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Encyclopedia > Assault of Placentia
Comune di Piacenza
Coat of arms of Comune di Piacenza
Municipal coat of arms
Country Flag of Italy Italy
Region Emilia-Romagna
Province Piacenza (PC)
Mayor Roberto Reggi
Elevation 61 m
Area 118 km²
Population
 - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 99,150
 - Density 806/km²
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 45°03′N 09°42′E
Gentilic Piacentini
Dialing code 0523
Postal code 29100
Frazioni San Bonico, Pittolo, La Verza, Mucinasso, I Vaccari, Montale, Borghetto, Le Mose, Mortizza, Gerbido
Patron Sant'Antonino
 - Day July 4
Website: www.comune.piacenza.it

Piacenza (Placentia in Latin and old-fashioned English, Piasëinsa in the local dialect of Emiliano-Romagnolo) is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza. Image File history File links Piacenza_stemma. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... The Regions of Italy were granted a degree of regional autonomy in the 1948 constitution, which states that the constitutions role is: to recognize, protect and promote local autonomy, to ensure that services at the State level are as decentralized as possible, and to adapt the principles and laws... Emilia-Romagna is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. ... In Italy, the province (in Italian: provincia) is an administrative division of an intermediate level, between municipality (comune) and region (Regione). ... Piacenza (Italian: Provincia di Piacenza) is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing summer time Central European Time (CET) is one of the names of the time zone that is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Central European Time West Africa Time British Summer Time* Irish Summer Time* Western European Summer Time* Category: ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with ethnonym. ... Here are a list of area codes in Italy. ... A frazione, in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other subdivisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere. ... For the United States holiday, the Fourth of July, see Independence Day (United States). ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Emiliano-Romagnolo (also known as Emilian-Romagnolo) is a western neo-Latin language (just like other Italian minority languages such as Piedmontese, Lombard and Ligurian), like French, Provençal and Catalan. ... The city of Chicago, as seen from the sky The main square of the Catalan city of Sabadell during a popular celebration. ... Emilia-Romagna is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. ... Piacenza (Italian: Provincia di Piacenza) is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. ...

Contents

History

Ancient history

Before its settlement by the Romans, the area was populated by Celtic and Ligurian tribes. The Etruscans were well known for the practice of divining by the entrails of sheep. A bronze sculpture of a liver called the "Piacenza Liver" was discovered in 1877 near Piacenza complete with the name of regions marked on it which were assigned to various gods. It has been connected to the practice of haruspicy. Piacenza was founded in 218 BC (according to the tradition, on May 31), the first of the Roman military colonies, and was formerly called Placentia in both Latin and English. Celts redirects here. ... Ligurian may mean one of several things: Pertaining to the ancient Ligures Pertaining to modern Liguria Ligurian language This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Map showing the extent of the Etruscan civilization and the twelve Etruscan League cities. ... Species See text. ... Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... A sculpture is a three-dimensional object, which for the purposes of this article is man-made and selected for special recognition as art. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about deities or gods from a non-monotheistic perspective. ... The bronze sheeps liver of Piacenza, with Etruscan inscriptions In Roman practice inherited from the Etruscans, a haruspex (plural haruspices) was a man trained to practice a form of divination called haruspicy or hepatoscopy. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC - 210s BC - 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC Years: 223 BC 222 BC 221 BC 220 BC 219 BC - 218 BC - 217 BC 216 BC... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...


