Lugo, Emilia-Romagna

Lugo (Romagnol: Lùgh) is a town and comune in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, in the province of Ravenna.

Lugo
Comune
Città di Lugo
The Este Castle.
Coat of arms
Location of Lugo
Lugo
Location of Lugo in Italy
Lugo
Lugo (Emilia-Romagna)
Coordinates: 44°25′N 11°55′E
CountryItaly
RegionEmilia-Romagna
ProvinceRavenna (RA)
FrazioniAscensione, Belricetto, Bizzuno, Ca' di Lugo, Campanile, Chiesanuova, Ciribella, Giovecca, Malcantone, Passogatto, San Bernardino, San Lorenzo, San Potito, Santa Maria in Fabriago, Torre, Villa San Martino, Viola, Voltana, Zagonara
Government
 • MayorDavide Ranalli
Area
 • Total116 km2 (45 sq mi)
Elevation
15 m (49 ft)
Population
 (30 September 2017)[2]
 • Total32,321
 • Density280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Lughesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
48022
Dialing code0545
Patron saintSt. Hilary of Galeata
Saint dayMay 15
WebsiteOfficial website

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), then still Bishop of Imola, addressed 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, supplicantly cast himself on his knees before General Augereau.

In 1859, through 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 10 April 1945. The city suffered heavy destruction but recovered quickly after the end of the conflict.

On 19 January 1993 the area near Lugo experienced a meteorite airburst with a yield estimated at 10 kilotonnes of TNT (42 TJ)[3]

Il Pavaglione

Main sights
  • Rocca Estense (Este Castle), 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 Pavaglione, former 19th century covered market (mainly known for silkworm trade).
  • 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).
  • Teatro Rossini, now a 445-seat opera house, completely restored between 1984 and 1986 based on its original conception from 1759 and restoration and expansion in 1821.

People

Twin towns

References
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. The spectacular airburst over (Lugo) Italy on January 19, 1993
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