Gattatico
Welcome to Reggio Emilia, the City of the Tricolore
Reggio Emilia, also known as Rèz in the local dialect, is a municipality located in the Po Valley, in the heart of the historical region of Emilia in Italy. With a population of 169,640 inhabitants, Reggio Emilia is the capital of the homonym province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna. This city boasts a long history dating back to the Roman era when it was founded by Marco Emilio Lepido, the consul of 187 BC. Situated along the Via Emilia, the ancient Roman road linking Piacenza to Rimini, which still passes through the city center nowadays, Reggio Emilia is famous for being the birthplace of the Italian tricolor flag on January 7, 1797. The first time the flag was shown to the public was in the Tricolor Room of the Municipality, which today hosts the Municipal Council sessions.
Territory
Reggio Emilia is located in the heart of the historical region of Emilia and borders to the north with the municipalities of Campegine, Cadelbosco di Sopra, and Bagnolo in Piano, east with Correggio, San Martino in Rio and Rubiera, south with Casalgrande, Scandiano, Albinea, and Quattro Castella and west with Bibbiano, Cavriago, Montecchio Emilia, and Sant'Ilario d'Enza. The municipal territory is completely flat and is crossed by numerous streams and minor rivers that gave rise to the first settlements corresponding to today's hamlets and localities. The first foothills of the Reggio Emilia Apennines are about 10 kilometers south of the municipal area, in the adjacent municipalities of Quattro Castella, Albinea, Scandiano, and Casalgrande.
Climate
The climate of Reggio Emilia can be defined as continental tempered, with hot and rather muggy summers, which can sometimes exceed 40°C, and cold winters with frequent frosts. Rainfalls are distributed throughout the year but with greater frequency and intensity usually in autumn and spring. October, November, and April are the rainiest months, while July and January are the driest ones. Snow falls almost every year in winter, also in the city, with accumulations that vary from year to year but on average are about 30 cm per year.
City of Parmigiano Reggiano and the Reggio Emilia Approach
Reggio Emilia is famous worldwide for Parmigiano Reggiano, a hard cheese with an unmistakable flavor that is produced in the Reggio Emilia province, along with the neighboring Parma and Modena. But one of the things that the city has contributed to spread around the world is the Reggio Emilia Approach pedagogy, an innovative teaching method that puts the child and his way of knowing the world at the center of the learning process.
City awarded with the Military Valor Medal
After World War II, Reggio Emilia was among the cities awarded with the Military Valor Medal for the liberation war of the Italian Resistance, in recognition of the significant role played during the conflict.
Reggio Emilia is a lively and dynamic city, rich in culture, history, and traditions. Its inhabitants are known for being welcoming and hospitable, and the historical center of the city offers visitors the opportunity to discover the artistic and architectural beauties of the city and to taste the traditional Emilian cuisine, famous all over the world for its richness of flavors and aromas. Welcome to Reggio Emilia, the City of the Tricolore.
