Brescello

Brescello
Comune
Comune di Brescello
The central Piazza Matteotti
Coat of arms
Brescello Location of Brescello in Italy
Coordinates: 44°54′N 10°31′E / 44.900°N 10.517°E / 44.900; 10.517Coordinates: 44°54′N 10°31′E / 44.900°N 10.517°E / 44.900; 10.517
Country	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna
Province / Metropolitan city	Reggio Emilia (RE)
Frazioni	Coenzo a Mane, Ghiarole, Lentigione, Sorbolo a Mane
Government
• Mayor	Giuseppe Vezzani
Area
• Total	24.5 km2 (9.5 sq mi)
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Population (31 May 2007)
• Total	5,228
• Density	210/km2 (550/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Brescellesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	42041
Dialing code	0522
Website	Official website

Brescello (Barsèl in the local dialect, Bersèl in the Reggio Emilia dialect) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Bologna and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of Reggio Emilia. It has 5,504 inhabitants.

Situated in the northwestern side of the province, close to the borders with the provinces of Parma and Mantua (Mantua is in Lombardy), Brescello lies on the southern shore of the river Po, near the confluence with the Enza. The municipality borders Boretto, Gattatico, Mezzani, Poviglio, Sorbolo and Viadana.

Located near the Po river, remains of this ancient town's Roman roots – it was called Brixellum or Brixillum during the Roman era – can still be seen in the Antiquarium, via Cavallotti 12 (a former Benedictine monastery), where ancient Roman relics and sculptures are on display. A bishop Cyprianus of Brixillum was present at a synod held in Milan in 451, but the bishopric came to an end when in the early 7th century the Byzantines destroyed the town to prevent it falling into the hands of the Lombard king Agilulf. No longer a residential bishopric, Brixillum is now listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.

Today, the town is most famous for being the set for one of Italy's most loved film series: that of Peppone and Don Camillo, played by Gino Cervi and Fernandel and based on the books by Giovannino Guareschi. Brescello has dedicated a museum to these two character, which houses many props, including a tank which was used in a scene from Don Camillo e l'onorevole Peppone ("Don Camillo's Last Round"). The crucifix which speaks to Don Camillo in the movie is not in the museum, but in its original location, the church of Santa Maria Nascente.