In Placentia and the nearby colony, Cremona, 6,000 Latin colonists were sent, in particular members of the Equestrian class of Rome. In the same year as the city's founding, Hannibal won the Battle of Trebbia in Piacenza's area, but the city resisted the Punic forces. In the following years the city's territory was drained and a port was constructed onto the Po River. Placentia flourished as a production centre for grain, barley, millet, and wool. Although sacked and devastated several times, the city always recovered and as late as the 6th century Procopius called it Urbs Aemilia Princeps, namely the "Princess of the cities across the Via Aemilia", meaning "first city across the Via Aemilia". Cremona is a city in Northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left shore of the Po river in the middle of the Pianura padana (Po valley). ... Hannibal, the son of Hamilcar Barca, (247 BC – c. ... Battle of the Trebia Conflict Second Punic War Date 18 December 218 BC Place Trebbia river, Italy Result Carthaginian victory The Battle of the Trebia (or Trebbia) was a battle of the Second Punic War fought between the Carthaginian forces of Hannibal and the Romans in 218 BC. Hannibals... Punic (from Latin pūnicus) was a Latin version of the term Phoenician. (After the Punic Wars, Romans used this term as an adjective meaning treacherous.) In archaeological and linguistic usage, it refers to the Greco-Roman era culture and dialect of Carthage and its empire as distinct from their... The Po (Latin: Padus, Italian: Po) is a river that flows 652 kilometers (405 miles) eastward across northern Italy, from Monviso (in the Cottian Alps) to the Adriatic Sea near Venice. ... This Buddhist stela from China, Northern Wei period, was built in the early 6th century. ... Procopius (in Greek Προκόπιος, c. ... Via Aemilia (It. ...


The era of Late Antiquity in Piacenza (c. 300-700/800 AD) was marked by the expansion of Christianity, with the presence of several martyrs. The current patron saint, Antoninus, was a former legionnaire who Christianized the area and was killed during the reign of Diocletianus. Late Antiquity is a rough periodization (c. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... See also Legion software and Legion forummer. ... Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( 245– 312), born Diocles (Greek Διοκλής) and known in English as Diocletian,[1] was Roman Emperor from November 20, 284 to May 1, 305. ...


Middle Ages

Piacenza was sacked in the course of the Gothic Wars (535–552). After a short period as a Byzantine Empire city, it was conquered by the Lombards, who made it a duchy seat. After the Frank conquest (9th century) the city began to recover, being sited across the Via Francigena who lead from the Holy Roman Empire to Rome. Its population and importance grew further after the year 1000. In that period the government began to shift from the feudal lords in the hands of a new enterprising class, as well as those of the feudal class of the countryside. Combatants Byzantine Empire Ostrogoths Franks Visigoths Commanders Belisarius Narses Mundalias Germanus Justinus Liberius Theodoric the Great Witigis Totila The Gothic War, was a war fought in Italy in 535-552. ... Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent c. ... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, whence the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire. ... Look up Frank, frank in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... Route of the Via Francigena The Via Francigena is an ancient road to Rome for those coming from France. ... The double-headed eagle A portrait of Charlemagne wearing the crown of the Holy Roman Empire (15th century painting by Albrecht Dürer) The Holy Roman Empire was a mainly Germanic conglomeration of lands in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. ... Nickname: The Eternal City Motto: SPQR: Senatus PopulusQue Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area    - City 1285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban... Europe in 1000 The year 1000 of the Gregorian Calendar was the last year of the 10th century as well as the last year of the first millennium. ...


In 1095 it was the site of the Council of Piacenza, in which the First Crusade was proclaimed. From 1126 Piacenza was a free commune and an important member of the Lombard League. In this role it took part to the war against the emperor Frederick Barbarossa and the subsequent battle of Legnano (1176). It also fought with success the neighbouring communes of Cremona, Pavia and Parma, expanding its possession. Piacenza snatched from the Malaspina counts and the bishop of Bobbio the control of the trading routes towards Genoa, where the first Piacentini bankers had already settled. Events The country of Portugal is established for the second time. ... The Council of Piacenza was a mixed synod of ecclesiastics and laymen of the Roman Catholic Church, which took place from March 1 to March 5, 1095, at Piacenza. ... Combatants Christendom, Catholicism West European Christians Turkish people Muslims/Arabs The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II with the dual goals of liberating the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslims, and freeing the Eastern Christians from Muslim rule. ... Events Rutherglen becomes one of the first Royal Burghs in Scotland. ... Defensive towers at San Gimignano, Tuscany, bear witness to the factional strife within communes. ... The Lombard League was an alliance formed around 1167, which at its apex included most of the cities of northern Italy (although its membership changed in time), including, among others, Milan, Piacenza, Cremona, Mantua, Bergamo, Brescia, Bologna, Padua, Treviso, Vicenza, Verona, Lodi, and Parma, and even some lords, such as... Frederick in a 13th century Chronicle Frederick I (German: Friedrich I. von Hohenstaufen)(1122 – June 10, 1190), also known as Friedrich Barbarossa (Frederick Redbeard) was elected king of Germany on March 4, 1152 and crowned Holy Roman Emperor on June 18, 1155. ... Combatants Holy Roman Empire and Ghibellines Lombard League(Guelphs) Commanders Frederick I Barbarossa Alberto da Giussano Strength 2500 (all cavalry) 2500 (2000 cavalry, 500 foot) The Carroccio of Legnano on the way to the battlefield. ... Events May 22 - Murder attempt by the Hashshashin on Saladin near Aleppo Raynald of Chatillon released from prison in Aleppo May 29 - Frederick Barbarossa is defeated in the Battle of Legnano by the Lombard League leading to the pactum Anagninum (the Agreement of Anagni) September 17 - Seljuk Turks defeat Manuel... Cremona is a city in Northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left shore of the Po river in the middle of the Pianura padana (Po valley). ... Church San Michele in Pavia The Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) on the Ticino river is a symbol of Pavia Pavìa (the ancient Ticinum) (population 71,000) is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its... Country Italy Region Emilia-Romagna Province Parma (PR) Mayor Elvio Ubaldi (since May 28, 2002) Elevation 55 m Area 260 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 175,789  - Density 676/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Parmigiani (Parmensi are called the provinces inhabitants) Dialing code... Stone arch bridge over the Trebbia river Bobbio is a city in the Piacenza province of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. ... Genoa (Genova in Italian - Zena in Genoese) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. ...


