Guastalla (Guastallese: Guastàla) is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

Geography

Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River. Guastalla is located at around 30 km from the cities of Reggio Emilia, Parma, and Mantua. In addition to the town of Guastalla itself, the comune also includes the hamlets of San Giacomo, San Girolamo, San Martino, San Rocco, and Tagliata.

History

The area of Guastalla was probably settled by Etruscans as early as the 7th century BCE, but the name of the city is mentioned for the first time in 864 CE. Of Lombard origin, the city was ruled by the Torelli family from 1406 to 1539, when it became the capital of a duchy under the Gonzaga family and housed artists like Guercino and Torquato Tasso. In 1748, by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the city became part of the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza e Guastalla, to which it belonged until 1847, when it was inherited by the Duke of Modena. Since the unification of Italy in 1861, Guastalla has been a part of Italy.

Industry

SMEG (from Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla), a major manufacturer of high-end domestic appliances, was founded by Vittorio Bertazzoni in Guastalla in 1948, where it still has its headquarters.

Main sights

Guastalla town: Around Guastalla:

Twin Towns

Residents