Carpi, Emilia-Romagna

Not to be confused with Capri, an Italian island off the west coast of Italy.

Carpi
—  Comune  —
Città di Carpi
The Cathedral of Carpi ("Duomo")
Coat of arms
Carpi Location of Carpi in Italy
Coordinates: 44°47′N 10°53′E / 44.783°N 10.883°E / 44.783; 10.883Coordinates: 44°47′N 10°53′E / 44.783°N 10.883°E / 44.783; 10.883
Country	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna
Province	Modena (MO)
Frazioni	Budrione, Cantone di Gargallo, Cibeno Pile, Cortile, Fossoli, Gargallo, Lama di Quartirolo, Migliarina Roma, Osteriola, San Marino, Santa Croce
Government
- Mayor	Enrico Campedelli
Area
- Total	131 km2 (50.6 sq mi)
Elevation	28 m (92 ft)
Population (31 March 2009)[1]
- Total	67,298
- Density	513.7/km2 (1,330.5/sq mi)
Demonym	Carpigiani
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	41012
Dialing code	059
Patron saint	San Bernardino da Siena
Saint day	May 20
Website	Official website

Carpi is an Italian town and comune of about 67,000 people in the province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna.

It is a busy centre for industrial and craft activities and for cultural and commercial exchanges.

History

The name "Carpi" is derived from carpinus betulus, a hornbeam tree particularly widespread in medieval times in the Po valley region. In Prehistoric times it was a settlement of the Villanovan Culture.

The foundation by the Lombard king Aistulf of St. Mary's church in the castle (Castrum Carpi) in 752 was the first step in the current settlement of the city. From 1319 to 1525 it was ruled by the Pio family, after whom it was acquired by the Este, as part of the Duchy of Modena.

The city received a Silver Medal for Military Valour in recognition of its participation in the resistance against the German occupation during World War II.

Carpi is the finishing point of the annual Italian Marathon, which begins in nearby Maranello. Almost 1000 athletes enter the senior men's and women's race which has been held every year since 1988.

Main sights

Carpi is distinguished by its great Renaissance square (piazza), the largest in the region.^[2] It is flanked by a portico with 52 columns.

Other notable landmarks include:

• Town hall (Palazzo dei Pio)- formerly the castle of the Pio family. It includes parts from different ages, such as the merloned-tower of Passerino Bonaccolsi, the Renaissance façade and the tower of Galasso Pio, and the 17th century watch tower. It includes a chapel frescoed by Bernardino Loschi and Vincenzo Catena.
• Cathedral - Originally designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi, drawings for it are located in the Gabinetto dei Disegni e Stampe in the Uffizi, Florence, and document Peruzzi's contact with Leonardo da Vinci.^[3] Construction begun 1514, design changed with the Baroque façade (completed 1701) and the cupola (completed 1774).
• Church of Santa Maria in Castello or La Sagra - New façade designed by Baldassarre Peruzzi (1514).

References

1. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
2. ^ Image.
3. ^ Parsons, "Between Typology and Geometry, Designs by Baldassarre Peruzzi for Carpi Cathedral," Romisches Jahrbuch der Biblioteca Hertziana (Hirmer Verlag, Munich, 2005), band 35, pp. 287-326.