The town is located in the foothills of the Apennines of the Province of Reggio Emilia and is an important ceramics manufacturing centre.
Postcode: 42013
Telephone area code: 0522
Annual fairs: Third week of September
Market day: Thursdays
Outlying Villages: Dinazzano, Salvaterra, San Donnino (Villa Spalletti), San Antonino and Veggia
Inhabitants:
15.639 updated to December 31, 2009 |
How to get there:
Distance from Reggio Emilia: 17 km
By car: from Reggio Emilia exit of A1 Motorway: National Road SS 467 in the direction of Scandiano/sassuolo.
Alternatively from Reggio Emilia take National Road 9 in the direction of Modena, turning right at Rubiera for Casalgrande (National Road 486).
By train/bus : from Reggio Emilia railway station: Reggio Emilia to Sassuolo local train service.
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Tourist information:
phone 0039/998511; fax 0039/522/841039 - Municipality |
Casalgrande is the local capital of the ceramics industry. The town has nevertheless managed to preserve its historic part to the south of the National Road. This is centred round the old Castle which may date as far back as the year 1200.
What remains of the castle, after its destruction in 1557 by the Spanish army under Ottavio Farnese, is made up of a fortified court dating back to the 15th century with two square towers, siege defences and ruined battlements (the whole being in private ownership). The 14th-century Tower of Dinazzano stands on the top of a nearby hill, all that remains of an important fortified complex, enjoying an impressive view over the Reggio Emilia and Modena plains.
Following the Rio Rocca valley upwards from the Veggia district brings you into an area of geological outcrops of Pliocene clays whose eroded slopes are rich with fossils.
A partially ruined 12th-century castle can be seen in the Salvaterra district.