Quistello
Welcome to Quistello: a brief introduction
Hi everyone! Today I'm going to talk about Quistello, a town in Lombardy with a rich history and a welcoming community of around 5,238 people. Its name is derived from ''Custellum'', the emissary of the Po Vecchio river that passed near the village. Quistello is located on the right bank of the Secchia river and is bordered to the south by the 45th parallel, which positions it equidistant from the North Pole and the Equator.
The history of Quistello
Quistello has an ancient and interesting history. The area has been the subject of archaeological excavations that have unearthed Late Antique and Roman settlements, particularly in the fraction of Nuvolato. Quistello, in fact, appears in a donation deed dating back to 1007, in which Tedaldo di Canossa donated the territory, the castle and the church to San Benedetto, founding the famous Polirone. The area was owned by the Gonzaga family until 1708, when it passed to the Austrians. In 1734, in the locality of Gaidella, the Battle of Quistello was fought between Gallo-Sardinians and Austrians in the context of the War of the Polish Succession. The Austrians won the battle but were defeated in the subsequent Battle of Guastalla. Emperor Joseph II of Habsburg-Lorraine closed the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in 1781.
Places of cultural interest
If you're an art lover, you must visit the Civic Art Gallery of Quistello, which houses works from the second half of the 20th century by Mantuan artists. Renaissance ceramic artifacts have also been found in the Quistello area.
Earthquakes and 2012 earthquake
Unfortunately, Quistello suffered significant damage during the earthquakes of Emilia in 2012. Most public buildings such as the parish church, other churches in the fraction, the town hall, the cultural center, the sports hall, the Balilla House and the Museum in Nuvolato fraction, as well as nursery, primary and secondary schools, were rendered unusable. The community of Quistello came together to rebuild their village, demonstrating strength and solidarity.
Conclusions
I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to Quistello! The town has a long and interesting history, and is a place rich in artistic and cultural treasures. Although it suffered the effects of the earthquakes in 2012, the community has shown itself to be united and determined. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend visiting this beautiful city in Lombardy.
