spurs and rounded hills covered in vineyards. The small medieval villages dotted across the landscape are dominated by castles, towers, church spires and large, solid fortresses.

Piacenza

The capital city of the province is also called Piacenza and has a large number of historical palaces, most of which also have large, splendid gardens.

The main palaces are listed below:

  • Palazzo Comunale was built in 1281 and was originally the town hall and on the front face has five arches which are made from pink marble on the lower part and bricks on the upper portion. It is mainly used now for conferences and lectures.
  • Palazzo Farnese was built in 1568 for Ottavio Farnese and his wife, Margaret of Austria.
  • Palazzo Landi was built during the middle ages but was heavily renovated in the late 15th century.
  • Palazzo Scotti which now houses the Natural History Museum.
  • Palazzo dei Mercanti, built in the 17th century and is the current town hall.
  • Palazzo Costa.
  • Palazzo Somaglia.

The central point of the city is Piazza Cavalli which is an elegant, open and pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by. Many of the more important historical structures are located within or around this square

The Duomo di Piacenza was built in the 12th century and is a very good example of Northern-Italian Romanesque architecture. The façade is made from Veronese pink marble and gilted stone and is divided by a gallery that dominates the three gates.

The church of San Francesco Church is a 12th century Romanesque/Gothic building which was a civic sanctuary during the Middle Ages.

The Basilica of Sant'Antonino is a fine example of Romanesque architecture and has a large octagonal tower. It built in the year 375 and contains the relics of Saint Antonio who was martyred near Travo.

Building began on the Basilica of San Savino in the year 903 but it was not actually consecrated until 1107.

Santa Maria in Campagna 1s a Renaissance church and was built between 1522–1528 to house a miraculous wooden sculpture of the Madonna. The layout was originally in a central Greek-cross plan, but later altered into a Latin cross type.

St Sixtus is a Renaissance church built in the 15th century over the top of a temple built in 874 by Empress Angilberga.

Ricci Oddi Gallery is an art-gallery dedicated to modern Italian painters.

There is also an Archaeological Museum in the city.

Calendasco

The main square of this historic little town is Piazza Bergamaschi where there are many bars and restaurants and a few shops. The main point of interest is the 12th century castle which is just behind the square.

Bobbio

Bobbio is a town right in the heart of the Val Trebba valley which was declared by Ernest Hemingway to be 'the most beautiful in the world.' The historic centre of the town is called The Castellaro and is just below the castle and park. The town centres around the pretty Piazza del Duomo which is flanked by ancient arcades and historic buildings.

The Cathedral (Duomo di Bobbio)) was built in 1075 and has two magnificent towers which are in the most part still the originals. To the right of the cathedral is the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop's Palace) which was built in the 11th century. On the left side is the 12th century Old Seminary which houses the Bobbio Historical Archives. There are parchments and fragments of ancient codes dating back as far as the 9th century in this building.

Bobbio Abbey has recently been restored and is open to the public. It also has a museum with interesting objects from the Roman, Medieval and Renaissance ages.

Sant Columbanus Basilica was built between the years 1456 and 1522 over the remains of a 10th century Romanesque church.

Malaspina-dal-Verme castle which was constructed in 1304 sits on top of a hill overlooking the town. From here you can get an excellent panorormic view over the whole of Bobbio.

Piazza San Franceso is very pleasant with gardens, a fountain and a war memorial.

Three more religious buildings worthy of a mention are the Monastero e Chiesa di San Francesco, the church of San Lorenzo and the Santuario della Madonna dell'Aiuto.

Castell'Arquato

The old town here is wonderful, built high on a rock the medieval centre is well preserved and is little changed from how it was in the 10th century. Because of its charming medieval structure it is a popular location for TV programmes and movies, the most notable being 'Ladyhawke'.

The castle, Rocca Viscontea, is square with square with four square towers, a keep and a moat with two entrances. Within its walls is a Medieval Musuem.

Other points of interest are:

  • Collegiata church of St Mary dating back to the 8th century but had to be rebuilt after the devasting earthquake of 1117.
  • Torrione Farnese.
  • Palazzo del Duca built in 1292 and connected to the Torrione Farnese by a tunnel.
  • Palazzo del Podestà.
  • Porta di Sasso.

