Vigarano Mainarda
Vigarano Mainarda: a place with ancient roots
Vigarano Mainarda is a municipality located in the province of Ferrara in Emilia-Romagna and has a population of about 7551 inhabitants. The city has a long history behind it and its name derives from the Roman age name of ''Vicus Varianus'' which probably indicated the possessions of Varius, located near the Aemilia Altinate road that led to Este and Altinum.
History
The territory of Vigarano Mainarda was in the past subject to flooding and changes in the course of the Po and Reno rivers, of which traces can still be seen today such as embankments and old riverbeds. In the Middle Ages, the main settlement was in the area of current Vigarano Pieve, which was located on the main course of the Po. However, in the twelfth century, with the Ficarolo flood, the Po shifted its main course northwards, thus abandoning the territory of Vigarano.
The southern part of the territory was instead held by the Mainardi family, of Forlivesi origins and part of the Ghibellines, who had built a tower, the tower of Mainarda, from which the name of the capital city derives. The territory suffered frequent floods from the Reno river, until the eighteenth century, when the river was channeled into its current course.
Vigarano Mainarda was hit by the 2012 Emilia earthquakes, in particular by the tremors of May 20th which caused serious damage to agricultural and industrial structures in the municipality. It was also the epicenter of a strong aftershock, with a magnitude of 5.1, which occurred on May 29th, following the main shock of 5.9.
Monuments and places of interest
The city of Vigarano Mainarda has many monuments and places of interest to visit.
Religious architecture
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, and the Delizia della Diamantina are among the main religious architectures of the city.
Civil architecture
The Delizia della Diamantina, summer residence of Duke Borso D'Este, represents an excellent example of Este architecture and is visitable to learn about the history of the city.
Society
Demographic evolution
The resident population in the city of Vigarano Mainarda has steadily increased over the years, reaching about 7551 inhabitants.
Ethnic groups and foreign minorities
According to ISTAT data as of December 31st, 2010, the foreign resident population was 385 people. The nationalities most represented based on their percentage of the total resident population were 100 Chinese, who accounted for 1.33%.
Culture
Vigarano Mainarda is known on an astronomical level for giving its name to the eponymous meteorite that fell in 1910, considered the forerunner of a class of carbonaceous chondrites known as "CV class" (where "V" comes from the name Vigarano).
Infrastructure and transport
The city of Vigarano Mainarda is served by the Vigarano Pieve station, on the Suzzara-Ferrara railway.
Administration
Below is a table of the administrations that have succeeded in this municipality.
Twin towns
The municipality of Vigarano Mainarda is twinned with several cities and municipalities, including:
Friendly municipalities
The city of Vigarano Mainarda has a friendship partnership with the city of .
Sports
Football
The town's football team, Vigaranese Calcio, was founded in 1960 and the team's symbol is a blue stork. In 2003, the company declared bankruptcy and the first team was eliminated, leaving space for the youth sector.
Basketball
The women's basketball team, Pallacanestro Vigarano, currently plays in Serie A2 (women's basketball).
In conclusion, Vigarano Mainarda represents a perfect destination for those who want to learn about the history of a city with ancient roots, but which also offers various sports and cultural activities.
