Castel Maggiore

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Comune di Castel Maggiore
Coat of arms of Comune di Castel Maggiore
Municipal coat of arms
Country Flag of Italy Italy
Region Emilia-Romagna
Province Bologna (BO)
Mayor Marco Monesi (since June, 2004
Elevation 29 m (95 ft)
Area 30 km² (12 sq mi)
Population (as of 2001)
 - Total 15,922
 - Density 531/km² (1,375/sq mi)
Time zone CET, UTC+1
Coordinates 44°34′N, 11°22′E
Gentilic
Dialing code 051
Postal code 40013
Frazioni Boschetto, Primo Maggio, Trebbo, Sabbiuno
Patron St. Andrew
 - Day October 30
Website: www.castel-maggiore.bo.it

Castel Maggiore is an Italian comune with 15,922 inhabitants in the province of Bologna located at about 9 km northwards from the historic centre of the capital town, Bologna. Its name means "Major Castle" in Italian.

[edit] 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 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.