Castelfranco Emilia

Castelfranco Emilia
Comune di Castelfranco Emilia
Villa Sorra
Villa Sorra
Coat of arms of Castelfranco Emilia
Location of Castelfranco Emilia
Map
Castelfranco Emilia is located in Italy
Castelfranco Emilia
Castelfranco Emilia
Location of Castelfranco Emilia in Italy
Castelfranco Emilia is located in Emilia-Romagna
Castelfranco Emilia
Castelfranco Emilia
Castelfranco Emilia (Emilia-Romagna)
Coordinates: 44°35′48″N 11°03′10″E / 44.59667°N 11.05278°E / 44.59667; 11.05278
CountryItaly
RegionEmilia-Romagna
ProvinceModena (MO)
FrazioniCasale California, Cavazzona, Gaggio, Madonna della Provvidenza, Manzolino, Panzano, Piumazzo, Rastellino, Recovato, Riolo
Government
 • MayorGiovanni Gargano (PD)
Area
 • Total
102.51 km2 (39.58 sq mi)
Elevation
42 m (138 ft)
Population
 (30 June 2017)[2]
 • Total
32,613
 • Density320/km2 (820/sq mi)
DemonymCastelfranchesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
41013
Dialing code059
Patron saintDonnino
Saint daySeptember 8
WebsiteOfficial website

Castelfranco Emilia (Western Bolognese: Castèl; Modenese: Castèlfrànc) is a town and comune in Modena, Emilia-Romagna, north-central Italy. The town lies about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of Bologna.

Castelfranco either occupies or lies near the site of the ancient Forum Gallorum, a place on the via Aemilia between Modena and Bologna. Near the town, on 14 April 43 BC, Octavian and Hirtius defeated Mark Antony in a battle during the War of Mutina.[3][4] The village never gained prominence in ancient times. While it was included in the Tabula Peutingeriana, it was omitted from all other Roman road itineraries.[5]

A fortress was built just outside the town in 1628–34 by Pope Urban VIII as a northern defensive bastion for the Papal States. By the late 19th century, the fortress had been converted to a prison.[3] In 1861 it was joined with the former comune of Piumazzo. This town is home of the tortellini, a typical Italian food. In this region lambrusco wine is also produced. The church of Santa Maria Assunta houses Assumption of the Virgin by Guido Reni.

  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  3. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Castelfranco nell' Emilia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 471.
  4. ^ Golden, Gregory K (2013). Crisis management during the Roman Republic. Cambridge University Press. pp. 198–99. ISBN 978-1-107-05590-2. OCLC 842919750.
  5. ^ Smith, William, ed. (1854). "Forum Gallorum". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.