San Giorgio Piacentino
San Giorgio Piacentino: a town between the Po Valley and the Ligurian Apennines
San Giorgio Piacentino, commonly known as San Śorś in the Piacenza dialect, is a town located in the province of Piacenza in Emilia-Romagna. The municipal territory, which has around 5577 inhabitants, is located on the right bank of the Nure river, between the Po Valley where the capital is located and the first slopes of the Ligurian Apennines. In this area there are some geographical hamlets that dot the Nure valley and the Riglio valley.
Climate
The climate in San Giorgio Piacentino is temperate and continental, similar to that of the other flat and hilly parts of the province of Piacenza. The average temperature in the coldest month, January, is -0.3 °C, while in the warmest month, July, it is 22.5 °C.
History
San Giorgio Piacentino has a long history, dating back to 948 when the canons of the Piacenza Cathedral obtained permission to build fortifications to defend the church of San Giorgio. Thus began the construction of the castle, which was destroyed several times over the centuries, first by the populares in 1090 and then by Bergamo and Cremona militias under Marchese Lancia in 1242.
In the thirteenth century it passed under the control of the Anguissola family, then became the property of the Scotti family in the seventeenth century. In 1604 the Rocca was built, perhaps designed by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola and frescoed in the nineteenth century by Piacenza artist Giuseppe Badiaschi with its park featuring a lake, a neodoric temple and a unique system of caves in the Piacenza area, not present in the original project and added by Milanese architect Ambrogio Rossi in 1840 in conjunction with a park renovation.
Following the unification of Italy in 1862, the municipality changed its name from San Giorgio to San Giorgio Piacentino. The castle became the property of the municipality between 1876 and 1978 when the remaining part was acquired by the Madonna della Bomba Institute, which had become its owner following the death of the last descendant.
San Damiano: the Marian apparitions and the sanctified water
Since 1961, the hamlet of San Damiano, located 4 km from the capital, has gained international notoriety following the Marian apparitions reported by peasant Rosa Quattrini. The lady, mother of three children and seriously ill, on September 29, 1961 in the house of her aunt Adele Quattrini, reported having seen the Virgin Mary, who continued to appear every Friday at noon for several years.
During an apparition to the same lady on May 26, 1967, the Virgin spoke of the water of San Damiano, calling it "the holiest in the world". This event led to the birth of the Fonte dell'Acqua Santa, where people still go today to collect the water and bring it home as a sign of devotion and hope for healing.
The story of the Marian apparitions of San Damiano is still very much felt by the community of San Giorgio Piacentino and by people who come on pilgrimage from all over the world to pray and reflect.
Conclusions
San Giorgio Piacentino is a town that boasts a long history and great cultural richness. Its territory, which combines the Po Valley with the Ligurian Apennines, offers many natural beauties and opportunities for outdoor activities such as trekking and cycling tourism. Furthermore, the presence of the Fonte dell'Acqua Santa and the Marian apparitions of San Damiano make the town a place of peace and spirituality, where you can immerse yourself for a moment of reflection and prayer.
