Castel Maggiore

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Castel Maggiore
Comune di Castel Maggiore
Location of Castel Maggiore
Map
CountryItaly
RegionEmilia-Romagna
ProvinceBologna (BO)
FrazioniBoschetto, Primo Maggio, Trebbo, Sabbiuno
Government
 • MayorMarco Monesi (since June, 2004
Area
 • Total30 km2 (10 sq mi)
Elevation
29 m (95 ft)
Population
 (2012)[2]
 • Total17,422
 • Density580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
40013
Dialing code051
Patron saintSt. Andrew
Saint dayOctober 30
WebsiteOfficial website

Castel Maggiore is an Italian comune with 17,422 inhabitants in the province of Bologna located 9 kilometres (6 mi) north of the centre of Bologna. Literally, its name means Great Castle, but the name is derived from the earlier name Castaniolo Maggiore. Castaniolo is traditionally thought to derive from the Italian for little chestnut.[citation needed] It is not uncommon for tourists to ask for the non-existent "castle" in Castel Maggiore.

History

The first documents conveying the existence of the Comune, in ancient times called Castaniolo (Little chestnut) date back to the 10th century. The legend narrates that the name comes from a big chestnut trunk that should have floated into the territory of the comune through the Canale Navile (a navigable drain canal).

Afterwards Castaniolo was marked by the nickname of Maggiore (Major) in order to distinguish it from a homonymous hamlet (now Castaniolo Minore) of the Bentivoglio comune.

The name was changed into the one it still carries nowadays during Napoleon's era, in 1818, in which jurisdiction on today's hamlets has been recognised.

The town underwent heavy bomb attacks during World War II because of the passage of the railroad linking Bologna and Padua.

Twin towns — Sister cities

Castel Maggiore is twinned with:

References

  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.