Guastalla is a town and commune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

[edit] History

The area of Guastalla was probably settled by Etruscans as early as the 7th century BCE, but the name of the city is mentioned for the first time in 864 CE. Of Lombard origin, the city was ruled by the Torelli family from 1406 to 1539, when it became the capital of a duchy under the Gonzaga family and housed artists like Guercino and Torquato Tasso.

In 1748, by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the city became part of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza e Guastalla, to which it belonged until 1847.

Since the unification of Italy in 1861 Guastalla has been a part of Italy.

[edit] Main sights

• The Cathedral (16th century) by Francesco da Volterra
• The Ducal Palace (1567)
• The Civic Theatre Ruggero Ruggeri (1671)
• The Town Hall
• The octagonal Oratory of Madonna della Concezione
• The church of Santa Maria dei Servi, designed by Francesco da Volterra
• The Civic Tower (18th century), in the location where once was the Spanish Castle

In the Guastalla communal territory is also home to:

• The Romanesque Oratory of St. George (probably from the 9th century)
• The Basilica of St. Peter at Pieve di Guastalla, which was seat of two Roman Catholic councils. It houses an ancient baptismal font (9th century) and painted terracotta portraying the Madonna with Child, attributed to Guido Mazzoni

[edit] External links

• Mapquest - Guastalla

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