Voghera

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Voghera is a town and commune of Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Pavia. It is located 30 km soutsouthwest of that city, on the Staffora (a tributary of the Po).

The neighbourhood produces much silk, in which, as well as in corn and wine, an active trade is carried on.

History

Known in ancient times as Iria, it took its name from the river on which it was situated. It was on the road from Piacenza to Dertona, and was made a colony by Augustus (colonia Forum Iulium Iriensium).

In the 1st century CE it was destroyed by the Rugi, and its following mentioned as Viqueria in the 10th century. After several lordships, it was acquired by the House of Savoy in 1743 with the Concordat of Worms. Five years later it became provincial capital.

In 1800 it was occupied by the troops of Napoleon, who set his headquarters in the Palazzo Dattili for the battle of Montebello. In 1805 it became part of the department of Genoa; after the French defeat in 1814, it was captured by the Austrians, who handed it over to the Piedmontese. In 1860 it was included in the province of Pavia.

During World War II, ue to its stragetic position on the roads Milan-Genoa and Turin-Bologna, it was heavily bombed by the Allied.

On May 31, 1962, it was the location of a railway disaster that killed 62 people.

Main sights

• The Castle, erected by the Visconti in 1335-1372.
• Palazzo Gounela, the current Town Hall.
• The large Cathedral of Saint Lawrence dates from the 11th century, but was remodelled in the Baroque style about the beginning of the 17th.
• The church of St. Joseph, with a noteworthy Baroque façade.
• The suppressed church of Sant'Ilario, also known as Tempio alla Cavalleria or Chiesa Rossa ("Cavalry Temple" or "Red Church"), so called from the red colour of the brick of which it is built. It dates from the 8th-10th centuries.

The Historic Museum houses, among the others, the personal A112 car of General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, killed by mafia in 1982, and the weapon that allegedly killed Benito Mussolini.

Notable people

• Futurist painter Ambrogio Casati.
• Fashion designer Valentino Garavani, best known simply as Valentino.
• Computer art pioneer Aldo Giorgini.
• The housewife from Voghera (in Italian "casalinga di Voghera") is a stereotypical figure representing the general public.
• The Maserati brothers: Carlo Maserati, Ettore Maserati, Bindo Maserati, Ernesto Maserati and Alfieri Maserati were born here.
• Writers Alberto Arbasino and Carolina Invernizio.

Twin cities

• - Manosque, France
• - Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany

References