In the 13th century, despite some unsuccessful wars against emperor Frederick II, Piacenza managed to gain some strongholds on the Lombardy shore of the Po River. In 1183, in the church dedicated to Saint Antoninus, the primilaries of the Peace of Constance were signed. Agriculture and trades were highly flourishing in these centuries, and made Piacenza one of the richest city of Europe. This reflected in the construction of many important edifices and to a general revision of the urban asset. As well as in the great majority of Medieval Italian communes, since the second half of the 13th century in Piacenza inner party struggles were frequent: the Scotti, Pallavicino and Alberto Scoto (1290-1313) held in sequence the power in the city. The latter's government ended with the conquest by the Visconti of Milan, which held Piacenza until 1447. Duke Gian Galeazzo rewrote the city's statues and moved there the University of Pavia. Piacenza was a Sforza possession until 1499. (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Frederick II (December 26, 1194 – December 13, 1250), of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, was a pretender to the title of King of the Romans from 1212 and unopposed holder of that monarchy from 1215. ... Lombardy (Italian: Lombardia, Lombard: Lumbardia) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. ... The Po (Latin: Padus, Italian: Po) is a river that flows 652 kilometers (405 miles) eastward across northern Italy, from Monviso (in the Cottian Alps) to the Adriatic Sea near Venice. ... Events Three-year old Emperor Go-Toba ascends to the throne of Japan after the forced abdication of his brother Antoku during the Genpei War William of Tyre excommunicated by the newly appointed Heraclius of Jerusalem, firmly ending their struggle for power Andronicus I Comnenus becomes the Byzantine emperor Births... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Pallavicino may be Ferrante Pallavicino, Italian writer Pietro Sforza Pallavicino, historian and cardinal Category: ... Visconti was a noble family that ruled Milan during the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance period. ... Milan (Italian: ; Lombard: Milán (listen)) is the main city of northern Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. ... Events March 6 - Nicholas V becomes Pope. ... A 19th century version of Giangaleazzo Visconti. ... The University of Pavia is a university in Pavia, Italy. ... Sforza was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan. ... 1499 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...


Modern era

A coin from the 16th century shows the motto: Placentia floret ("Piacenza flourishes"). The city was in fact developing further, mainly thanks to the produce from its countryside. Also in the course of that century a new wall line was erected. Piacenza was under France until 1521, and later, with Leo X, became briefly part of the Papal States. In 1545, finally, it was included in the new-born Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, led by the Farnese family. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Events January 3 - Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem. ... Pope Leo X, born Giovanni di Lorenzo de Medici (11 December 1475 – 1 December 1521) was Pope from 1513 to his death. ... Map of the Papal States. ... Events February 27 - Battle of Ancrum Moor - Scots victory over superior English forces December 13 - Official opening of the Council of Trent (closed 1563) Battle of Kawagoe - between two branches of Uesugi families and the late Hojo clan in Japan. ... The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul IIIs illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered around the city of Parma. ... The Farnese family was an influential family in Renaissance Italy. ...


