Guastalla | |
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— Comune — | |
Città di Guastalla | |
Guastalla
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Coordinates: | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Emilia-Romagna |
Province | Reggio Emilia (RE) |
Frazioni | Pieve, San Giacomo, San Giorgio, San Girolamo, San Martino, San Rocco, Tagliata |
Government | |
• Mayor | Giorgio Benaglia |
Area | |
• Total | 52.5 km2 (20.3 sq mi) |
Elevation | 24 m (79 ft) |
Population (31 September 2009) | |
• Total | 15,202 |
• Density | 289.6/km2 (750/sq mi) |
Demonym | Guastallesi |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Postal code | 42016 |
Dialing code | 0522 |
Patron saint | St. Francis |
Saint day | October 4 |
Website | Official website |
Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
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Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River. Guastalla is located at around 30 km from the cities of Reggio Emilia, Parma, and Mantova.
The area of Guastalla was probably settled by Etruscans as early as the 7th century BCE, but the name of the city is mentioned for the first time in 864 CE. Of Lombard origin, the city was ruled by the Torelli family from 1406 to 1539, when it became the capital of a duchy under the Gonzaga family and housed artists like Guercino and Torquato Tasso.
In 1748, by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the city became part of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza e Guastalla, to which it belonged until 1847, when it was inherited by the Duke of Modena. Since the unification of Italy in 1861 Guastalla has been a part of Italy.
As a titular Duke of Modena, the current holder of the title of "Duke of Guastalla" would be Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este.
In the Guastalla communal territory is also home to: