The inhabitants of Reggio nell'Emilia are calledReggiani, while the inhabitants ofReggio di Calabria, in the southwest of the country, are calledReggini.
The old town has a hexagonal form, which derives from the ancient walls, and the main buildings are from the 16th–17th centuries. The commune's territory lies entirely on a plain, crossed by theCrostolo stream.
Reggio began as a historical site with the construction byMarcus Aemilius Lepidus of theVia Aemilia, leading fromPiacenza toRimini (187 BC). Reggio became a judicial administration centre, with aforum called at firstRegium Lepidi, then simplyRegium, whence the city's current name.
During the Roman age Regium is cited only byFestus andCicero, as one of the military stations on the Via Aemilia. However, it was a flourishing city, aMunicipium with its own statutes, magistrates and art colleges.
Apollinaris of Ravenna broughtChristianity in the 1st century CE. The sources confirm the presence of abishopric in Reggio after theEdict of Milan (313). In 440 the Reggio diocese was placed under the jurisdiction ofRavenna byWestern Roman EmperorValentinianus III. At the end of the 4th century, however, Reggio had decayed so much thatSaint Ambrose included it among the dilapidated cities. Further damage occurred with the Barbarian invasions. After the deposition of Romulus Augustulus in 476 Reggio was part ofOdoacer's realm. In 489 it came under Ostrogothic control; from 539 it was part of the Roman Empire (Italy), but was taken byAlboin'sLombards in 569. Reggio was chosen asDuchy of Reggio seat.
In 773, theFranks took Reggio.Charlemagne gave the bishop the authority to exercise royal authority over the city and established the diocese' limits (781). In 888, Reggio was handed over to theKings of Italy. In 899, theMagyars heavily damaged it, killing Bishop Azzo II. As a result of this, new walls were built. On 31 October 900 EmperorLouis III gave authority for the erection of acastrum (castle) in the city's centre.
Reggio became a freecommune around the end of the 11th or the beginning of the 12th century. In 1167 it was a member of theLombard League and took part in theBattle of Legnano. In 1183 the city signed theTreaty of Konstanz, from which the city'sconsul, Rolando della Carità, received the imperial investiture. The subsequent peace spurred a period of prosperity: Reggio adopted new statutes, had amint, schools with celebrated masters, and developed its trades and arts. It also increasingly subjugated the castles of the neighbouring areas. At this time the Crostolo stream was deviated westwards, to gain space for the city. The former course of the stream was turned into an avenue calledCorso della Ghiara ('gravel course'), nowadays Corso Garibaldi.
The 12th and 13th centuries, however, were also a period of violent internal struggle between theScopazzati (meaning 'swept away from the city with brooms',noblemen) andMazzaperlini (meaning 'lice killers',plebeians) parties, and later those ofRuggeri andMalaguzzi, involved in a bitter domestic rivalry. In 1152 Reggio also warred with Parma and in 1225 with Modena, as part of the general struggle between theGuelphs and Ghibellines. In 1260, a hermit from Perugia led 25,000penitents into the city, and this event calmed the situation for a while, spurring religious fervour. But disputes soon resurfaced, and as early as 1265 the Ghibellines killed the Guelph's leader, Caco da Reggio, and gained preeminence. Arguments with the bishop continued and two new parties formed, the Inferiori and Superiori. Final victory went to the latter.
To thwart the abuses of powerful families such as the Sessi, Fogliani and Canossa, the Senate of Reggio gave the city's rule for a period of three years toObizzo II d'Este. This choice marked the future path of Reggio under theseignory ofthe latter's family, as Obizzo continued to rulede facto after his mandate has ceased. His sonAzzo was expelled by the Reggiani in 1306, creating a republic ruled by 800 common people. In 1310 Holy Roman EmperorHenry VII imposed MarquisSpinetto Malaspina on the city asvicar, but he was soon driven out. The republic ended in 1326 when CardinalBertrando del Poggetto annexed Reggio to thePapal States.