Piacenza was the capital city of the duchy until Ottavio Farnese (1547-1586) moved it to Parma. The city lived its most grievous years under duke Odoardo (1622-1646): 6,000 and 13,000 Piacentini out of 30,000 died of famine and plague, respectively. The city and its countryside were also ravaged by bandits and French soldiers. 1586 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... Odoardo Farnese (1573-1626), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. ... Events January 1 - In the Gregorian calendar, January 1 is declared as the first day of the year, instead of March 25. ... 1646 (MDCXLVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ...


From 1732 to 1859 Parma and Piacenza were ruled by House of Bourbon. In the 18th century, ducal family living in Parma, several edifices which belonged to noble families such as Scotti, Landi and Fogliani were built in Piacenza. Events February 23 - First performance of Handels Orlando, in London June 9 - James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia. ... 1859 (MDCCCLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... Also see:  Early Modern France The House of Bourbon is an important European royal house. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...


In 1802, Napoleon's army annexed Piacenza to the French Empire. The young Piacentini recruits were sent to fight in Russia, Spain and Germany, while the city was spoiled of a great number of artworks which are currently exhibited in many French museums. --69. ... Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des...


The Habsburg government of Maria Luisa 1816-1847 is remembered as one of the best ever seen in Piacenza; the duchess drained many lands, built several bridges across the Trebbia river and the Nure stream, and created educational and artistic activities. Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ... Marie Louise (full name: Maria Ludovica Leopoldina Franziska Therese Josepha Lucia von Habsburg-Lothringen, later after 1817 in Italian Maria Luigia dAsburgo-Lorena, Duchessa di Parma, Piacenza, e Guastalla) (b. ... 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Image:Trebbia. ... Nure is a small river in northern Italy that has its source on the northern slopes of Mt. ...

See also: Duchy of Parma and Piacenza

The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul IIIs illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered around the city of Parma. ...

Union with Italy

Austrian and Croatian milices occupied Piacenza until, in 1848, a plebiscite marked the entrance of the city in the Kingdom of Sardinia. 37,089 voters out of 37,585 voted for the annexation. Piacenza was therefore declared Primogenita dell'Unità di Italia ("First-born of Unification of Italy") by the monarch. The Piacentini enrolled in mass in the Giuseppe Garibaldi's army which went in southern Italy to fight for independence. Year 1848 (MDCCCXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Italian unification, also known as Risorgimento (resurrection), was a historical process by which the Kingdom of Sardinia (ruled by the Savoy dynasty with Turin as its capital) gradually conquered the Italian peninsula, including the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Duchy of Modena, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy... Garibaldi in 1866. ...


In the June of 1865 the first railway bridge was inaugurated. In 1891 the first Chamber of Workers was created in Piacenza. 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ...


During World War II the city was heavily bombed by the Allies. The important railway bridge across the Po River, the railway station, as well as the historical centre, were destroyed. On the hills and the Appenine mountains, partisan bands were active. In 1996 president Oscar Luigi Scalfaro honoured Piacenza with the Gold Medal for Valour in Battle. Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military dead: 8,000,000 Civilian dead: 4,000,000 Total dead 12,000,000 World War II (abbreviated WWII), or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict... Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An early Bronze Age culture in Italy dating from around 1350 to 1150 B.C. Also spelled Apennine. ... Look up partisan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Oscar Luigi Scalfaro [skalfaro] (born September 9, 1918) is an Italian politician and magistrate, member of the Catholic Democratic Party and President of the Italian Republic from 1992 to 1999, and lifetime senator. ...


Main sights

Piacenza is one of the most renowned cities in Italy for the arts. It boasts a great number of historical palaces, often characterized by splendid gardens.

Piazza Cavalli and the façade of Il Gotico, Piacenza.
Piazza Cavalli and the façade of Il Gotico, Piacenza.
Façade of the Cathedral.
Façade of the Cathedral.
Church of Sant'Antonino, patron of Piacenza.
Church of Sant'Antonino, patron of Piacenza.
The Renaissance church of San Sisto.
The Renaissance church of San Sisto.

