Castiglione delle Stiviere

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = CastiglionedelleStiviere-Stemma.gif
img_coa_small = yes
official_name = Comune di Castiglione delle Stiviere
region = Lombardy
province = Mantua (MN)
elevation_m =
area_total_km2 = 42
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 20775
population_density_km2 = 495
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|45|23|30|N|10|29|20|E|region:IT_type:city(21667)cite web | url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?men=gpro&des=gamelan&geo=487423048 | title="The World Gazetteer" | accessdate=2007-02-22]
frazioni = Astore, Gozzolina, Grole, San Vigilio
telephone = 0376
postalcode = 46043
gentilic = Castiglionesi
saint = San Luigi Gonzaga
day = June 21
mayor = Fabrizio Paganella (since may 28, 2002)
website = [http://www.castiglionedellestivere.it www.castiglionedellestivere.it]

Castiglione delle Stiviere is a town and comune in the province of Mantua, in Lombardy, Italy, 30 km NW of Mantua by road.

History

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the French under the duc de Vendôme occupied it.

During the siege of Mantua in 1796, the Austrians under Wurmser were defeated here in the Battle of Castiglione by the revolutionary French army under General Augereau, later Marshal of France, who in 1808 was created Duke of Castiglione by Emperor Napoleon I, a hereditary victory title (so there never was an actual territorial duchy attached to it) extinguished in 1915.

Birthplace of St. Aloysius Gonzaga [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Gonzaga] (Italian: Luigi Gonzaga, 9 March 1568–21 June 1591) who was a Jesuit. Aloysius was buried in the Church of the Annunciation in Rome. His head was later translated to the basilica bearing his name in Castiglione delle Stiviere.

Main sights

It has an old Castle, much altered and restored, especially by the Gonzaga family of Mantua in the 16th century.

Castiglione is the birth place of the International Red Cross, which was established by Henri Dunant during the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in 1859. There is a mususem in the center of the town dedicated to the IRC.

External links

* [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/france/napoleon.htm#victory_dukes Heraldico.org- Napoleonic victory titles]

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