Guastalla

Guastalla
—  Comune  —
Città di Guastalla
Coat of arms
Guastalla Location of Guastalla in Italy
Coordinates: 44°55′N 10°40′E
Country	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna
Province	Reggio Emilia (RE)
Frazioni	Pieve, San Giacomo, San Giorgio, San Girolamo, San Martino, San Rocco, Tagliata
Government
• Mayor	Giorgio Benaglia
Area
• Total	52.5 km2 (20.3 sq mi)
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Population (31 September 2009)
• Total	15,202
• Density	290/km2 (750/sq mi)
Demonym	Guastallesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	42016
Dialing code	0522
Patron saint	St. Francis
Saint day	October 4
Website	Official website

Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

Geography

Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River. Guastalla is located at around 30 km from the cities of Reggio Emilia, Parma, and Mantova.

History

The area of Guastalla was probably settled by Etruscans as early as the 7th century BCE, but the name of the city is mentioned for the first time in 864 CE. Of Lombard origin, the city was ruled by the Torelli family from 1406 to 1539, when it became the capital of a duchy under the Gonzaga family and housed artists like Guercino and Torquato Tasso.

In 1748, by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the city became part of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza e Guastalla, to which it belonged until 1847, when it was inherited by the Duke of Modena. Since the unification of Italy in 1861 Guastalla has been a part of Italy.

Title

As a titular Duke of Modena, the current holder of the title of "Duke of Guastalla" would be Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este.

Main sights

• The Cathedral (16th century) by Francesco da Volterra.
• The Ducal Palace (1567).
• The Civic Theatre Ruggero Ruggeri (1671).
• The Town Hall.
• The octagonal Oratory of Madonna della Concezione.
• The church of Santa Maria dei Servi, designed by Francesco da Volterra. Noteworthy in the interior is a Deposition, canvas by Giuseppe Maria Crespi.
• The Civic Tower (18th century), in the location where once was the Spanish Castle

In the Guastalla communal territory is also home to:

• The Romanesque Oratory of St. George (probably from the 9th century).
• The Basilica of St. Peter at Pieve di Guastalla, which was seat of two Roman Catholic councils. It houses an ancient baptismal font (9th century) and painted terracotta portraying the Madonna with Child, attributed to Guido Mazzoni.

Twin Towns

• Forcalquier, France
• Giovinazzo, Italy
• Gabicce Mare, Italy

Famous Residents

• Ingrid Alberini, known as In-Grid. Italian pop-dance artist, known for the 2003 global dance hit Tu es foutu or "You Promised Me", born in Guastalla in 1978 and grew up in this town.

See also

• Rulers of Guastalla

External links

• Mapquest - Guastalla