Image File history File links Piacenza_Palazzo. ... Image File history File links Piacenza_Palazzo. ...

Palaces

  • Palazzo Comunale, also known as il Gotico, was built in 1281 as the seat of the government of the town. It is one of the best preserved examples of Medieval civic building in northern Italy and is built by the model of "Broletto", typical of nearby Lombardy. Of the original design, only the northern side was completed, with its typical Guelph merlons, the arcaded frame, the central bell tower with two lesser ones at the sides. The façade, with five arcades, is in pink marble in the lower part and in brickwork (decorated with geometrical figures) in the upper part. A rose window overlooks the short side, which has three arcades. The main hall has frescoes, and is used for meetings, lectures and conferences.
  • Palazzo Farnese, begun in 1568 by Ottavio Farnese and his wife, Margaret of Austria. The initial project was devised by Francesco Paciotto, from Urbino, and works were entrusted to Giovanni Bernardo Della Valle, Giovanni Lavezzari and Bernardo Panizzari (Caramosino). The design was modified in 1568 by Jacopo Barozzi, better known as Vignola.
  • Palazzo Landi, built in the Middle Ages but renovated in the late 15th century.
  • Palazzo Costa.
  • Palazzo Somaglia.
  • Palazzo Scotti, housing the Museum of Natural History.
  • Palazzo dei Mercanti (17th century), the current Town Hall.

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Masonry. ... Events March 23 - Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. ... Margaret of Parma (28 December 1522 - 18 January 1586), duchess of Parma and regent of the Netherlands from 1559 to 1567, was the illegitimate daughter of Charles V. Her mother, Johanna Maria van der Gheynst, a servant of Charles de Lalaing, Seigneur de Montigny, was a Fleming. ... Panorama of Urbino with the cathedral and the palazzo ducale Urbino is a city in the Marche in Italy, southwest of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site with a great cultural history during the Renaissance as the seat of Federico da Montefeltro. ... Events March 23 - Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. ... The five orders, engraving from Vignolas Regole delle cinque ordini darchitettura. ...