The city was subsequently under the suzerainty ofJohn of Bohemia, Nicolò Fogliani andMastino II della Scala, who in 1336 gave it toLuigi Gonzaga. Gonzaga built a citadel in the St. Nazario quarter, and destroyed 144 houses. In 1356 theMilanese Visconti, helped by 2,000 exiled Reggiani, captured the city, starting an unsettled period of power sharing with theGonzaga family. In the end the latter sold Reggio to the Visconti for 5,000ducats. In 1405Ottobono Terzi ofParma seized Reggio, but was killed byMichele Attendolo, who handed the city over toNicolò III d'Este, who therefore became seignor of Reggio. The city, however, maintained significant autonomy, with laws and coinage of its own. Nicolò was succeeded by his illegitimate sonLionello, and, from 1450, byBorso d'Este.
In 1452, Borso was awarded the title ofDuke of Modena and Reggio byFrederick III. Borso's successor,Ercole I, imposed heavy levies on the city and appointed the poetMatteo Maria Boiardo, born in the nearby town ofScandiano, as its governor. Later another famous Italian writer,Francesco Guicciardini, held the same position. In 1474,Ludovico Ariosto, author ofOrlando Furioso, was born in the Malaguzzi palace, near the site of the 21st-century town hall. He was the first son of a knight fromFerrara, who was in charge of the citadel, and a noblewoman from Reggio, Daria Maleguzzi Valeri. As a grown man he would be sent to Reggio as governor on behalf of thedukes of Ferrara, and would spend time in a villa outside the town (Il Mauriziano) that still stands.
In 1513, Reggio was handed over toPope Julius II. The city was returned to theHouse of Este after the death ofHadrian VI on 29 September 1523. In 1551Ercole II d'Este destroyed the suburbs of the city in his program of reconstruction of the walls. At the end of the century work on the city's famousBasilica della Ghiara began, on the site where a miracle was believed to have occurred. The Este rule continued until 1796, with short interruptions in 1702 and 1733–1734.
TheTricolore's Room, in the Town Hall, is where for the first time the Italian flag's three colours were adoptedVilla Levi, now belonging to the Department of Animal Sciences of theUniversity of Bologna
The arrival of therepublican French troops was greeted with enthusiasm in the city. On 21 August 1796, the ducal garrison of 600 men was driven off, and the Senate claimed the rule of Reggio and its duchy. On 26 September, the Provisional Government's volunteers pushed back anAustrian column, in the Battle ofMontechiarugolo. Though minor, this clash is considered the first one of the ItalianRisorgimento.Napoleon himself awarded the Reggiani with 500 rifles and 4 guns. Later he occupiedEmilia and formed a new province, theCispadane Republic, whose existence was proclaimed in Reggio on 7 January 1797. TheItalian national flag, namedIl Tricolore ('the tricolour'), was sewn on that occasion by Reggio women. In this period of patriotic fervour,Jozef Wybicki, a lieutenant in the Polish troops of GeneralJan Henryk Dąbrowski, an ally of Napoleon, composed in Reggio theMazurek Dąbrowskiego, which in 1927 became the Polish national anthem.
The 1815Treaty of Vienna returned Reggio toFrancis IV of Austria-Este, but in 1831 Modena rose up against him, and Reggio followed its example organizing a corps under the command of GeneralCarlo Zucchi. However, on 9 March, the Duke conquered the city with his escort of Austrian soldiers.
In 1848, DukeFrancis V left his estate fearing a revolution and Reggio proclaimed its union withPiedmont. The latter's defeat at theBattle of Novara brought the city back under Este control. In 1859 Reggio, underdictatorLuigi Carlo Farini, became part of unitedItaly and, with the plebiscite of 10 March 1860, definitively entered the new unified kingdom.
Piazza San Prospero seen from the patron saint's basilica
Reggio then went through a period of economic and population growth from 1873 to the destruction of the ancient walls. In 1911, it had 70,000 inhabitants. A strongsocialist tradition grew. On 7 July, the city hosted the 13th National Congress of theItalian Socialist Party. On 26 July 1943, the fascist regime's fall was cheered with enthusiasm by the Reggiani. Numerouspartisan bands were formed in the city and surrounding countryside.
