Website of Novellara

Location: region of Reggio Emilia, Italy
Population: 14 000
Mayor: Simone Zarantonello
Distance from Novo Jicin: 1 041 km
Partnership: since 11 September 1964
Industry: metal, textile and chemical
Partner towns: Nový Jičín (Czech Republic), Neve Shalom (Israel), Sancti Spiritus (Cuba), Santa Gertrudes (Brazil)

The town of Novellara, with almost 14,000 inhabitants, is situated in the fertile Po Plain, interwoven with irrigation canals, in the province of Reggio Emilia in Italy.

The oldest archaeological finds in the city are the remains of a Roman settlement. The noble Gonzaga family turned this place into the capital of a small and independent kingdom for almost four centuries. The family's "golden age" was the 16th century, when they started minting their own coins and turned the city into an ideal place to live.

The foundations of the Rocca Gonzaga fortress were laid in 1385 by Guido Gonzaga, son of the founder of the "Gonzaga Novellara". During the 16th century, the fortress acquired the character of a Renaissance castle through structural modifications. Nowadays, the various wings house the Novellara Town Hall, the richly decorated Municipal Auditorium, the historic theatre, which still serves its purpose today, and, after several years of renovation, the magnificent Gonzaga Museum, with a very valuable collection of 170 vases from the 16th century, from the Jesuit pharmacy.

Novellara has a beautiful historic centre with a large square, an arcade and many well-preserved and restored houses. Among the most important monuments are the Chapter Church of St. Stephen, located in the main square, the Casino di Sotto and the Casino di Sopra, which were the summer residences of the Gonzaga family.

The city is involved in the Cittaslow project, which can be translated as "Slow Cities". This is an international network of cities that are good to live in (more information HERE).

Novellara is also known as the birthplace of Augusto Daolia, the singer and founder of Nomadi (comparable in importance to our Olympic group).

Just as we have Novellara street in Nový Jičín, you can find Nový Jičín street in the new part of Novellara.

The most famous events

San Cassiano - similar to the Novojičín town festival, but lasts for several days (turn of April and May)
Miss Anguria - competition for the heaviest and sweetest melon (July)
Novellara balsamica - celebration of the traditional production of balsamic vinegar (late September/early October)

Attractions

Parmigiano-Reggiano is a trademark for real Parmesan cheese from the Parma region of Emilia Romagna in Italy. There are hundreds of farms where cows graze, producing milk only for this cheese. They can only graze on fresh grass or hay, and the use of pellets or other feed is prohibited. The cheese can be recognised by the original seal burnt on the outside of the loaf.
The best quality balsamic vinegar comes from the Modena and Reggio Emilia regions. It is labelled as Aceto balsamico tradizionale di Modena or Aceto balsamico tradizionale di Reggio Emilia. It is a wine vinegar made from concentrated must of the Trebbiano grape variety. It acquires its sweet and spicy flavour after it has been aged in barrels for several years. A good balsamic vinegar takes at least 12 years to mature, but the best ones take 30 or even 50 years.
Both Parmesan and balsamic vinegars are also produced in Novellara.
In the attic of the east wing of the Rocca Gonzaga fortress is the municipal vinegar factory.

Key phrases

Hello/goodbye - Buongiorno/arrivederci
Where, please, is the hotel/restaurant/store? - Scusi dove si trova il Vostro hotel/il ristorante/la stazione?
I would like to order... - Vorrei ordinare...
Thank you/You're welcome - Grazie/Di nulla
Do you speak English/German/French? - Parla inglese/tedesco/francese?
I'm from the Czech Republic/Novy Jicin - Vengo dalla Repubblica Ceca /da Novy Jicin

Promotional materials
Novellara City Guide - it/ang (pdf, 2 MB)