Italy in its original glory, ruine, and revival being an exact survey of the whole geography and history of that famous country, with the adjacent islands of Sicily, Malta, &c. : and whatever is remarkable in Rome (the mistress of the world) and all those towns and territories mentioned in antient and modern authors / translated out of the originals for general satisfaction, by Edmund Warcupp, Esquire.

PIACENZA.

SOme will have this City to take its name from the Pleasantness of its fite, and the beauty of its buildings, nor have we any other Original for Piacenza: Tis seated near the Poe, in a delightfull place, having a flourishing Champagua, and fruitfull Hills, The first yiel∣ding plenty of Corn, and other things, for humane sustenance, the later incomparable Wines, delicate Fruits, and Oyl: The Meadows, (alwaies green, by reason of the artificial flowing from the surroun∣ding Rivers) are continually stocked with great herds of Cattel, whence they extract that cheese which for its goodness is so much cryed up through Enrope, that when they would commend any Cheese, they call it of Piacentia; It affords also certain springs of salt water, (from which with fire they extract the whitest salt) and some Mines of Iron, and Woods filled with Creatures for the Chase.

It was reduced into a Colony of the Romans, together with Cre∣mona▪ in the 350th. yeer after the building of Rome, by their ex∣pulsion of the French out of that Country, as Livy saies, who of it makes an honourable mention in divers places, as well as divers o∣ther Historians, whence tis gathered, that twas very flourishing in the time of the Romans, since when it hath suffered many calamities, more by civil than forein invasions: In the 70th. year after the Na∣tivity of our Saviour, when Vitellius waged War against Otho, the Amphitheatre standing without its Wall was burnt, which made Si∣lio to say Quassata Placentia bello.

It is embellished with noble structures: As the antient Fountain erected by Augustus Caesar, the sumptuous Church of Santa Maria the Virgin, the Church of Santo Antonio the Martyr, the fair Church of S. Giovanni officiated by the Fryers of S. Dominick, and that of San Sisto, with a worthy Monastery, but above all is resplendent the Temple of Sant Augustino, attended by the canonical Regulars, which at first was compassed about with a weak Wall, but afterwards so well fortifyed with strong Walls and a Fort built of Stone, that it acquired a place among the strong holds of Italy: The City is four miles compass, and the Ditches add one mile more, and is washed by the Rivers▪ Trebia and Poe; after it had a long time enjoyed its li∣berty, it became subject to the Scotti, Turriani, the Landi, the Dukes of Milan, the French, the Romans, the holy Church, but at pre∣sent it remains in peace under the Signori Farnesi.

Pliny drawes a conclusion of the goodness and temperature of the Ayr, from the old age the Inhabitants arrive to, who writes that in his time, one of its Citizens lived to be 120. yeers old, and in its Territory were six persons, who were 110: yeers old a peece, and one that was aged 140. yeers. The City contains 18000. Souls, where∣of 2000. religious, many noble Families of great name flourish

there at this day, at the Scotta, Landa, and Ansusciola, who possess many Castles and Jurisdictions: Among many other illustrious and vertuous persons, it gave birth to T. Tinca the old fluent Ora∣tour, and to Pope Gregory the tenth, who dyed in Arezzo in Tuscany where many signes appeared of his great merits.

Going out of Piacenza, towards the East and North appears the mouth of the River Trebia, much spoken of by Historians, for the overthrow of the Roman Army, given by Hannibal, but afore it stands the Church of Saint Antonio, where the six Souldiers were* 1.1 miraculously burnt by fire, who blasphemed his name. Then you see Stradella and the Castle of Saint Giovanni and Vichiera. On the Ieftly the Apeni•…•…e Hills, among which stands enclosed the City Bobio thirty* 1.2 miles from Piacentia where Teodolenda Queen of the Longobardi, built a rich and sumptuous Monastery, at the request of San Colombano, as∣signing it great possessions for susteining the Monks who served God, from which Monastery have issued thirty two Saints.

At Piacenza begins the Emilian Way, called Via Emilia, according to Livy, which was set out by Emilius the Consul, and extends it self from thence to Rimini, towards the South. On the right ap∣pears most sharp Mountains, wherein are built fair Castles, Towns, and Villages, but none of moment, except Corte Maggiore, belong∣i•…•…g to the Pallavicini, and Arquato, much named for the sweet Wines* 1.3 there produced. On the left hand of the Emilian Way, stands Cremona, whither you may go also by Water from Piacenza upon the Poe: Be∣tween Piacenza and Cremona at 12. miles distance on the Via Emilia, appears the Castle Fiorenzola, called Fidentia, by Tolomeo, and like∣wise Livy, wri•…•…ing in his 88th. Book, that Silla forced Carbone out of Italy, having overthrown his Army at Chinso, Faenza, and Fi∣dentia. Here is that famous Abbacy, where with royal and splendid* 1.4 provision, Pietro Antonio the Abbot, received Francis the first King of France, Charls the 5th. Emperour, and Paulus Tertius the Pope; more forward stands the Burgo Saint Donnino, sortifyed with new* 1.5 Forts, and created a City lately at the instance of Ranuecio Farnese, Duke of Parma, Having repassed the Poe, you arrive at the River Varro, whence to Parma is four miles, with a continued course of the Appenines on the right hand.

Notes

• * 1.1

  St. Antonio
• * 1.2

  Bobio
• * 1.3

  Arquato
• * 1.4

  Fidenti
• * 1.5

  St. Donnino