Lugo, Italy

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = lugo (RA)-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Lugo
name =Lugo
region = Emilia-Romagna
province = Ravenna (RA)
elevation_m = 15
area_total_km2 =116
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 31927
population_density_km2 = 275
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|44|25|N|11|55|E
frazioni =Ascensione, Belricetto, Bizzuno, Cà di Lugo, Campanile, Chiesanuova, Ciribella, Giovecca, Passogatto, San Bernardino, San Lorenzo, Santa Maria in Fabriago, San Potito, Villa San Martino, Viola, Voltana, Zagonara.
telephone =0545
postalcode = 48022
gentilic = Lughesi
saint = St. Hilary of Galeata
day = May 15
mayor =Raffaele Cortesi (since 2004-06-13)
website = [http://www.comune.rimini.it www.comune.rimini.it]
mapx =44.41
mapy=11.91

Lugo is a town and "comune" in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna, in the province of Ravenna.

History

A settlement in where is now the city is mentioned for the first time in 782 AD, but the names Lucus appears only in 1071. In 1161 it was a fief of the Counts of Cunio, but in 1202 it returned to the Papal States. It was later a possession of the Da Polenta, Pepoli, Visconti and Este; the latter maintained it until 1597, when the city was again annexed to the Papal States.In 1424 the Castle of Zagonara (now destroyed) was the seat of the homonymous battle, in which a Milanese army defeated the Florentines.

When in 1797 the French revolutionary forces invaded northern Italy, Barnaba Chiaramonti (later pope as Pius VII), still as Bishop of Imola), addressed to his flock to refrain from useless resistance to the overwhelming and threatening forces of the enemy. The town of Lugo refused to submit to the invaders and was delivered up to a pillage which had an end only when the prelate, who had counselled subjection, suppliantly cast himself on his knees before General Augereau.

In 1859, by a plebiscite, Lugo joined the newly born Kingdom of Italy. During World War II, the Senio river formed the frontline between the German and Allied occupation areas from December 1944 until April 10, 1945. The city suffered heavy destruction but recovered quickly after the end of the conflict.

Main sights

*"Rocca Estense" (Este Castle). It is the Town Hall from 1797. The current appearance dates from 1500, when the old fortress was rebuilt; the eastern side was erected during the Napoleonic occupation. The interior houses portraits of famous Lughesi, a lunette attributed to Mino da Fiesole and a noteworthy 19th century garden.
*The "Oratorio of Croce Coperta", with 15th century frescoes.
*The "Collegiata" church, rebuilt in the 18th century over a 13th century Franciscan edifice, has a suggestive 15th century cloister.
*"San Francesco di Paola" (1890), houses a precious polychrome terracotta sculpture of "Dead Christ" (15th century).

Notable people

*Francesco Baracca (1888 - 1918) - World War I flying ace.
*Agostino Codazzi (1793 - 1859)- cartographer
*Giuseppe Compagnoni (1754 - 1833)
*Mario Lega - former world champion motorcycle racer.
*Charles Ponzi (1882 - 1949) - famous swindler.
*Gioachino Rossini (1792 - 1868) - composer