{{Infobox Italian comune | name = Brescello | official_name = Comune di Brescello | native_name = {{native name|egl|Barsèl}} | image_skyline = Brescello - Chiesa di Santa Maria Nascente - 2023-09-13 12-46-15 001.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = The central Piazza Matteotti | image_shield = Brescello-Stemma.png | shield_alt = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | coordinates = {{coord|44|54|N|10|31|E|type:city(4,982)_region:IT|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | region = [[Emilia-Romagna]] | province = [[Province of Reggio Emilia|Reggio Emilia]] (RE) | frazioni = Coenzo a Mane, Ghiarole, Lentigione, Sorbolo a Mane | mayor_party = [[Democratic Party (Italy)|PD]] | mayor = Carlo Fiumicino | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 24.04 | population_footnotes = <ref name="istat">All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute [[National Institute of Statistics (Italy)|Istat]].</ref> | population_total = 5576 | population_as_of = 2025 | pop_density_footnotes = | population_demonym = Brescellesi | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 24 | twin1 = | twin1_country = | saint = | day = | postal_code = 42041 | area_code = 0522 | website = {{official website|http://www.comune.brescello.re.it/}} | footnotes =
}} '''Brescello''' ({{IPA|it|breʃˈʃɛllo|lang}}; {{lang|egl|Barsèl}} {{IPA|egl|bɐrˈsɛl|}} in the local dialect, {{lang|egl|Bersèl}} in the [[Reggiano dialect|Reggio Emilia dialect]]) is a ''[[comune]]'' (municipality) in the [[Province of Reggio Emilia]] in the [[Italy|Italian]] region [[Emilia-Romagna]], located about {{convert|80|km|mi}} northwest of [[Bologna]] and about {{convert|25|km|mi}} northwest of [[Reggio Emilia]].
==Geography== Situated in the northwestern side of the province, close to the borders with the provinces of [[Province of Parma|Parma]] and [[Province of Mantua|Mantua]] (Mantua is in [[Lombardy]]), Brescello lies on the southern shore of the river [[Po (river)|Po]], near the confluence with the [[Enza]]. The municipality borders [[Boretto]], [[Gattatico]], [[Mezzani]], [[Poviglio]], [[Sorbolo]] and [[Viadana, Lombardy|Viadana]]. It counts the hamlets ([[Frazione|''frazioni'']]) of Ghiarole, Lentigione and Sorbolo a Levante.
==History== Located near the Po river, remains of this ancient town's Roman roots – it was called [[Brixellum]] or Brixillum during the Roman era – can still be seen in the ''Antiquarium'', via Cavallotti 12 (a former Benedictine monastery), where ancient Roman relics and sculptures are on display. A bishop Cyprianus of Brixillum was present at a synod held in Milan in 451, but the bishopric came to an end when in the early 7th century the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] destroyed the town to prevent it falling into the hands of the [[Lombards|Lombard]] king [[Agilulf]].<ref>Francesco Lanzoni, ''[https://archive.org/stream/MN5017ucmf_0#page/n849/mode/2up Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604)]'', vol. II, Faenza 1927, p. 810</ref><ref>Giuseppe Cappelletti, [https://books.google.com/books?id=StQCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA441 ''Le Chiese d'Italia dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni''], Venezia 1859, vol. XV, pp. 441-461</ref> No longer a residential bishopric, Brixillum is now listed by the [[Catholic Church]] as a [[titular see]].<ref>''Annuario Pontificio 2013'' (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 {{ISBN|978-88-209-9070-1}}), p. 838</ref>
Today, the town is most famous for being the set for the film series of Peppone and [[Don Camillo]], played by [[Gino Cervi]] and [[Fernandel]] and based on the books by [[Giovannino Guareschi]]. Brescello has dedicated a museum to these two characters, which houses many props, including a tank which was used in a scene from ''Don Camillo e l'onorevole Peppone'' ("[[Don Camillo#Films|Don Camillo's Last Round]]").
==Main sights==
===Church of Santa Maria Nascente=== The current church was rebuilt between 1829 and 1837 replacing the ancient medieval church that once stood here. Inside it has a nave and two aisles with six side altars, three on each side, with large archways that divide the nave from the aisles, and an impressive wooden crucifix by Bruno Avesani. On the side of the main altar, there is a plaster statue of Padre Pio made by the local sculptor Carlo Pisi, and in the curvature of the apse, there is the chorus seating made from inlaid wood, with a large painting by Carlo Zatti above it. The original altar is now located in the central chapel in the left aisle. Near it is the wooden, carved, gold-leaf central pulpit. The facade, dominated by the 1896 bell tower, has two statues, one of the Virgin and one of the patron Saint Genesius, both by Innocente Franceschini, and placed on the facade in 1899. The bell tower has five bells.
On the night of 5 April 2010, a fire destroyed a modern altar and damaged some furniture.
===Former monastery of San Benedetto=== This Benedictine monastery was built in the 15th century for the secluded monks of the Saint Benedict order, who remained there until the beginning of the [[Cisalpine Republic]]. Completely renovated, it is now home to a Cultural Center which houses the Museum of Peppone and Don Camillo, a day care, the library, the Municipal Council, the Auser Center and the Municipal Police.