Other places of interest

  • Piazza Cavalli is the main square of the town. It is named ("Cavalli" means "horses") for the two bronze equestrian monuments of Alessandro Farnese (Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1586, nephew and valiant general of Philip II of Spain) and his son Ranuccio, who succeeded him to the dukedom. The statues are masterpieces of Francesco Mochi (1580-1654), a mannerist sculptor.
  • The Duomo di Piacenza is the Catholic cathedral of the diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio. It was built from 1122 to 1233 and is one of the most valuable examples of a Romanesque cathedral in northern Italy. The façade, in Veronese pink marble and gilted stone, is horizontally parted by a gallery that dominates the three gates, decorated with capitals and Romanic statues. The interior has a nave and two aisles, divided by 25 large pillars. It has noteworthy frescoes, made in the 14th-16th centuries by Camillo Procaccini and Ludovico Carracci, while those of the dome are by Morazzone and Guercino. The presbytery as a wooden sculpture from 1479, a wodden choir by Giangiacomo da Genova (1471) and statues of Lombard school from the 15th century. The crypt, on the Greek cross plan, has 108 Romanesque small columns and is home to the relics of Saint Justine, to which the first cathedral (crumbled down in 1117 after an earthquake) was dedicated.
  • The church of St. Francis, in Piazza Cavalli, is a 12th century Romanesque/Gothic edifice which, thanks to its central position, assumed the role of civic Sanctuary in the Middle Ages. Part of the ancient cloisters remains. The main gate is enriched by a big lunette of the 15th century representing the Ecstasy of St. Francis. The interior, with nave and two aisles divided by low and strong brick pillars that support high gothic arches, has a Latin Cross scheme. The nave, higher than the aisles, has a pentahedric apse in which the aisle apses meet; decorations include 15th-16th centuries frescoes. In the church was proclaimed the annexion of Piacenza to the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1848.
  • The basilica of Sant'Antonino is an example of Romanesque architecture, characterized by a large octagonal tower. It was commissioned by St. Victor, first bihsop of the city, in 350 CE, and completed in 375. It contains the relics of the eponymous saint, martyrized near Travo, in the Val Trebbia. In 1183 the delegates of Frederick Barbarossa and of the Lombard League met here for the premilimaries of peace of Constance. The church was renovated after damage cretaed by the barbarian invasion, and has a 15th century cloister. In the interior, the main artworks are the frescoes by Camillo Gervasetti (1622).
  • The basilica of San Savino, dedicated to St. Victor's successor, was begun in 903 but consecrated only in 1107. The façade and the portico are from the 17th-18th centuries. The presbytery and the crypts contain 12th century polychrome mosaics. The interior is in Lombard-Gothic style, with anthropomorphic capitals of the columns. Over the high altar is a 12th century wooden crucifix by an unknown artist.
  • San Giovanni in Canale was founded by the Dominicans in 1220, and enlarged in the mid-16th century.
  • Santa Maria in Campagna, a Renaissance church, faces Piazzale delle Crociate ("Crusades Square"), so called because Pope Urban II summoned the First Crusade here in 1095. The church was built in 1522-1528 to house a miraculous wooden sculpture of the Madonna. The interior was originally on the Greek cross plan, but was later turned into a Latin cross one. Il Pordenone finished fine frescoes in the dome and in two chapels on the left side.
  • St. Sixtus is a Renaissance church with a precious choir, designed by Alessio Tramello. It was begun in the 15th century over a temple edificated in 874 by Empress Angilberga. Also by Tramello is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
  • The most famous relic of the region's pre-Roman civilization is the Bronze Liver of Piacenza (Il Fegato Etrusco di Piacenza in Italian), an Etruscan bronze model of a sheep's liver dating from the end of the second century to the beginning of the first century BCE. It was discovered in 1877 in Ciavernasco di Settima, near Gossolengo, near Piacenza, and is housed in Piacenza's Archaeological Museum, part of the Musei Civici di Palazzo Farnese. Containing writing on its surface delineating the various parts of the liver and their significance, it was likely used as an educational tool for students studying haruspicy, or divination.
  • Ricci Oddi Gallery is an art-gallery dedicated to modern Italian painters.

Alessandro Farnese can refer to: Alessandro Farnese (pope) (1468–1549) - better known as Pope Paul III Alessandro Farnese (cardinal) (1520–1589) - Pauls Grandson Alessandro Farnese (duke) (1545–1592) - Pauls Great Grandson This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that... Philip II of Spain Philip II (Spanish: Felipe II de Habsburgo; Portuguese: Filipe I) (May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598) was the first official King of Spain from 1556 until 1598, King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until 1598, King of England (as King-consort of Mary I) from... Francesco Mochi was a prominent early Baroque Italian sculptor active mostly in Rome and Orvieto. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Verona is an ancient town, episcopal see, and province in Veneto, Northern Italy. ... Nativity by Camillo Procaccini. ... Bargellini Madonna (1588) Oil on canvas, 282 x 188 cm Pinacoteca Nazionale, Bologna Ludovico Carracci (April 21, 1555 – November 13, 1619) was an Italian painter, etcher, and printmaker who helped reinvigorate Italian art after Mannerism by founding an academy in Bologna in 1585. ... The Italian painter Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (1591—1666) known as Guercino, was born at Cento, a village not far from Bologna. ... Kingdom of Sardinia, in 1839: Mainland Piedmont, with Savoia upper left (pink) and Nizza (Nice) lower left (brown) both now French, and Sardinia in the inset. ... Year 1848 (MDCCCXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Country Italy Region Emilia-Romagna Province Province of Piacenza (PC) Mayor Elevation m Area 80. ... Image:Trebbia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Events Vikings invade England. ... // The world in 1220 Middle Ages in Europe Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) Events Mongols first invade Abbasid caliphate - Bukhara and Samarkand taken End of the Kara-Khitan Khanate, destroyed by Genghis Khans Mongolian cavalry Dominican Order approved by Pope Honorius III Frederick II crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope... Pope Urban II (1042 – July 29, 1099), born Otho of Lagery (alternatively: Otto or Odo), was a Pope from 1088 to July 29, 1099. ... Events January 9 - Adrian Dedens becomes Pope Adrian VI. February 26 - Execution by hanging of Cuauhtémoc, Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan under orders of conquistador Hernán Cortés. ... Events June 19 - Battle of Landriano - A French army in Italy under Marshal St. ... Golgotha, by Pordenone, Cathedral of Cremona. ... Map showing the extent of the Etruscan civilization and the twelve Etruscan League cities. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Country Italy Region Emilia-Romagna Province Province of Piacenza (PC) Mayor Elevation m Area 31. ... The bronze sheeps liver of Piacenza, with Etruscan inscriptions In Roman practice inherited from the Etruscans, a haruspex (plural haruspices) was a man trained to practice a form of divination called haruspicy or hepatoscopy. ... This article is about the religious practice of divination. ...

