Mezzani
Encyclopedia
Mezzani) is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Parma
in the Italian
region Emilia-Romagna
, located about 90 km northwest of Bologna
and about 15 km northeast of Parma
. The principal centres of the municipality are Casale, Mezzano Rondani, Mezzano Inferiore, Mezzano Superiore, whereas Bocca d’Enza, Ghiare Bonvisi, Valle are only hamlets.
Mezzani borders the following municipalities: Brescello
, Casalmaggiore
, Colorno
, Parma
, Sorbolo
, Torrile
, Viadana.
and borders with three provinces: Reggio Emilia
, Mantua
, Cremona
.
Located on the right shore of the Po River
, the municipal territory is crossed by others watercourses too: the torrent Parma
on the west, that flows into Po near Mezzano Superiore, the torrent Enza
that follows for some kilometres the eastern border with the Reggio Emilia
, the Parmetta canal southwards of Mezzano Inferiore and the Parma morta abandoned riverbed of Parma
torrent that up to the first years of 19th century flowed into Enza
.
Mezzani is located in the lowest area of Po valley
called Bassa
and near Coenzo were found traces of two Bronze Age villages called terramare. The southern part of the territory still shows the signs of roman centuriation.
Casale, the oldest inhabited centre, was founded on a river island; in 890 it was defined as "insula iuxta Padum" (island near Po) to become some century later "Casalis Ripae Padi" (that means Casale near Po riverside) because the river moved northwards. The ancient river presence is testified from the toponym Valle (hollow) located southwards .
Since their formation as islands of Po river, Mezzano Inferiore and Superiore where possession of Parma's Bishop. Some ancient documents talk about alluvial lands near river Po owned from the Bishop after concession of Holy Roman Emperors Charles III the Fat in 973 and Henry VI
in 1195. Abbot Giovanni Romani mentioned an event which happened near the "Mezzano del Vescovo" in 1131. The above mentioned centres originated in different periods: the first one was Mezzano Superiore, the other certainly after 1306.
Mezzano Inferiore become autonomous from Mezzano Superiore in the early 16th century with the construction of a parochial church, rebuilt in 1563 and finished in 1779.
Mezzano Rondani was founded on the Lombard bank of Po. After a big flood that interested the area from Casalmaggiore
to Fossacaprara and moved northwards the river course, the place became an island and then was joined to Parmesan bank. The word "Rondani" comes from the surname of a rich family owner of many possessions in that place.
Mezzano Rondani and Casale were under Parma Duke’s jurisdiction, Mezzano Inferiore and Superiore were since the origins feud of Parma’s Bishop, for that reason their ancient names had the suffix "del Vescovo" (of the Bishop). They formed an independent state, where the Bishop had also his palace and his garrison.
It was always a rural district, but due to its closeness to Lombard and the Modenese states was also interested from smuggling. In various times it became a battlefield: a field is still called Turkish cemetery because in it were buried the corpses of Turkish mercenaries that fought for the Republic of Venice
against the Duchy of Milan
. In 1634 the Germans stationed in Castelnovo di Sotto
raided and burned the church of Mezzano Inferiore and devastated the village. Some old memoirs talk about the battle of Colorno of 1734 for Mantua
succession but in fact it took place in Mezzano Inferiore: some cannonballs still lie on the bell tower.
After various attempts in 1763 the dukes of Parma
succeeded in forcing Parma’s Bishop to renounce his possessions in Mezzani. With this act the two villages passed under the jurisdiction of the duchy of Parma. The loss of autonomy and privileges granted till that event, the new taxes introduced from Parma caused a revolt against duke Filippo Borbone
. The duke repressed the rebellion by sending his dragoons that burned 75 houses and confiscated the properties of 75 families.
In 1861 Mezzani with Duchy of Parma
became part of the Kingdom of Italy
.
Mezzani was decorated with the Bronze Medal for Military Valour for its participation in the Italian resistance movement
during World War II.
The parish church of Mezzano Inferiore was built a first time in 1563 and then rebuilt between 1754 and 1779 on a plan of Bettoli on the same foundation. Inside there is an organ of Giovanni and Stefano Cavalletti of 1829 and a characteristic high altar in inlaid marble (1799).
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Parma
Province of Parma
The Province of Parma is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Parma.It has an area of 3,449 km², and a total population of 413,198...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, located about 90 km northwest of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and about 15 km northeast of Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
. The principal centres of the municipality are Casale, Mezzano Rondani, Mezzano Inferiore, Mezzano Superiore, whereas Bocca d’Enza, Ghiare Bonvisi, Valle are only hamlets.
Mezzani borders the following municipalities: Brescello
Brescello
Brescello is a comune in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 80 km northwest of Bologna and about 25 km northwest of Reggio Emilia...
, Casalmaggiore
Casalmaggiore
Casalmaggiore is a comune in the province of Cremona, Lombardy, northern Italy, located across the Po River. It was the birthplace of Italian composers Ignazio Donati and Andrea Zani ....
, Colorno
Colorno
Colorno is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 90 km northwest of Bologna and about 15 km north of Parma...
, Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
, Sorbolo
Sorbolo
Sorbolo is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 80 km northwest of Bologna and about 11 km northeast of Parma...
, Torrile
Torrile
Torrile is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 90 km northwest of Bologna and about 13 km north of Parma.-Overview:...
, Viadana.
Geography
Mezzani lies on the north-eastern end of Parma province, in the middle of Po valleyPo Valley
The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain is a major geographical feature of Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of 46,000 km² including its Venetic extension not actually related to the Po River basin; it runs from the Western Alps to the...
and borders with three provinces: Reggio Emilia
Province of Reggio Emilia
The Province of Reggio Emilia is one of the eight provinces of the Italian Region of Emilia-Romagna. The capital city, which is the most densely populated comune in the Province, is Reggio Emilia....
, Mantua
Province of Mantua
The Province of Mantua is a province in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Mantua.-Communes:It includes 70 comuni , ranging in area from Viadana, with 102.19 km², to Mariana Mantovana, with 8.81 km²....
, Cremona
Province of Cremona
The Province of Cremona is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Cremona.The province has an area of 1,771 km² and in 2008 census, had a population of 358,628. There are 115 comuni...
.
Located on the right shore of the Po River
Po River
The Po |Ligurian]]: Bodincus or Bodencus) is a river that flows either or – considering the length of the Maira, a right bank tributary – eastward across northern Italy, from a spring seeping from a stony hillside at Pian del Re, a flat place at the head of the Val Po under the northwest face...
, the municipal territory is crossed by others watercourses too: the torrent Parma
Parma River
The Parma River is a large stream of 92 km in length that begins in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine mountains and flows in Parma valley.-Path:It begins from the lake Lago Santo parmense and small lakes Gemio and Scuro...
on the west, that flows into Po near Mezzano Superiore, the torrent Enza
Enza
The Enza is a river in northern Italy, a right affluence of the Po River. Its source is at the Alpe di Succiso, in the northern Apennines , at 1,406 m...
that follows for some kilometres the eastern border with the Reggio Emilia
Province of Reggio Emilia
The Province of Reggio Emilia is one of the eight provinces of the Italian Region of Emilia-Romagna. The capital city, which is the most densely populated comune in the Province, is Reggio Emilia....
, the Parmetta canal southwards of Mezzano Inferiore and the Parma morta abandoned riverbed of Parma
Parma River
The Parma River is a large stream of 92 km in length that begins in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine mountains and flows in Parma valley.-Path:It begins from the lake Lago Santo parmense and small lakes Gemio and Scuro...
torrent that up to the first years of 19th century flowed into Enza
Enza
The Enza is a river in northern Italy, a right affluence of the Po River. Its source is at the Alpe di Succiso, in the northern Apennines , at 1,406 m...
.
Mezzani is located in the lowest area of Po valley
Po Valley
The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain is a major geographical feature of Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of 46,000 km² including its Venetic extension not actually related to the Po River basin; it runs from the Western Alps to the...
called Bassa
History
The toponym Mezzani comes from Latin word "medianus" that means in the middle of and in past times was used to name islands on river Po. This territory originated largely from these islands in medieval times and it was continuously reshaped from river waters. Therefore signs of ancient settlements were not found here, but not far from municipality’s boundaries in Cogozzo not far from ViadanaViadana
Viadana may refer to:* Lodovico Grossi da Viadana , an Italian composer, teacher, and Franciscan friar* Viadana, Lombardy, a town in the province of Mantua, Lombardy, northern Italy* Viadana Rugby, a rugby union club based in the town...
and near Coenzo were found traces of two Bronze Age villages called terramare. The southern part of the territory still shows the signs of roman centuriation.
Casale, the oldest inhabited centre, was founded on a river island; in 890 it was defined as "insula iuxta Padum" (island near Po) to become some century later "Casalis Ripae Padi" (that means Casale near Po riverside) because the river moved northwards. The ancient river presence is testified from the toponym Valle (hollow) located southwards .
Since their formation as islands of Po river, Mezzano Inferiore and Superiore where possession of Parma's Bishop. Some ancient documents talk about alluvial lands near river Po owned from the Bishop after concession of Holy Roman Emperors Charles III the Fat in 973 and Henry VI
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,...
in 1195. Abbot Giovanni Romani mentioned an event which happened near the "Mezzano del Vescovo" in 1131. The above mentioned centres originated in different periods: the first one was Mezzano Superiore, the other certainly after 1306.
Mezzano Inferiore become autonomous from Mezzano Superiore in the early 16th century with the construction of a parochial church, rebuilt in 1563 and finished in 1779.
Mezzano Rondani was founded on the Lombard bank of Po. After a big flood that interested the area from Casalmaggiore
Casalmaggiore
Casalmaggiore is a comune in the province of Cremona, Lombardy, northern Italy, located across the Po River. It was the birthplace of Italian composers Ignazio Donati and Andrea Zani ....
to Fossacaprara and moved northwards the river course, the place became an island and then was joined to Parmesan bank. The word "Rondani" comes from the surname of a rich family owner of many possessions in that place.