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Flag of Emilia-Romagna
Flag of Emilia-Romagna
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 22,124 km²
      Population: 4.2m
      Density: 189/km²
      Capital: Bologna

      National Parks:
      Appennino Tosco-Emiliano
      Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona, Campigna
Location of Emilia-Romagna
Location of Emilia-Romagna
Provinces of Emilia-Romagna
Provinces of Emilia-Romagna
  • Comunes of Emilia-Romagna
    • Bologna

      • Anzola dell’Emilia
        Argelato
        Baricella
        Bazzano
        Bentivoglio
        Bologna
        Borgo Tossignano
        Budrio
        Calderara di Reno
        Camugnano
        Casalecchio di Reno
        Casalfiumanese
        Castel d’Aiano
        Castel del Rio
        Castel di Casio
        Castel Guelfo di Bologna
        Castel Maggiore
        Castel San Pietro Terme
        Castello d’Argile
        Castello di Serravalle
        Castenaso
        Castiglione dei Pepoli
        Crespellano
        Crevalcore
        Dozza
        Fontanelice
        Gaggio Montano
        Galliera
        Granaglione
        Granarolo dell’Emilia
        Grizzana Morandi
        Imola
        Lizzano in Belvedere
        Loiano
        Malalbergo
        Marzabotto
        Medicina
        Minerbio
        Molinella
        Monghidoro
        Monte San Pietro
        Monterenzio
        Monteveglio
        Monzuno
        Mordano
        Ozzano dell’Emilia
        Pianoro
        Pieve di Cento
        Porretta Terme
        Sala Bolognese
        San Benedetto Val di Sambro
        San Giorgio di Piano
        San Giovanni in Persiceto
        San Lazzaro di Savena
        San Pietro in Casale
        Sant’Agata Bolognese
        Sasso Marconi
        Savigno
        Vergato
        Zola Predosa

    • Ferrara
      • Argenta
        Berra
        Bondeno
        Cento
        Codigoro
        Comacchio
        Copparo
        Ferrara
        Formignana
        Goro
        Jolanda di Savoia
        Lagosanto
        Masi Torello
        Massa Fiscaglia
        Mesola
        Migliarino
        Migliaro
        Mirabello
        Ostellato
        Poggio Renatico
        Portomaggiore
        Ro
        Sant’Agostino
        Tresigallo
        Vigarano Mainarda
        Voghiera

    • Forlì-Cesena
      • Bagno di Romagna
        Bertinoro
        Borghi
        Castrocaro Terme e Terra del Sole
        Cesena
        Cesenatico
        Civitella di Romagna
        Dovadola
        Forlì
        Forlimpopoli
        Galeata
        Gambettola
        Gatteo
        Longiano
        Meldola
        Mercato Saraceno
        Modigliana
        Montiano
        Portico e San Benedetto
        Predappio
        Premilcuore
        Rocca San Casciano
        Roncofreddo
        San Mauro Pascoli
        Santa Sofia
        Sarsina
        Savignano sul Rubicone
        Sogliano al Rubicone
        Tredozio
        Verghereto

    • Modena
      • Bastiglia
        Bomporto
        Campogalliano
        Camposanto
        Carpi
        Castelfranco Emilia
        Castelnuovo Rangone
        Castelvetro di Modena
        Cavezzo
        Concordia sulla Secchia
        Fanano
        Finale Emilia
        Fiorano Modenese
        Fiumalbo
        Formigine
        Frassinoro
        Guiglia
        Lama Mocogno
        Maranello
        Marano sul Panaro
        Medolla
        Mirandola
        Modena
        Montecreto
        Montefiorino
        Montese
        Nonantola
        Novi di Modena
        Palagano
        Pavullo nel Frignano
        Pievepelago
        Polinago
        Prignano sulla Secchia
        Ravarino
        Riolunato
        San Cesario sul Panaro
        San Felice sul Panaro
        San Possidonio
        San Prospero
        Sassuolo
        Savignano sul Panaro
        Serramazzoni
        Sestola
        Soliera
        Spilamberto
        Vignola
        Zocca