Dialect

Many inhabitants of Piacenza and the surrounding province still use the Piacentine (or Piacentino) dialect, which is quite different from standard (Florentine) Italian as it is a variety of Emiliano-Romagnolo minority language. The different grammar rules and the dissimilar pronunciation of even similar words make it largely mutually unintelligible with standard Italian, with many regular vowels being replaced with umlauts or eliminated altogether. Although there have been a number of notable poets and writers using the Piacentine, it has experienced a steady decline during the 20th century due to the growing standardization of the Italian language in the national educational system. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A variety of a language is a form that differs from other forms of the language systematically and coherently. ... Emiliano-Romagnolo (also known as Emilian-Romagnolo) is a western neo-Latin language (just like other Italian minority languages such as Piedmontese, Lombard and Ligurian), like French, Provençal and Catalan. ... In linguistics the term Umlaut is used in a variety of closely related ways, some narrower, some broader. ...


See also: List of Languages of Italy Italy currently has one national language: Standard Italian. ...


Food

Piacenza and its province are renowned for the production of seasoned and salted pork products. The main specialities are pancetta (rolled seasoned pork belly, salted and spiced), coppa (seasoned pork neck, containing less fat than pancetta, and often flavoured with wood smoke) and salame (chopped pork meat flavoured with spices and wine, and made into sausages). Packaged pancetta. ... Coppa is a traditional Italian dry cured pork shoulder or neck, and could be considered the pork counterpart of the air dried, cured beef bresaola. ...


"Bortellina" (salted pancakes made with flour, salt, water or milk) and Chisulén (torta fritta in Standard Italian, made with flour, milk and animal fats mixed together and then fried in hot strutto, clarified pork fat) are the pefect coupling of pancetta, coppa and salame, but they are also good with fat cheese, particularly Gorgonzola cheese and Robiola. Gorgonzola is a blue-headed Italian cheese, made from unskimmed cows milk. ... Country of origin Italy Region, town Lombardy and Piedmont Source of milk Cows, Goats, Sheeps or a blend Pasteurized Best if not pasteurized, though can be with live lactic yeasts blended in Texture Soft-ripened Aging time none to 20 days Certification DOC for Robiola di Roccaverano Robiola is a...


Pisarei e fasö is an exquisite mixture of hand made pasta and beans. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ...


Among the culinary specialties of the Piacenza region (although also enjoyed in nearby Cremona) is mostarda di frutta, consisting of preserved fruits in a sugary syrup strongly flavored with mustard. Turtlìt (tortelli dolci in standard Italian), or fruit dumplings, are filled with mostarda di frutta, mashed chestnuts, and other ingredients, and are served at Easter. Turtlìt are also popular in the Ferrara area. Turtéi, a similarly named Piacentine specialty, is a kind of pasta filled with ricotta cheese. Cremona is a city in Northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left shore of the Po river in the middle of the Pianura padana (Po valley). ... Species Castanea alnifolia - Bush Chinkapin* Castanea crenata - Japanese Chestnut Castanea dentata - American Chestnut Castanea henryi - Henrys Chestnut Castanea mollissima - Chinese Chestnut Castanea ozarkensis - Ozark Chinkapin Castanea pumila - Allegheny Chinkapin Castanea sativa - Sweet Chestnut Castanea seguinii - Seguins Chestnut * treated as a synonym of by many authors Chestnut (Castanea), including... Ferrara is a city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, capital city of the province of Ferrara. ... Ricotta cheese is an Italian cheese made from the whey which results when making cheeses such as mozzarella or provolone. ...