On 27 April 2023 the city was declared a European Capital of Inclusion and Diversity by the European Commission.[6]
Jews began arriving to Reggio in the early 15th century. Many Jews wereSephardim fromSpain, Portugal and other parts of Italy. Nearly all were fleeing religious persecution. The Jewish community was prosperous and enjoyed considerable growth for the next several hundred years. TheSynagogue of Reggio Emilia was relocated in 1672 into the ghetto, and rebuilt in 1858.[7]
After the Napoleonic era the Jews of Reggio gainedemancipation and began to migrate to other parts of Europe looking for greater economic and social freedom. Thus, the Jewish community in Reggio began to lower. The German occupation duringWorld War II and theHolocaust hastened the decline. Today, only one Jew remains in Reggio Emilia.[8] The Jewish Community of Reggio Emilia was merged with Modena's. However, an unused synagogue and burial ground still exist. In 2016 the City Council posed some small street plates in front of the houses of the deported Jews to preserve their remembrance.[9]
Many notable rabbinic scholars have resided in Reggio. These include Isaac Foa, Immanuel Sonino, Obadiah ben Israel Sforno, Nathan ben Reuben David Spira, Menahem Azariah Fano, Baruch Abraham ben Elhanan David Foa, Hezekiah ben Isaac Foa, Isaac ben Vardama Foa, Israel Nissim Foa, Israel Solomon Longhi, Isaiah Mordecai ben Israel Hezekiah Bassani, Israel Benjamin ben Isaiah Bassani, Elhanan David Carmi, Benjamin ben Eliezer ha-Kohen, Joshua ben Raphael Fermi, Moses Benjamin Foa, Abram Michael Fontanella, Judah Ḥayyim Fontanella, Israel Berechiah Fontanella, Raphael Jehiel Sanguinetti, Isaac Samson d'Angeli, R. J. Bolognese, Hananiah Elhanan Ḥai ha-Kohen, Jacob Levi, Moses Benjamin Levi, Israel Berechiah Sanguinetti, David Jacob Maroni, Giuseppe Lattes, Alessandro da Fano, Lazzaro Laide Tedesco, and Shimshon Chaim Nachmani.[10][11][12]
The climate in Reggio Emilia istemperate continental, with hot rather moist summers (the temperatures can sometimes rise above 35 °C) (95 °F) and fairly frigid winters with frequent frosts (the temperatures can go below -10 °C) (14 °F).[13] Precipitations are evenly distributed all year long, but October, November and April are the most rainy months, while July and January are the most arid.[14][15] In the city snow rarely accumulates, even though it snows almost every year, due to the rather high temperatures.
During autumn and winter it is very common, especially in the areas outside the city, to encounter very thick fog, although it is less frequent than in the past. Other meteorological phenomena that can be expected in the area are rain,freezing rain during winter, andhail during summer and rarely in the spring.
The area is not particularly windy and there are often days of total calm, especially during theanticyclonic phases in winter, while spring is more windy.[16] The most intense winds are the ones blowing from northeast (Bora) or from southwest (Libeccio). The latter, during its descent from theNorthern Apennines, sometimes tends to become a downslope wind and thus is very dry and hot. Rarely,Foehn wind from the Alps can reach Reggio Emilia from the northwest. In the city, the average annual high temperature is 18 °C (64 °F), the annual low temperature is 9 °C (48 °F), and the annual precipitation is 700 millimetres (27.56inches).
As of 2025, Reggio Emilia has a population of 172,518, of whom 49.7% are male and 50.3% are female. Minors make up 15.7% of the population, and seniors make up 21.7%, compared to the Italian average of 14.9% and 24.7% respectively.[2]
As of 2024, the foreign-born population is 33,301, equal to 19.5% of the population. The 5 largest foreign nationalities areAlbanians (3,706),Moroccans (2,778),Ukrainians (2,475),Egyptians (2,273) andMoldovans (2,170).[21]
The Reggio Emilia approach to preschool education was started by the schools of Reggio Emilia after World War II and is well-known around the world. It is based and inspired on theories of Malaguzzi, Bruner, Vygotsky, Dewey, Piaget and Gardner. Reggio Emilia holds theLoris Malaguzzi International Centre, a modern structure where the Reggio Emilia approach is implemented, exported and spread around the world.[22]
The economy of the province of Reggio Emilia was for a long time based on agriculture. One typical product, known worldwide and imitated, isParmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Another isLambrusco wine. Reggio Emilia also producesbalsamic vinegar,[23] a condiment for salad but also cheese, strawberries and many other dishes. In the twentieth century the city and its territory also saw a rapid development of small and medium industries, particularly in the sector of agricultural machinery. For more than 100 years, there has been a strong tradition that supported the development of consumers' cooperatives, as well as building and banking cooperatives. New developments in mechanics and information technology are at the origin of some new companies operating inmechatronics. Another well-established sector is the ceramic tile industry, mainly concentrated in the districts ofScandiano andCasalgrande.
