Serravalle
Welcome to Serravalle, the village of Riva del Po
If you are looking for a peaceful and historic destination in the province of Ferrara, you should take a look at Serravalle, a village in Riva del Po with around 2,000 inhabitants. This small town is known for its location on the first split of the Po River into the Venice and Goro branches, and its long history dating back to the 15th century. In this article, we will uncover everything about the history, monuments, and attractions in this charming locality.
History of Serravalle
Serravalle was a fiefdom of the Giocoli family, a noble family of Ferrara that governed the "Tenuta Giocola". However, the branch of the Giocoli in Serravalle was destroyed at the end of the 1300s when Luigi and Bolgarino Giocoli were beheaded on the orders of the marchese of Ferrara, the owner of the area at that time. Their possessions were confiscated, and the titles were transferred to the Giocoli princes of Ferrara. Serravalle suffered several devastating floods over the centuries, such as the one in 1872 that inspired the novel "The Mill on the Po" by Riccardo Bacchelli. Fortunately, the area was successfully reclaimed between 1873 and 1880 and is now prosperous with cultivation of wheat, corn, rice, soybeans, sugar beets, watermelons, and melons.
Monuments and places of interest
Church of San Francesco d'Assisi
The most important site in Serravalle is the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi in Riva del Po. Erected at the end of the 1500s by Count Alessandro Pasqualetto Giglioli, the church was elevated to perpetual title of "Abbey" by Pope Urban VIII and was one of the major sources of income for the Giglioli family. In 1858, the church became a "Parochial Abbey" and in 1870 underwent a reconstruction funded by the Municipality of Copparo with the contribution of the Giglioli Counts. In 1869, the old church was demolished due to its dangerous conditions.
Giglioli Bridge
In the nearby locality of Ponte Giglioli, where the eighteenth-century villa of the Giglioli family still stands, one can admire the ancient Ferrara architecture. This area is an excellent destination for visitors who love art and history.
Conclusions
In summary, Serravalle is a small town but it doesn't lack historical and religious places of interest to visit. The location of the city along the Po River makes the area very suggestive and pleasant to live in. If you are looking for a peaceful place to relax and spend time immersed in Italian history, you can't go wrong with a visit to Serravalle.