    • Parma
      • Albareto
        Bardi
        Bedonia
        Berceto
        Bore
        Borgo Val di Taro
        Busseto
        Calestano
        Collecchio
        Colorno
        Compiano
        Corniglio
        Felino
        Fidenza
        Fontanellato
        Fontevivo
        Fornovo di Taro
        Langhirano
        Lesignano de’ Bagni
        Medesano
        Mezzani
        Monchio delle Corti
        Montechiarugolo
        Neviano degli Arduini
        Noceto
        Palanzano
        Parma
        Pellegrino Parmense
        Polesine Parmense
        Roccabianca
        Sala Baganza
        Salsomaggiore Terme
        San Secondo Parmense
        Sissa
        Solignano
        Soragna
        Sorbolo
        Terenzo
        Tizzano Val Parma
        Tornolo
        Torrile
        Traversetolo
        Trecasali
        Valmozzola
        Varano de’ Melegari
        Varsi
        Zibello

    • Piacenza
      • Agazzano
        Alseno
        Besenzone
        Bettola
        Bobbio
        Borgonovo Val Tidone
        Cadeo
        Calendasco
        Caminata
        Caorso
        Carpaneto Piacentino
        Castel San Giovanni
        Castell’Arquato
        Castelvetro Piacentino
        Cerignale
        Coli
        Corte Brugnatella
        Cortemaggiore
        Farini
        Ferriere
        Fiorenzuola d’Arda
        Gazzola
        Gossolengo
        Gragnano Trebbiense
        Gropparello
        Lugagnano Val D’Arda
        Monticelli d’Ongina
        Morfasso
        Nibbiano
        Ottone
        Pecorara
        Piacenza
        Pianello Val Tidone
        Piozzano
        Podenzano
        Ponte dell’Olio
        Pontenure
        Rivergaro
        Rottofreno
        San Giorgio Piacentino
        San Pietro in Cerro
        Sarmato
        Travo
        Vernasca
        Vigolzone
        Villanova sull’Arda
        Zerba
        Ziano Piacentino

    • Ravenna
      • Alfonsine
        Bagnacavallo
        Bagnara di Romagna
        Brisighella
        Casola Valsenio
        Castel Bolognese
        Cervia
        Conselice
        Cotignola
        Faenza
        Fusignano
        Lugo
        Massa Lombarda
        Ravenna
        Riolo Terme
        Russi
        Sant’Agata sul Santerno
        Solarolo

    • Reggio Emilia
      • Albinea
        Bagnolo in Piano
        Baiso
        Bibbiano
        Boretto
        Brescello
        Busana
        Cadelbosco di Sopra
        Campagnola Emilia
        Campegine
        Canossa
        Carpineti
        Casalgrande
        Casina
        Castellarano
        Castelnovo di Sotto
        Castelnovo ne’ Monti
        Cavriago
        Collagna
        Correggio
        Fabbrico
        Gattatico
        Gualtieri
        Guastalla
        Ligonchio
        Luzzara
        Montecchio Emilia
        Novellara
        Poviglio
        Quattro Castella
        Ramiseto
        Reggio Emilia
        Reggiolo
        Rio Saliceto
        Rolo
        Rubiera
        San Martino in Rio
        San Polo d’Enza
        Sant’Ilario d’Enza
        Scandiano
        Toano
        Vetto
        Vezzano sul Crostolo
        Viano
        Villa Minozzo

    • Rimini
      • Bellaria-Igea Marina
        Casteldelci
        Cattolica
        Coriano
        Gemmano
        Maiolo
        Misano Adriatico
        Mondaino
        Monte Colombo
        Montefiore Conca
        Montegridolfo
        Montescudo
        Morciano di Romagna
        Novafeltria
        Pennabilli
        Poggio Berni
        Riccione
        Rimini
        Saludecio
        San Clemente
        San Giovanni in Marignano
        San Leo
        Sant’Agata Feltria
        Santarcangelo di Romagna
        Talamello
        Torriana
        Verucchio
Hotels in Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna Hotels
Emilia-RomagnaWEATHER
Emilia-Romagna Climate (Bologna)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 5 -2 3 43
Feb 8 1 3 45
Mar 13 4 5 60
Apr 18 8 6 67
May 23 12 7 65
Jun 27 16 9 53
Jul 30 18 9 43
Aug 29 18 8 58
Sep 25 15 7 61
Oct 19 10 5 72
Nov 11 4 3 81
Dec 6 0 2 61
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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