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Alfonsine is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Ravenna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna. It is 60 kilometres (37 mi) east of Bologna and 15 kilometres (9 mi) northwest of Ravenna. It is located between the Senio River and the Adriatic Sea, in a fertile area suitable for agriculture, especially viticulture. This area has considerable deposits of natural gas. Contents [hide] 1 Climate 2 History 3 Landmarks and places of interest 4 Natural areas 5 Society and culture 6 Main events and ricurrences 7 Economy 8 Twin towns 9 References 10 External links

Climate[edit] The climate alternates between Mediterranean and Continental. August is the warmest month of the year, with temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees for a few consecutive days, sometimes even going above 40 degrees. Thunderstorms are fairly rare, given an average of about 7 to 8 in the summer months. During the autumn, days alternate between foggy conditions and windy conditions, mainly due to a fairly intense “Bora”. Autumn is also characterized by a big fluctuation in temperatures (close to 0 in the morning, up to 20 around midday) and by a more important presence of rain, which can even last for a few consecutive days. It is even possible to witness some snow around the middle of November, but its quantity will only become relevant by the middle of December, when temperatures can reach -5 degrees. Also due to an increasing presence of winds (Bora and Tramontana), the coldest temperatures are generally reached during the months of January and February. Though the month of March usually marks the end of the cold season, reaching temperatures up to 18 degrees, it is still possible to witness fairly big snowfalls.

History[edit]

Name origin[edit] There are two main hypotheses regarding the origin of the name “Alfonsine”. The first one is based on documents dating back to the early 16th century, when Alfonso Calcagnini allegedly started the drainage which made the territory fit for building and cultivating. For this reason, the territory was named “le Alfonsine”, or “Le terre di Alfonso”, which literally means “Alfonso’s lands”. The second hypothesis was first introduced by Antonio Polloni in his 1966 book “Toponomastica Romagnola” (literally “The geographical structure of the region of Romagna”), where he inferred that the name might derive from the latin word “fossa”, which refers to an artificial channel. Furthermore, he suggested that the connection with the name of Alfonso Calcagnini was just a coincidence. Of the two hypotheses, the first one is the most generally accepted.

From the foundation to The Reign of Italy[edit] Alfonsine’s roots go back to 1464, when the territory north of Fusignano, which at the time was mainly formed by swamps, was donated to Teofilo Calcagnini by Borso D’Este. Teofilo also expanded his territory by buying the valleys north of Fusignano itself, where the first core of the city was born. This core was actually divided in two parts: one on the leftmost riverbank of the river Senio, and the other around a church (“La Chiesa di Nostra Signora”), which was built in 1502. The city found itself in a very critical position, being on the border between the territories of the Este family and of the Venetians, with both trying to gain a strategically important position; this gave rise to countless struggles, even in the years before the territories were drained. In 1506, a compromise was reached, with the Alfonsine lands being assigned to the city of Ravenna (which at the time was under Venetian influence); the river Senio and the former version of the modern “S.S. Adriatica” were set as borders. In 1509, the territories under control of the city of Ravenna changed owner, from the Venetians to the Church State, which in turn legitimized the Estes’ influence on the city of Alfonsine and its lands. During the 18th century the community had a good economic and demographic development, but it still suffered from a lack of freedom. The feudal class exploited the territory for its personal gain, whilst the population, forced to give up most of their possessions in the annual tax paid to the local lord, was forced to live in poverty. After experiencing the French domination, and going back to the State of the Church, in 1859 Alfonsine fell under the control of the Reign of Sardinia, which two years later, in 1861, became the Reign of Italy.

The 1900s [edit] In the early 1900s, Alfonsine was the site of strong social tensions, mainly due to the harsh life conditions. On one side were bands of outlaws, while on the other were associations born in an attempt to intercede for the living conditions of the lower classes. World War Two took its toll on the small city. The line of resistance, in fact, was set, from the autumn of 1944 to the spring of 1945, along the river Senio, which is very close to the town. On the 10th of April, 1945, Alfonsine was liberated, but the sight it offered was one of devastation: 70% of the buildings were destroyed, and the town center was completely gone, as it had been bombed by the Allies first, and mined by the Germans after, right before their northbound retreat. In a period which spanned ten years, from 1946 to 1956, the town center was completely re-built, following a project of the architect Giuseppe Vaccaro. Alfonsine is one of the cities which has been awarded a Silver Medal, symbol of great Military valor, for the sacrifices of its population and for its distinguished activity in the partisan fighting during World War Two.

Landmarks and places of interest[edit] Due to the great damages happened during the war, there aren’t many historic buildings left in the town. The most significant is probably the Oratory of San Vincenzo Ferrari, built around the middle of the 18th century; it still holds a painting allegedly ascribed to the Longhi school.

Natural areas[edit] Alfonsine has a special natural reserve, situated halfway between the Argenta valleys and the Comacchio valleys, which is an ensemble of areas once occupied by men which have been designated to host a free natural environment. This reserve has been divided into three different areas, each with a specific characteristic; the most notable species which can be found in the reserve are a special kind of bat, protected by the European Union and a very rare European swamp tortoise, which also happens to be the symbol for the reserve.

Society and culture[edit] The population, after a substantial growth in the period following the war, has been stable around an average of 12.000 people, with the percentage of foreigners, namely Romanians and Moroccans, steadily increasing. The city hosts an important museum, located in the Resistance square, namely the “Senio battle Museum”, built in 1981 by a joint venture of the Alfonsine municipality, the province of Ravenna, the region of Emilia Romagna and the Historical Office of the Italian Army. Some of the antiques which can be seen are a Bailey Bridge used by the Allies during the war, together with pieces of artillery and military equipment. The main objective of the museum is to tell the story of the role the city had during the conflicts, whilst also focusing on the bigger picture, so on what was going on in the rest of Europe. Alfonsine was also the birthplace of Italian writer and poet Vincenzo Monti; the house where he was born has been turned into a museum, whose showings include poems of Monti himself and a few antiques representing the rural life of the 18th century. The town also hosts a public university, founded by Umberto Pagani in 1997; subjects offered include foreign languages and natural sciences.

Main events and recurrences[edit] - The 10th of April is the principal recurrence in the city of Alfonsine, this date being the day it was liberated from german occupation. - Fairs are organized during the year, usually in May and October, often consisting in wine and food tasting.

Economy[edit] Agriculture is a big part of the city’s economy, the main products being wheat, potatoes, tomatoes, onions and peaches. As the region’s tradition suggests, wine production is diffused in Alfonsine’s lands: Trebbiano and Cagnina are the two main products of the area. Given the fact that the city is very close to the Senio and to the Reno rivers, fishing is extensively practiced, especially at an amateur level. The main industrial activities happening in the territory are concerned with bituminous materials, machine construction, canned fruit juices and general handling of fruit and vegetables. Alfonsine is connected to the A14 highway by the SS 16 and it hosts a small train station.

Twin towns[edit] Hungary Nagykata, Hungary, since 1962 Italy Spello, Italy, since 1974 Italy San Vito di Cadore, Italy, since 1988 Niger Mayahi, Niger, since 1988

References[edit]

Jump up ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat. Enzo Biagi Italia Rizzoli Editore Milano 1975 pp. 81–100 External links[edit]

www.comune.alfonsine.ra.it