Lugo, Italy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the Spanish city, see Lugo

Comune di Lugo
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna
Province	Ravenna (RA)
Mayor	Raffaele Cortesi (since 2004-06-13)

Elevation	15 m
Area	116 km²
Population
- Total (as of 2005)	31,927
- Density	275/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	44°25′N, 11°55′E
Gentilic	Lughesi
Dialing code	0545
Postal code	48022
Frazioni	Ascensione, Belricetto, Bizzuno, Cà di Lugo, Campanile, Chiesanuova, Ciribella, Giovecca, Passogatto, San Bernardino, San Lorenzo, Santa Maria in Fabriago, San Potito, Villa San Martino, Viola, Voltana, Zagonara.
Patron	St. Illarus
- Day	May 15
Location of Lugo in Italy
Website: www.comune.rimini.it

Lugo is a town and comune in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna, in the province of Ravenna.

[edit] History

A settlement in where is now the city is mentioned for the first time in 782 AD, but the names Lucus appears only in 1071. In 1161 it was a fief of the Counts of Cunio, but in 1202 it returned to the Papal States. It was later a possession of the Da Polenta, Pepoli, Visconti and Este; the latter mainained it until 1597, when the city was again annexed to the Papal States.

The Este Castle.

In 1424 the Castle of Zagonara (now destroyed) was the seat of the homonymous battle, in which a Milanese army defeated the Florentines.

When in 1797 the French revolutionary forces invaded northern Italy, Barnaba Chiaramonti (later pope as Pius VII), still as Bishop of Imola), addressed to his flock to refrain from useless resistance to the overwhelming and threatening forces of the enemy. The town of Lugo refused to submit to the invaders and was delivered up to a pillage which had an end only when the prelate, who had counselled subjection, suppliantly cast himself on his knees before General Augereau.

In 1859, by a plebiscite, Lugo joined the newly born Kingdom of Italy. During World War II, the Serio river formed the frontline between the German and Allied occupation areas from December 1944 until April 10, 1945. The city suffered heavy destruction but recovered quickly after the end of the conflict.

[edit] Main sights

Rocca Estense (Este Castle). It is the Town Hall from 1797. The current appearance dates from 1500, when the old fortress was rebuilt; the eastern side was erected during the Napoleonic occupation. The interior houses portraits of famous Lughesi, a lunette attributed to Mino da Fiesole and a noteworthy 19th century garden.
The Oratorio of Croce Coperta, with 15th century frescoes.
The Collegiata church, rebuilt in the 18th century over a 13th century Franciscan edifice, has a suggestive 15th century cloister.
San Francesco di Paola (1890), houses a precious polychrome terracotta sculpture of Dead Christ (15th century).