Rottofreno (Piacentino: Altufrèi, Artufrèi, Ltufrèi or Rtufrèi) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Piacenza in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 160 kilometres (99 mi) northwest of Bologna and about 12 kilometres (7 mi) west of Piacenza.
Rottofreno | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Rottofreno | |
Location of Rottofreno  | |
  Rottofreno Location of Rottofreno in Italy  Rottofreno Rottofreno (Emilia-Romagna) | |
| Coordinates: 45°3′N 9°33′E / 45.050°N 9.550°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Emilia-Romagna |
| Province | Piacenza (PC) |
| Frazioni | San Nicolò a Trebbia, Santimento, Centora |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Paola Galvani (since 2021)[1] (Lista Civica) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 34.5 km2 (13.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Population (12 May 2024)[3] | |
| • Total | 12,298 |
| • Density | 360/km2 (920/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 29010 |
| Dialing code | 0523 |
Rottofreno borders the following municipalities: Borgonovo Val Tidone, Calendasco, Chignolo Po, Gragnano Trebbiense, Monticelli Pavese, Piacenza, and Sarmato.
The main settlement of the comune is San Nicolò, which has more inhabitants than Rottofreno proper.[4]
Name and history
According to a legend, the name (meaning "broken bit") derives from an event during the Carthaginian invasion of Italy (218–201 BC), when Hannibal allegedly broke here the bit of his horse.[5] The event is also remembered in the city's coat of arms. In reality the name is from the Lombard roth ("glory") and fridu ("friendship", "safeness").[6] The village was in fact called Rottofredo during the Middle Ages.[7]
On 10 August 1746, during the War of Austrian Succession, a battle was fought here between a French-Spanish army and an Austrian force.[8] This event is known as the Battle of Rottofredo (or Rottofreddo).
Main sights
- The great Baroque church of St. John the Baptist (1690) in the frazione of Santimento.
Demographic evolution
