Premium Featured Accommodation

Information about Novellara in the Province of Reggio Emilia

The territory of Novellara is situated in the part of the Po River Valley known as the "Lowlands of Reggio Emilia", a few kilometres from the Po River.It is likely that the early name of this town before it became "Novellara" was "Nubilaria" or "Nuvelaria", in reference to the fog and clouds that frequently waft into the area from the wetlands. In 1100, a Lombardic noble by the name of Gherardaccio Malapresa turned the village into a fortified town by building a strong watchtower on the highest spot to defend the area.

About 200 years later, Feltrino Gonzaga of the famous Gonzaga family of Mantua became lord of Reggio Emilia. Threatened by the military might of Marquis Nicolò d'Este, the Manfredi family, and Count Lucio of Lando, Feltrino was forced to sell Reggio Emilia to Bernabò Visconti, keeping Bagnolo and Novellara for his own family. Thus a minuscule fief was created which, when raised to the status of county, was wisely governed by the Gonzaga family until 1728, the year of the death of the last Count of Gonzaga, Filippo Alfonso.

The early part of the Gonzaga seignory was not a tranquil period, since bitter hatred separated the Gonzagas of Novellara from their cousins in Mantua. In order to create a strong shelter against their enemies, the Gonzagas began construction on the Novellara Fortress under the direction of Guido. He also ordered plans drawn up for the construction of a new village, to be built to the west of the fortress along straight lines and including the fascinating porticoes that still charcterise Novellara today.

Land reclamation projects were begun, and gradually contributed to the elimination of diseases caused by stagnant, infested waters. New roads, fine churches, and sumptuous little country villas were built, and a standard of living that attracted new inhabitants was created. People were also attracted to the town by what could be considered a good, wise government for the times. After the death of the last member of the Gonzaga family of Novellara, Filippo Alfonso, the fief was confiscated and later given to the Duke of Modena by the emperor.

Today Novellara preserves many memories of its past. Unfortunately, many buildings, convents, and churches have been damaged, but in spite of this, it is not difficult to find signs of the town's past dignity in the old streets with their low, silent porticoes. The Collegiate Church of San Stefano is a prized work of architecture by Lelio Orsi. The Novellara Fortress still preserves medieval and Renaissance structures in its walls and its corner towers with and . A collection of pharmaceutical ceramic jars of rare beauty is left from the old Jesuit pharmacy. The Gonzaga family archives are of exceptional interest, and the Gonzaga Museum will become an absolute must for visitors to the interior of the fortress when the restoration project has terminated.

Articles