# Brescello

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Comune in Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Brescello Barsèl (Emilian) Comune Comune di Brescello The central Piazza Matteotti Coat of arms Brescello Location of Brescello in Italy Show map of Italy Brescello Brescello (Emilia-Romagna) Show map of Emilia-Romagna Coordinates: 44°54′N 10°31′E / 44.900°N 10.517°E / 44.900; 10.517 Country Italy Region Emilia-Romagna Province Reggio Emilia (RE) Frazioni Coenzo a Mane, Ghiarole, Lentigione, Sorbolo a Mane Government • Mayor Carlo Fiumicino (PD) Area [1] • Total 24.04 km2 (9.28 sq mi) Elevation 24 m (79 ft) Population (2025)[2] • Total 5,576 • Density 231.9/km2 (600.7/sq mi) Demonym Brescellesi Time zone UTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) Postal code 42041 Dialing code 0522 Website Official website

**Brescello** (Italian: [\[breʃˈʃɛllo\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Italian); *Barsèl* [\[bɐrˈsɛl\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Emilian-Romagnol) in the local dialect, *Bersèl* in the [Reggio Emilia dialect](/source/Reggiano_dialect)) is a *[comune](/source/Comune)* (municipality) in the [Province of Reggio Emilia](/source/Province_of_Reggio_Emilia) in the [Italian](/source/Italy) region [Emilia-Romagna](/source/Emilia-Romagna), located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of [Bologna](/source/Bologna) and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of [Reggio Emilia](/source/Reggio_Emilia).

## Geography

Situated in the northwestern side of the province, close to the borders with the provinces of [Parma](/source/Province_of_Parma) and [Mantua](/source/Province_of_Mantua) (Mantua is in [Lombardy](/source/Lombardy)), Brescello lies on the southern shore of the river [Po](/source/Po_(river)), near the confluence with the [Enza](/source/Enza). The municipality borders [Boretto](/source/Boretto), [Gattatico](/source/Gattatico), [Mezzani](/source/Mezzani), [Poviglio](/source/Poviglio), [Sorbolo](/source/Sorbolo) and [Viadana](/source/Viadana%2C_Lombardy). It counts the hamlets ([*frazioni*](/source/Frazione)) 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](/source/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 [Byzantines](/source/Byzantine_Empire) destroyed the town to prevent it falling into the hands of the [Lombard](/source/Lombards) king [Agilulf](/source/Agilulf).[3][4] No longer a residential bishopric, Brixillum is now listed by the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church) as a [titular see](/source/Titular_see).[5]

Today, the town is most famous for being the set for the film series of Peppone and [Don Camillo](/source/Don_Camillo), played by [Gino Cervi](/source/Gino_Cervi) and [Fernandel](/source/Fernandel) and based on the books by [Giovannino Guareschi](/source/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's Last Round](/source/Don_Camillo#Films)").

## 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](/source/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](/source/Mayor#Italy) (**sindaco**) assisted by a legislative body, the **consiglio comunale**, and an executive body, the **giunta comunale**. Since 1995 the mayor and members of the **consiglio comunale** are directly elected together by resident citizens, while from 1945 to 1995 the mayor was chosen by the legislative body. The **giunta comunale** is chaired by the mayor, who appoints others members, called **[assessori](/source/Assessor_(Italy))**. The offices of the **comune** are housed in a building usually called the **municipio** or **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 ([PD](/source/Democratic_Party_(Italy))), elected on 15 May 2023.

Mayor Term start Term end Party Innocente Arontaldi 1945 1947 PCI Leda Palazzi Bacchi 1947 1951 PCI Afro Bettati 1951 1970 PSI Volmer Bonini 1970 1985 PCI Ermes Coffrini 1985 1995 PCI Directly-elected mayors (since 1995) Ermes Coffrini 1995 2004 PDS DS Giuseppe Vezzani 2004 2014 DS PD Marcello Coffrini 2014 2016[a] PD Special Commission's tenure (2016–2018) Elena Benassi 2018 2023 PD Carlo Fiumicino 2023 Incumbent PD

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Resigned.

## People

- [Antonio Panizzi](/source/Antonio_Panizzi), patriot, librarian and bibliographer

- [Mario Nizolio](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Ludi), the traditional market on the main square and the traditional dinner taking place during the evening.[6]

## Gallery

		- Town Hall

		- City centre

		- Train station

		- Madonnina del Borghetto

		- Sant'Anna church

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-16139ca327c50d72c40d8c5fd3abe706b989650e-v20_1-0)** ["Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011"](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224). Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-istat_2-0)** All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute [Istat](/source/National_Institute_of_Statistics_(Italy)).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Francesco Lanzoni, *[Le diocesi d'Italia dalle origini al principio del secolo VII (an. 604)](https://archive.org/stream/MN5017ucmf_0#page/n849/mode/2up)*, vol. II, Faenza 1927, p. 810

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Giuseppe Cappelletti, [*Le Chiese d'Italia dalla loro origine sino ai nostri giorni*](https://books.google.com/books?id=StQCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA441), Venezia 1859, vol. XV, pp. 441-461

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** *Annuario Pontificio 2013* (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-88-209-9070-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-88-209-9070-1)), p. 838

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Vaccari, Andrea (9 June 2015). ["Non solo Peppone e Don Camillo, due giorni per scoprire la Brescello dei romani"](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). *Gazzetta di Reggio* (in Italian). Retrieved 6 July 2015.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Brescello](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Brescello).

- [Official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20060905192707/http://www.comune.brescello.re.it/) (in Italian)

v t e Emilia-Romagna · Comuni of the Province of Reggio Emilia Albinea Bagnolo in Piano Baiso Bibbiano Boretto Brescello Cadelbosco di Sopra Campagnola Emilia Campegine Canossa Carpineti Casalgrande Casina Castellarano Castelnovo di Sotto Castelnovo ne' Monti Cavriago Correggio Fabbrico Gattatico Gualtieri Guastalla Luzzara Montecchio Emilia Novellara Poviglio Quattro Castella Reggio nell'Emilia Reggiolo Rio Saliceto Rolo Rubiera San Martino in Rio San Polo d'Enza Sant'Ilario d'Enza Scandiano Toano Ventasso Vetto Vezzano sul Crostolo Viano Villa Minozzo

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Brescello](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brescello) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brescello?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.