Novellara

Novellara
Comune
Comune di Novellara

Piazza Unità d'Italia

Coat of arms
Novellara

Location of Novellara in Italy

Coordinates: 44°51′N 10°44′E / 44.850°N 10.733°E
Country Italy
Region Emilia-Romagna
Province Reggio Emilia (RE)
Frazioni Bettolino, Carrobbio, Colombaia, La Bernolda, Minghella, Mulino di Sotto, San Bernardino, San Giovanni della Fossa, Santa Maria della Fossa, Vezzola
Government
  Mayor Raul Daoli (since June 14, 2004) (Centre-Left)
Area
  Total 58 km2 (22 sq mi)
Elevation 24 m (79 ft)
Population (30 June 2012)[1]
  Total 13,955
  Density 240/km2 (620/sq mi)
Demonym Novellaresi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 42017
Dialing code 0522
Patron saint San Cassiano
Saint day May 4
Website Official website

Novellara is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, with some 13,500 inhabitants. It is 19 kilometres (12 miles) north of Reggio Emilia and has a railway station for the local train going from Reggio to Guastalla.

History

The current name comes from the medieval Nubilaria, when the surrounding terrain was mostly covered by marshes, which favoured the formation of recurring fogs.

The town was the seat of the Gonzaga family from the 13th century: here Guido Gonzaga, in the early 14th century, created an effectively independent lordship, which later evolved into the County of Novellara and Bagnolo, including grossly what is now the communal territory of Novellara and the nearby Bagnolo in Piano.

Chiesa collegiata di Santo Stefano.

After the Gonzaga's end, in 1728, the town passed to the Este of the Duchy of Modena, whose history Novellara followed until 1859, when it was annexed to the newly unified Italy.

Main sights

In addition to this, Novellara is also home to the second largest Gurdwara in Europe. This reflects the presence of a very large Sikh community, living in Novellara and nearby places, where they work mainly in cattle farms and dairies.

As in other towns of the region, (e.g. Bologna), streets are lined with characteristic arcades, intended to offer shade in summer and shelter from rain or snow.

Famous people

Twin cities

References

  1. Population data from Istat