Mezzano Rondani and Casale were under Parma Duke’s jurisdiction, Mezzano Inferiore and Superiore were since the origins feud of Parma’s Bishop, for that reason their ancient names had the suffix "del Vescovo" (of the Bishop). They formed an independent state, where the Bishop had also his palace and his garrison.
It was always a rural district, but due to its closeness to Lombard and the Modenese states was also interested from smuggling. In various times it became a battlefield: a field is still called Turkish cemetery because in it were buried the corpses of Turkish mercenaries that fought for the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
against the Duchy of Milan
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
. In 1634 the Germans stationed in Castelnovo di Sotto
Castelnovo di Sotto
Castelnovo di Sotto is a comune in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km northwest of Bologna and about 14 km northwest of Reggio Emilia....
raided and burned the church of Mezzano Inferiore and devastated the village. Some old memoirs talk about the battle of Colorno of 1734 for Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
succession but in fact it took place in Mezzano Inferiore: some cannonballs still lie on the bell tower.
After various attempts in 1763 the dukes of Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
succeeded in forcing Parma’s Bishop to renounce his possessions in Mezzani. With this act the two villages passed under the jurisdiction of the duchy of Parma. The loss of autonomy and privileges granted till that event, the new taxes introduced from Parma caused a revolt against duke Filippo Borbone
Philip, Duke of Parma
Philip of Spain was Duke of Parma from 1748 to 1765. He founded the House of Bourbon-Parma , a cadet line of the Spanish branch of the dynasty...
. The duke repressed the rebellion by sending his dragoons that burned 75 houses and confiscated the properties of 75 families.
In 1861 Mezzani with Duchy of Parma
Duchy of Parma
The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered on the city of Parma....
became part of the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
.
Mezzani was decorated with the Bronze Medal for Military Valour for its participation in the Italian resistance movement
Italian resistance movement
The Italian resistance is the umbrella term for the various partisan forces formed by pro-Allied Italians during World War II...
during World War II.
Churches
- S. Maria nascente (in Mezzano Inferiore)
The parish church of Mezzano Inferiore was built a first time in 1563 and then rebuilt between 1754 and 1779 on a plan of Bettoli on the same foundation. Inside there is an organ of Giovanni and Stefano Cavalletti of 1829 and a characteristic high altar in inlaid marble (1799).
- Beata Vergine delle Grazie (or Borghetto oratory) (in Mezzano Inferiore) This oratory has a rectangular plan with concave moulding and bell tower with cusp roof. In the interior the vault is with crossed webs.
- S. Silvestro (in Casale) Appears in the bull of Lucius II of March 1144, as a property of the monastery of Saint Giovanni: “Ecclesia Sancti Silvestri de insula". Afterwards it was reconstructed on the same place; today still remain some traces of the old medieval church.
- S. Michele (in Mezzano Superiore) The first church was built in 12th century, as testify the apsidal foundations. It was probably reconstructed in 1479, year of consecration of Bishop Sagramoro Sagramori, and relocated frontward. The bell tower was raised in 1664 from its massive Renaissance structure. The front style shows an origin datable at the end of 17th century.
Other buildings
- Bishop's palace (in Mezzano Superiore). Now a private property, it was never finished, but according to some drawings of 16th century it was to become magnificent.
Nature
- Oriented reserve Parma MortaRiserva naturale orientata Parma MortaThe Natural Reserve Parma Morta is located in Emilia-Romagna in the commune of Mezzani , and was established in 1990.-Territory:...
. It is located around the old course of Parma river. Here can be found the typical vegetation of stagnant waters; shrubby and forest vegetation consists of hygrophilous shrubs of willow and alder and mesophyll woods of oak, maple, cornel, wild cherry and elm. The nesting birdlife can be divided in species that prefer the reed thicket and those linked to the residual arboreal riparian strip.
- Aquarium. In the reserve is an interesting didactic aquarium containing the river ichthyic species more typical: carps, tenches, perches, catfishes, sturgeons, crayfishes are only some of the species that can be observed and experience.
People born in Mezzani
- Clemente BondiClemente BondiClemente Luigi Donnino Bondi was an Italian poet and translator.-Biography:Clemente Bondi was born in Mezzano Superiore not far from Parma. Fatherless at young age, he had the opportunity to study thanks to an uncle who was supply officer of Parma seminary...
, poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and translator
- Giuseppe RondizzoniGiuseppe RondizzoniGiuseppe Rondizzoni was an Italian army officer who contributed to the independence of Chile.He was born in Mezzano Superiore on March 14, 1788. He joined the French Imperial Guard in 1807. With Napoleon's army did the Spanish campaign in 1808 and the Austrian one in 1809...
, generalGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
- Rino VernizziRino VernizziRino Vernizzi is an Italian bassoonist.-Biography:Rino Vernizzi was born in Mezzano Inferiore, Italy...
, musicianMusicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
External links
- Istitutional site Mezzani municipality http://www.comune.mezzani.pr.it
- Parma morta - Parma tourist office site http://turismo.parma.it/Inglese/page.asp?IDCategoria=260&IDSezione=1094&ID=35481