Castel Maggiore

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = CastelMaggiore-Stemma.gif
official_name = Comune di Castel Maggiore
region = Emilia-Romagna
province = Bologna (BO)
elevation_m = 29
area_total_km2 = 30
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 15922
population_density_km2 = 531
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|44|34|N|11|22|E|region:IT_type:city(15922)
frazioni = Boschetto, Primo Maggio, Trebbo, Sabbiuno
telephone = 051
postalcode = 40013
gentilic =
saint = St. Andrew
day = October 30
mayor = Marco Monesi (since June, 2004
website = [http://www.comune.castel-maggiore.bo.it www.castel-maggiore.bo.it]

Castel Maggiore is an Italian comune with 15,922 inhabitants in the province of Bologna located at about 9 km northwards from the historic centre of the capital town, Bologna. Its name means "Major Castle" in Italian.

History

The first documents conveying the existence of the Comune, in ancient times called "Castaniolo" ("little chestnut") date back to the 10th century. The legend narrates that the name comes from a big chestnut trunk that should have floated into the territory of the comune through the Canale Navile (a navigable drain canal).

Afterwards Castaniolo was marked by the nickname of "Maggiore" ("Major") in order to distinguish it from a homonymous hamlet of the Bentivoglio comune.

The name was changed into the one it still carries nowadays during Napoleon's era, in 1818, in which jurisdiction on today's hamlets has been recognised.

The town underwent heavy bomb attacks during World War II because of the passage of the railroad linking Bologna and Padua.