| Alfonsine | |
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| — Comune — | |
| Comune di Alfonsine | |
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Alfonsine
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Emilia-Romagna |
| Province | Ravenna (RA) |
| Frazioni | Fiumazzo, Taglio Corelli, Villa Pianta, Filo, Longastrino, Borgo Gallina, Borgo Seganti |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Angelo Antonellini |
| Area | |
| • Total | 106.8 km2 (41.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Population (30 April 2008)[1] | |
| • Total | 11,739 |
| • Density | 109.9/km2 (284.7/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Alfonsinesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 48011 |
| Dialing code | 0544 |
| Patron saint | Madonna delle Grazie |
| Saint day | 8 September |
| Website | Official website |
Alfonsine is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Ravenna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 60 km east of Bologna and about 15 km northwest of Ravenna.
It is located between the Senio River and the Adriatic Sea, in a fertile area suitable to agriculture, especially viticulture. In the territory there are considerable deposits of natural gas. In the area there are also some important industries.
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There are two main hypotheses about the origins of the name of Alfonsine. The first and more accepted is based on documents dating back to the early 16th century. It refers to Alfonso Calcagnini, who began the reclamation of these lands, which were thus called "the Alfonsine" (Alfonso lands). The second is due to Antonio Polloni (Toponomia Romagnola, 1966), who assumes that the name derives from the latin "fossa-æ" (ditch, channel, ditch dug by man), and that only later, and by coincidence, it was influenced by the name of Alfonso Calcagnini.
Alfonsine was founded in 1464, when the territory, consisting of valleys and marsh land, was donated by Borso d'Este to Teofilo Calcagnini who began a major work of reclamation. The original nucleus developed around the church of Our Lady, built in 1502 by Alfonso Calcagnini, son of Teofilo, who ruled during the period. The site, which has always been the border area between Ravenna and the domain of Este family, has been in centuries the object of struggles for control. Pope Leo X in 1519 officially invested Calcagnini of the fee, which took on the name of "Leo's territory"; the Calcagnini family became feudal Lords on behalf of both the Church and the Este. The privilege was reconfirmed by Clement VIII at the end of the century.
Despite the economic and population growth recorded during the 18th century, the inhabitants of the rural community at that time not yet enjoyed any freedom. The area served by area only of exploitation and enrichment for the class of feudal lords, while the population forced to pay fees due to Lord continued to live in a high social disadvantage.
The Napoleonic period saw the emancipation of Calcagnini Alfonsine and in 1814 became the Municipality.
The harsh living conditions led to the gates of the'900, the formation of a side band of criminals, and other associations of a welfare policy and engaged in the struggle to win rights for the lower classes.
It is then put back to a hard test by the outbreak of the troubles of the week red, which is manifested in Alfonsine very violently and the two world wars that followed
During the second world war, and specifically between December 1944 and 10 April 1945, Alfonsine was the scene of bloody clashes between Germans, allies and partisans who fought on the front located on the River Senio. Following the release, the scene was distressing to the destruction of 70% of homes and the disappearance of the old historic center, which was initially heavily bombed by the Allies, and further undermined the Germans before their retreat northward. This is still an important town in the museum that commemorates the battle, the Museum of the Battle of the Senio, the relics, there is an original Bailey bridge used by the Allies during the conflict and examples of artillery and equipment.
The City of Alfonsine is one of the city decorated with the Military Valor for the Liberation War because it was awarded the Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare for the sacrifices of its people and its activities in the partisan struggle during the Second World War.
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