Piacentine staple foods include corn (generally cooked as polenta) and rice (usually cooked as risotto), very common across Northern Italy regions. Pasta is also eaten, though it is not as popular as in southern Italy. There are also locally produced cheeses, such as Grana Padano, though nearby Parma is more famous for its dairy products. Fried polenta (left), with chicken and potatoes Polenta is a cornmeal dish popular in Italian, Savoyard, Swiss, Austrian, Croatian, Slovenian, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Corsican, Argentine, Brazilian, and Mexican cuisine, and it is a traditional staple food throughout much of northern Italy. ... Risotto prepared with mushrooms and scallions. ... Grana Padano cheese is one of the most popular Denominazione di Origine Controllata cheeses of Italy. ... Country Italy Region Emilia-Romagna Province Parma (PR) Mayor Elvio Ubaldi (since May 28, 2002) Elevation 55 m Area 260 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 175,789  - Density 676/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Parmigiani (Parmensi are called the provinces inhabitants) Dialing code...


The hills surrounding Piacenza are well known for their wineyards. The wine produced in this area is qualified with a D.o.c. (Denominazione di origine controllata) called "Colli piacentini" ("Hills of Piacenza"). Main wines are Gutturnio (red wine, both sparkilng or still), Bonarda (red wine, often sparkling and foamy, from Croatina grapes), Ortrugo (white dry wine), Malvasia (white sweet wine). Denominazione di origine controllata is an Italian quality assurance label for food products and especially wines (an appellation). ...


Famous inhabitants

Giacomo Radini Tedeschi bishop of Bergamo Country Italy Region Emilia-Romagna Province Province of Piacenza (PC) Mayor Elevation 329 m Area 123. ... Christopher Columbus (Genoa?, Italy, 1451? – Valladolid, Spain, May 20, 1506) was a navigator and maritime explorer credited as the discoverer of the Americas. ...

  • The Guadagnini family of luthiers (makers of violins and other string instruments), beginning in the 18th century, were among the most renowned residents of Piacenza. Of these, Giovanni Battista Guadagnini is the most famous, considered to have been one of the greatest violin makers in history.
  • The soccer players Simone and Filippo Inzaghi were both born in Piacenza, as well as the worldwide famous fashion designer Giorgio Armani.
  • The Italian American chef Hector Boiardi (1897-1985), better known as "Chef Boyardee," was born in Piacenza and immigrated to the United States in 1915, eventually acquiring fame for his eponymous franchise of food products.
  • Italian soccer player Alberto Gilardino moved to Piacenza when he was 12 years old.

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (G. B. Guadagnini) (b. ... An engravers impression of Antonio Stradivari examining an instrument. ... Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (G. B. Guadagnini) (b. ... Simone Inzaghi (born April 5, 1976, in Piacenza, Italy) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre forward for the Serie A club S.S. Lazio. ... Filippo Pippo Inzaghi, Cavaliere (IPA: []; born August 9, 1973, in Piacenza) is an Italian World Cup Winner who plays as a centre forward. ... It has been suggested that Giorgio Armani S.p. ... Chef Boyardee in an early television commercial. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Alberto Gilardino (July 5, 1982 in Biella, Piemonte) is an Italian football (soccer) player, who is a striker for A.C. Milan and the Italian national team. ...

Sister cities

Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Plasencia is a walled market city in the province of Cáceres, in Western Spain. ... The following places are called Cáceres: The Cáceres province in Spain. ... Capital Mérida Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 5th  41 634 km²  8,2% Population  â€“ Total (2005)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked 12th  1 083 879  2,5%  26,03/km² Demonym  â€“ English  â€“ Spanish  â€”  extremeño/a, castúo Statute of Autonomy February 26, 1983 ISO 3166-2 EX Parliamentary representation... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Mariendom and the Severikirche. ...

External links

Find more information on Piacenza by searching Wikipedia's sister projects
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 Learning resources from Wikiversity
  • liberta.it Newspaper of the city of Piacenza
  • Piacenza travel guide from Wikitravel
  • Comune di Piacenza (in Italian)
  • Piacentine dialect page from Bettola site
  • piacenzareset.it


 

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