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 / 44.85°N 10.733°E / 44.85; 10.733
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 (22.4 sq mi)
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Population (30 September 2009)
- Total	13,623
- Density	234.9/km2 (608.3/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 km 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 independente county which later evolved in a state which lasted until the contemporary era.

After the Gonzaga's end, in 1737, 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.

Chiesa collegiata di Santo Stefano

Main sights

• The Jesuit Convent
• Chiesa Collegiata di Santo Stefano
• The Rocca Gonzaga ("Gonzaga Castle"). This was built by Feltrino Gonzaga starting from 1350, most likely over a pre-existing fortifications from Lombard times.
• The Casino di Sotto and Casino di Sopra, summer residences of the Gonzagas. The Gonzaga Museum houses a rare 16th century vases collection.
• The main square (Piazza Unità d'Italia) with the Church of St. Stephen, important work by Lelio Orsi.

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

• Giaches de Wert, composer of the Renaissance, lived and raised his family here from about 1550 to 1565
• Lelio Orsi, 16th century painter
• Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, duches of Modena, Reggio, Massa and Carrara, was born here in 1725.
• Augusto Daolio, singer and founder of the Nomadi band
• Luciano Pigozzi, film actor

Twin cities

• Nový Jičín, Czech Republic
• Neve Shalom, Israel
• Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
• Santa Gertrudes, Brazil