Visit to the town of Fidenza - « Back to Tours

Fidenza is traditionally considered part of the parmesan "bassa" (lowlands), the northern portion of the province that gravitates towards the Po river, even if, due to its position on the Via Emilia that cuts in half the province of Parma, it shouldn't belong there. 
About 25000 residents, 75 meters above sea level, 22 km from Parma, it lies on the right bank of the Stirone creek, a left tributary of river Taro.

In 41 b.C. Octavian made it a Roman city as "Julia Fidentia" in honour of Fidius, a god. It became a municipality in I century b.C. but in the III century it had declined so much that its name had been changed to "Fidentiola". Emperor Constantine the Great destroyed it during his war against Massentius and in the V century only ruins of Fidenza remained.

Under the Visconti-built tower of St. Donnino gate, in front of the cathedral, some arches of the Roman bridge over Stirone have been found: according to tradition the martyrdom of St. Donnino took place there in 291. As the cult of the saint grew, between the IX and X centuries, the name of "Borgo San Donnino" took hold and it remained until 1927 when the ancient name of Fidenza was restored.

Charlemagne made Fidenza a county; after year 1000 it caused long disputes between Parma and Piacenza. It later belonged, with brief periods of freedom, to the Visconti, Sforza, Pallavicino, Farnese and Bourbon dynasties and to Marie Louise of Austria.

Some photos: