Campegine
Information
Altitude: 34 m
Inhabitants: 5.295 (updated to December 31, 2018)
Postal code: 42040
Weekly market day: Tuesday
Patron Saints: Santi Pietro e Paolo (June 29)
Hamlets: Caprara, Case Cocconi, Lora, and Razza
Contacts
0039 0522 676521 - Municipality
Municipality of Campegine
How to get there
Campegine
By car
From the exit "Terre di Canossa-Campegine" of the A1 motorway: follow in the direction of Campegine.
Via Emilia (National Road SS 9): turn north at Calerno to Campegine.
By bus
Bus No. 65 to Campegine from the bus station in Reggio Emilia, Piazzale Europa.
Location
The Municipality of Campegine is composed of the districts of Caprara, Case Cocconi, Lora and Razza.
A segment of the A1 Milan-Bologna motorway runs across the southern part of the territory with an exit at the new "Terre di Canossa-Campegine" toll gate.
A section of the High-Speed Railway line runs parallel to the motorway.
Historical notes
The name of this town derived from the Latin root "campus" (meaning field or countryside).
Different versions of the name existed, such as Campicinum, Campigene, and Campeginem, which is the version found in a charter signed by Charlemagne in 781 A.D., defining the border between Parma and Reggio Emilia.
Campegine has always been rich in natural springs of water.
Due to this feature, numerous traces of prehistoric settlements have been found in the area, as well as the underground layout for an ancient Roman aqueduct, which is located in the western part of the territory.
The aqueduct carried drinking water from the Castellina fountains to Brixellum (current-day Brescello), an important Roman garrison on the Po River.
Agriculture provided a living for the inhabitants of the area in the most remote past, and developed with the progressive reclamation of these wetlands by the Roman legions and Benedictine monks, the imposing operations carried out by Marquis Cornelio Bentivoglio during the latter part of the XVI century, and the Este government of Ferrara, which ruled the territory for almost four centuries.
An autonomous municipality since 1860, the town of Campegine paid a heavy price in blood in more recent events in the history of Italy, particularly during the demonstrations against the tax on flour in 1869 and the fight of the Resistance against Nazi-fascism.
The tomb of the seven Cervi Brothers is situated in the Cemetery of Campegine; they were shot by the Fascists on December 28, 1943; the remains of their father, Alcide, and their mother, Genoeffa Cocconi, lie in the same chapel.
Reasons to visit
The town deserves a visit for its natural and historical treasures; thanks to the presence of natural springs, it maintains several traces of prehistoric settlements and the underground layout of the ancient Roman aqueduct that brought drinkable water to Brixellum (Brescello).
Farming developed with the gradual reclamation of these marshy areas carried out, in different periods, by Roman legions, Benedictine monks, through the extensive reclamation works of Marquis Corneglio Bentivoglio in the second half of the 16th century, and under the care of the Este House of Ferrara, which ruled the territory for four centuries.
In the vicinity
The rural palace of Valle Re, dating to the XV century, is located in the municipal territory, near the section of the A1 motorway.
In the XVIII century it belonged to the family of Filippo Re, the famous agronomist. In 1992, the Emilia-Romagna region established the Corte Valle Re Nature Reserve in the surrounding area.
In the same vein as Valle Re to the north, next to the Cava canal there is the Corte del Gualtirolo, a very ancient fortified centre, later transformed by the Benedictine monks of the Monastery of St. Prospero of Reggio Emilia, which owned it from 1080 to 1782, into a thriving farm, renowned for the breeding of cattle and, most of all, for the production of Parmigiano Reggiano “Parmesan” cheese, for eight long centuries.
Keeping fit
Regional Nature Reserve of Valle Re Court Fontanili (springs). It is a piece of land of 37 hectares, recognised as a site of European Community interest, characterised by 20 active springs, expanses of water, canals surrounded by dense reeds and interesting aquatic fauna.
Coming from the town centre of Campegine, the Reserve is reached by following via Cavatorti and taking the turning to the left, after the flyover of the A1 Motorway, which leads directly to the car park in front of the entrance.
Events
Santi Pietro e Paolo Festival - Last weekend of June
Performances, traditional market, artistic market, stands of local products.
Useful links
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