Mirandola


Mirandola is a city and comune of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, in the Province of Modena, northeast of the provincial capital by railway.

History

Mirandola originated as a Renaissance city-fortress. For four centuries it was the seat of an independent principality, a possession of the Pico family, whose most outstanding member was the polymath Giovanni Pico della Mirandola. It was besieged two times: in 1510 by Pope Julius II and in 1551 by Pope Julius III.
It was acquired by the Duchy of Modena in 1710. The city started to decay after the castle of Mirandola was partially destroyed in 1714.
On 29 May 2012, a powerful earthquake hit the Mirandola area. It killed at least 17 people and collapsed churches and factories. Also 200 were injured. The 5.8 magnitude quake left 14,000 people homeless.

Main sights