Scandiano

Scandiano is a town and comune in Emilia-Romagna, in the northeast part of Italy country, near Reggio nell'Emilia city and Secchia river. It had some 24,700 inhabitants as of 31 March 2009.

History

From Scandiano (in italian)

The current residential settlement was founded by Fogliani Gilberto in 1262 with the construction of the Castle around which some houses developed. Initially built for defensive purposes, it was later transformed into a seigneurial mansion by the Boiardo family (1423–1560) and later into a Renaissance palace by the Marquis Thiene (1565–1623), the Bentivoglio (1623–45) and princes of Este (1645–1796)

Since the 1960s, the town has been an important centre for the production of tiles, connected to the district of Sassuolo.

Title

As a titular Duke of Modena, the current holder of the title of "Marquis of Scandiano" would be Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este.

Notable persons linked to Scandiano

Notable natives of Scandiano are:

• Poet Matteo Maria Boiardo, whose family ruled Scandiano in the fifteenth century;
• Biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani, who lived in the eighteenth century.
• Politician Romano Prodi, who served as Prime minister of Italy from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008.

Twin towns

• Blansko, Czech Republic, since 1964
• Tubize, Belgium, since 1975
• Almansa, Spain, since 1989