Castel d'Ario
Welcome to Castel d'Ario, the agricultural and industrial municipality of the province of Mantua
Castel d'Ario is an Italian municipality located in the province of Mantua in Lombardy. With a population of 4585 inhabitants, the municipality is located 19 kilometers east of Mantua. In addition to being the birthplace of the famous racing driver Tazio Nuvolari, Castel d'Ario is known for its economy based on the production of forage, rice, vegetables, pork and beef, as well as some industries, including food, mechanical, footwear and plastics. Today, we want to show you a bit of history, monuments, culture and cuisine of this beautiful municipality.
Origin of the name
Until 1867, Castel d'Ario was known as Castellaro, a name considered too common and confusing with other villages. The mayor of Castel d'Ario, Luigi Boldrini, asked Giosuè Carducci to find a new exclusive denomination for the municipality. Carducci, referring to the Roman-era castle, suggested the name Castel d'Ario. This name was later adopted by the Royal Decree of June 9, 1867.
History
The territory of Castel d'Ario was granted as a fief to the bishopric of Trento in 1082 by Henry IV of Franconia. From 1328 onwards, the municipality was managed by the Gonzaga as a vassal, but returned to the original owners upon their extinction in 1707, when it separated from the Duchy of Mantua. It was then ruled by the Trentino until the abolition of imperial fiefs in 1797.
Monuments and places of interest
Castel d'Ario has a rich history and a unique cultural and artistic heritage. Among the monuments and places of interest in the municipality, there are the 11th century castle, the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, the former Dominican convent and former church of the Assumption (Susano) of the 17th century, the Gonzaga court of Susano and the municipal theater. The municipal theater was designed in an eclectic style by engineer Alberto Cristofori in 1909 and is still used today for cultural events and shows.
Society
Demographic evolution
The population of Castel d'Ario has been growing slowly. According to the 2011 census data, the population is 4585 inhabitants.
Traditions and folklore
Castel d'Ario is famous for the "bigolada", a traditional event that takes place every Ash Wednesday since the 19th century. The bigolada involves the distribution of spaghetti made with a press, with salted anchovies. The cultural event dates back to the year 1873, if not even to March 7, 1848, in the midst of the pre-revolutionary period, as some historical sources report.
Culture
The presence of the library and the publishing house, "Negretto" Editore, demonstrates the cultural liveliness of Castel d'Ario. The publishing house has published a wide range of books on topics ranging from literature to local history.
Cuisine
The cuisine of Castel d'Ario is simple and tasty. The culinary specialty of the municipality is bigoli with sardines, a local version of pasta with anchovies. Another traditional dish in the area is riso alla pilota, which is cooked in a pilota and then enriched with salted pork or small fish grown in rice fields and fried.
In summary, Castel d'Ario is a municipality rich in history and cultural traditions, where you can enjoy traditional local cuisine. Visit Castel d'Ario to discover what this splendid city has to offer!
