Luzzara

Luzzara

Located between the banks of the River Po and vast cultivated fields and woods, Luzzara was once the site of a Longobard settlement, while the town’s emblem, in accordance with the origins of its name (the land of the pike, a fish locally called “luccio”), exhibits a heraldic pike.

The Gonzaga family line, which ruled over this land, fortified the town, so that Luzzara became a classical sample of Renaissance capital sitting along the shores of the river. From its topographic plans it is still possible to trace squares, palaces and religious buildings, exactly as they were conceived in their 15th-century architectural projects.

Luzzara’s historic centre is characterized by its ancient porticos and its tall, massive Torre Civica (a tower) built between 1724 and 1780 using materials from the bygone castle. Another relevant building in Luzzara’s history is the Palazzo della Macina, built around the end of the 15th century, which used to be the residence of the Gonzaga line of Luzzara and still retains precious elements such as columns crowned with fine capitals and bronzed pictorial decorations. Among its most valuable religious buildings is the late 11th-century Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Giorgio (a Church dedicated to Saint George), which was later rebuilt in 1676, following the then-in-vogue Baroque style.

Thanks to the work of its most illustrious citizen, Cesare Zavattini, Luzzara, the surrounding countryside and the lands of the river, overcame their physical geographical borders, becoming dwellings of the spirit to discover on foot, by mountain-bike, by horse, or by canoe. The artist’s works are displayed inside the Museo Nazionale delle Arti Naives “Cesare Zavattini” (National Museum of Naïve Art), named after Zavattini himself.

Inside Luzzara’s floodplain, in an enchanting wood of centenary oaks, there’s an adventure park called “River Park”, equipped with acrobatic paths among the trees, located at various heights and offering suitable challenges for children, youths and adults. The surrounding environment stands out for its tranquillity, green spaces and pristine air, set apart from the urban bustle. 

Places of interest (Nearby places of interest)

Luzzara Convento Agostiniani

Church and Former Convent of the Augustinians

   

Also known as the church of the former hospital or church of the “Conventino”. It was built at the end of the 15th century by the will of Caterina Pico - Marquis of Luzzara Rodolfo Gonzaga’s wife. It was nearly destroyed to the foundations and reconstructed between 1764 and 1771. Fortunately, the 15th-century apse has been left intact. The sacristy hosts the remains of a funerary monument - dedicated to Luigi Gonzaga, who died in 1570 - partially destroyed by a fire in 1918. In the upper part of the monument, in the very centre, it is possible to admire the Gonzaga coat of arms - borne up by two putti and dominated by a two-headed crowned eagle. The monument stands on an architrave borne by two large statues: a Caryatid and an Atlas. From the centre, under the ledge and borne by a lion’s head, a fruit festoon passes over the Caryatids and descends towards the outer sides, up to the large corbel of the base, where two eagles are placed. The monument also housed a plaque dedicated to Luigi Gonzaga. Frescoes of historical and artistic interest have been recently discovered under the adjacent porch.

Luzzara Chiesa Parrocchiale San Giorgio

Parish Church of San Giorgio

   

It was probably built at the end of the 11th century, in Romanesque style, and renovated several times. It was rebuilt from 1676 in Baroque style - except for the apse, which is still Romanesque. In 2000, crypt excavations led to several findings, such as capitals, columns and frescoes from the original Romanesque building and shards dating back to the previous period. Inside, it preserves some 16th-century paintings, such as the altarpiece portraying the “Vergine col Bambino tra S. Giorgio e S. Girolamo” (Giuliesca School) modeled after a sketch by Giulio Romano kept in the Louvre Museum.