Industrial growth has attracted immigration from North and Central Africa, East Europe, and Far East (China, Pakistan, India). The immigration rate in the province is about 25%. Research indicates that Reggio Emilia ranks very high in quality of life among Italian provinces.[24]
The other major railway station,Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana, is on theMilan–Bologna high-speed railway (there is also a connection with Reggio Emilia-Guastalla railway). It is located at the Mancasale locality, approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) north from the city centre.
Along with this, there is a plan to construct atram in the city.[25] The tram will run from theMancasale Industrial zone in the north to Rivalta in the south, stopping at theReggio Emilia AV Mediopadana railway station, Reggio Emilia railway station and other neighborhoods.[25] The tram system has undergone a feasibility study,[26] and is set to open in 2026.[27]
Basilica di San Prospero: Built in the 10th century and dedicated toProsper of Reggio, a bishop of the city, it was rebuilt by Luca Corti and Matteo Fiorentini between 1514 and 1523. The façade, with eleven statues of saints and patrones, was redesigned by Giovan Battista Cattani in the mid-18th century. It includes a pleasant belfry/tower, begun in 1535 and never quite finished, with an octagonal plant. The interior of the church has a Latin cross plant, with three naves. The apse houses the splendidfrescoLast Judgement, by theBolognese artistCamillo Procaccini. Also noteworthy are the wooden choir from 1546 and theAssumption altarpiece byTommaso Laureti andLudovico Carracci (1602).
Sant'Agostino: church once dedicated toSaint Apollinaris, its dedication was changed toSt Augustine in 1268 when it was rebuilt, along with the annexed convent, by the Augustinian friars. It was restored in 1452, when the tower was also erected. The current interior dates from 1645 to 1666, while the façade (1746) was designed byAlfonso Torreggiani and built by Giovan Battista Cattani. Its restored theatre hostedModel European Parliament sessions in 2015.
San Girolamo e Vitale: church mentioned in document in 857 and rebuilt in 1646 by Gaspare Vigarani. It consists of three separate churches in the same building, two above ground and one underground; the crypt church houses a replica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo – Built in 1280, restored in 1432 and again in the 1920s, when its northern and western façades were embellished withGhibelline merlons and the crests of ancient Reggio's Captains and Communities. Inside is theSala dei Difensori ("Defenders' Room"), a wide hall once used by the citizens' council.
Palazzo Comunale – Begun in 1414, it houses theTricolore Hall and theMuseum of the Italian Flag. TheTorre del Bordello ("Brothel Tower"), built in 1489, contains a museum on the Reggiani uprisings of 1796–1831.
Palazzo Corbelli – 19th-century palace with a façade designed byPietro Marchelli.
Autostrada A1 bridges, three bridges designed bySantiago Calatrava and opened in 2005–2006.[28] The three bridges connect the Austostrada del Sole A1 (the main Italian north to southmotorway) to the city of Reggio Emilia.[28] A centralarch bridge spans the Milan-Bologna high-speed railway line and the motorway, while twincable-stayed bridges are at either end.[28][29] The twin bridges pass over service roundabouts and access roads to allow connections with the adjacent Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana high-speed railway station.[28]
In 2009, the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork gave the three bridges a European Steel Design Award, stating that the twin bridges' original visual effects at different angles give the two bridges "the aspect of huge musical instruments."[29]
^"Community of Reggio Emilia".Beit Hatfutsot Open Databases Project, The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. Archived fromthe original on 2019-07-30. Retrieved2019-07-30.
