Copparo
Copparo: a town in the heart of Emilia-Romagna
Hello everyone! Today I am going to talk about Copparo, a charming town in Emilia-Romagna, located in the province of Ferrara. The name itself suggests something precious, and indeed Copparo is a unique place, rich in history and tradition. The town has about 15,662 inhabitants and is located in the heart of the region, between the Po river, the interregional Delta del Po park and the coastal area. Let's discover together the features of this hidden gem!
Physical geography
The territory of Copparo covers an area of about 77 km², entirely flat and crossed by 7 provincial roads. Due to its strategic location, Copparo is an important hub for traffic between the center and the lower Ferrara area. The town is surrounded by numerous nature reserves, such as the interregional Delta del Po park, making it ideal for nature lovers and outdoor excursions. In addition, the territory is crossed by numerous waterways, deriving from the imposing reclamation works carried out since the mid-fourteenth century, and represents an important reference point for sport fishing.
History
Copparo has an ancient history, dating back to the eighth century AD. The place-name historically took the forms ''Cuparus, Cupparium, Coparium'' or ''Copparium''. The oldest document that speaks of Copparo is a privilege of Pope Adrian II of the year 870, which confirms to the brothers Firminiano the Court of Formignana, adjacent on one side to "Cuparus et Caput canilis". The canal, which still crosses the town today, represented a valid barrier against the Po floods, which were very frequent in the past. Copparo was the subject of secular controversies between the Church of Ferrara and that of Ravenna, but in the end it definitively passed to the former. Over the centuries, the territory of Copparo has undergone many transformations and revolutions, but has always known how to resist and prosper, becoming an important center of culture, art and tradition.
The castle of Copparo and the Delizia estense
The castle of Copparo was long considered one of the symbols of the city, but in the sixteenth century it was destroyed by the Venetians. In its place, a palace was built by the Este family, the famous Delizia di Copparo. This sumptuous building was designed by the architect Terzo de Terzi and consists of five towers connected to each other, large porticos, internal courtyards and grand halls. The Delizia di Copparo is the last of the nineteen Delizie estensi built by the Este in the Ferrara area. Some of the most important artists active in Ferrara, such as Girolamo da Carpi, Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo, Battista Dossi and Bastianino, were called upon to decorate the building. Today the Delizia is open to the public and represents one of the main tourist attractions of the town.
Events and traditions
Copparo is a town rich in events and traditions, which perpetuate over time and constitute an important cultural heritage for the city. Among the main city festivals, it is worth mentioning the "Fiera di Primavera", which is held every year in March, and the "Festa della Madonnina", which is celebrated in September on the occasion of the Nativity of Mary. In addition, Copparo is famous for its cuisine, which is based on local typical products such as seasonal field radicchio, Parmigiano Reggiano, potato gnocchi and pork meat, cooked according to ancient traditional recipes.
Conclusions
In short, Copparo is a fascinating town that is worth visiting at least once in your life. Thanks to its strategic location, its history rich in events and its lively and dynamic culture, Copparo represents a reference point for the entire region of Emilia-Romagna. If you are lovers of nature, history, art and good food, do not hesitate to plan a visit to Copparo. We are sure that you will not regret it!