===Parco Giovannino Guareschi=== Adjacent to the Museum, is a park where the remaining part of the original church of the old cloister of the Benedictine monks can be seen. In the center of the park there is the bust of Giovannino Guareschi, inaugurated in 1995.
==Municipal government== Brescello is headed by a [[mayor#Italy|mayor]] (''{{lang|it|sindaco}}'') assisted by a legislative body, the ''{{lang|it|consiglio comunale}}'', and an executive body, the ''{{lang|it|giunta comunale}}''. Since 1995 the mayor and members of the ''{{lang|it|consiglio comunale}}'' are directly elected together by resident citizens, while from 1945 to 1995 the mayor was chosen by the legislative body. The ''{{lang|it|giunta comunale}}'' is chaired by the mayor, who appoints others members, called ''{{lang|it|[[assessor (Italy)|assessori]]}}''. The offices of the ''{{lang|it|comune}}'' are housed in a building usually called the ''{{lang|it|municipio}}'' or ''{{lang|it|palazzo comunale}}''.
Since 1995 the mayor of Brescello is directly elected by citizens, originally every four, then every five years. The current mayor is Carlo Fiumicino ([[Democratic Party (Italy)|PD]]), elected on 15 May 2023.
{|class="wikitable" |- ! Mayor ! Term start ! Term end ! class=unsortable| ! Party |- |Innocente Arontaldi |align=center|1945 |align=center|1947 |bgcolor={{party color|Italian Communist Party}}| |[[Italian Communist Party|PCI]] |- |Leda Palazzi Bacchi |align=center|1947 |align=center|1951 |bgcolor={{party color|Italian Communist Party}}| |[[Italian Communist Party|PCI]] |- |Afro Bettati |align=center|1951 |align=center|1970 |bgcolor={{party color|Italian Socialist Party}}| |[[Italian Socialist Party|PSI]] |- |Volmer Bonini |align=center|1970 |align=center|1985 |bgcolor={{party color|Italian Communist Party}}| |[[Italian Communist Party|PCI]] |- |Ermes Coffrini |align=center|1985 |align=center|1995 |bgcolor={{party color|Italian Communist Party}}| |[[Italian Communist Party|PCI]] |- |colspan=5 align=center|'''Directly-elected mayors (since 1995)''' |- |Ermes Coffrini |align=center|1995 |align=center|2004 |bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party of the Left}}| |[[Democratic Party of the Left|PDS]]<br>[[Democrats of the Left|DS]] |- |Giuseppe Vezzani |align=center|2004 |align=center|2014 |bgcolor={{party color|Democrats of the Left}}| |[[Democrats of the Left|DS]]<br>[[Democratic Party (Italy)|PD]] |- |Marcello Coffrini |align=center|2014 |align=center|2016{{efn|Resigned.}} |bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Italy)}}| |[[Democratic Party (Italy)|PD]] |- |colspan=5 align=center|<small>''Special Commission's tenure (2016–2018)''</small> |- |Elena Benassi |align=center|2018 |align=center|2023 |bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Italy)}}| |[[Democratic Party (Italy)|PD]] |- |Carlo Fiumicino |align=center|2023 |align=center|''Incumbent'' |bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Party (Italy)}}| |[[Democratic Party (Italy)|PD]] |- |} {{noteslist}}
== People == *[[Antonio Panizzi]], patriot, librarian and bibliographer *[[Mario Nizolio]], philosopher and scholar
==Events==
===Brescello Film Festival=== Begun in 2003, the festival is dedicated to documentaries and works of fiction that focus on Italy: its places, environment, traditions, values and culture. The event is promoted by the Municipality of Brescello together with the Pro Loco Association and the Videoclub of Brescello, with the patronage of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Cultural Activities and Heritage.
===La Notte dell'Imperatore - Brixellum Romanorum – Historical Reenactment=== This two-day event, taking place in June every other year, is an historical reenactment organised by the local archeological society. The event is organised to celebrate and remember the events which connect the village to the Roman emperor [[Otho]] (who committed suicide there). During the event it is possible to experience how life in Ancient Rome was thanks to the many workshops, the [[ludi]], the traditional market on the main square and the traditional dinner taking place during the evening.<ref>{{cite news|last=Vaccari |first=Andrea |url=http://gazzettadireggio.gelocal.it/reggio/cronaca/2015/06/09/news/non-solo-peppone-e-don-camillo-due-giorni-per-scoprire-la-brescello-dei-romani-1.11579961 |title=Non solo Peppone e Don Camillo, due giorni per scoprire la Brescello dei romani |periodical=Gazzetta di Reggio |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=6 July 2015 |language=it}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed" heights=150px> File:Municipio di Brescello -RE.jpg|Town Hall File:Via Giglioli (Brescello) - porticato e chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli 2025-05-02.jpg|City centre File:TPER ALn668 014 Ln 880 036 Brescello 20160812.jpg|Train station File:Brescello Madonnina del Borghetto.JPG|Madonnina del Borghetto File:IT-RE-Brescello18.jpg|Sant'Anna church </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Brescello}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060905192707/http://www.comune.brescello.re.it/ Official website] {{in lang|it}}
{{Province of Reggio Emilia}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in Emilia-Romagna]]