Being a relevant part of medieval old town, Fiume Square was the open ghetto of the Jewish community. It was characterized by the so called “contradelle”, narrow alleys with buildings hosting serveral activities that were key to the inhabitants' daily life: from the bakery to the spinnery, from debt collection to the synagogue. These buildings began to develop in the 15th century, at the will of Count Feltrino Boiardo. As early as in the 15th century, they accommodated the community bakery, the public fountain, the Oratory of San Carlo and some private homes; from 1740 onwards, they also included the synagogue and, since 1838, the spinning mill. The Contradelle were demolished in 1914 due to health and hygiene issues, creating a large urban void. The square was named "Piazza Fiume" after the completion of U. Sterpini's surrealist sculpture “Orlando Innamorato”, which became, over time, the symbol of the post-demolition square. In the 1990s, architect G. Teggi and professor and artist A. De Nisco created a new project for the renovation of Piazza Fiume, recalling the homage to Boiardo started by Sterpini.

How to get to Scandiano

By car: From the A1 motorway - Milan, exit at Reggio Emilia. Follow the road signs for “Reggio Emilia Centro”, “Sassuolo”, and “Scandiano”.

From the A1 motorway - Bologna, exit at the Modena-Nord, take the Via Emilia towards Milan, and follow the road signs for “Reggio Emilia”, “Rubiera”, and “Scandiano”.

By train: From both the north and south, get off at Reggio Emilia station, then take the local train on the Reggio Emilia-Sassuolo line, or you can take the bus (for information: www.actre.it).

By plane: From Bologna Airport (www.bologna-airport.it), take the train to Reggio Emilia, and from there, take the local train to Scandiano or the A1 motorway. From Milan Airport (www.sea-aeroportimilano.it), take the train to Reggio Emilia, or the A1 motorway.

Scandiano is only a few kilometers from many cities in northern and central Italy: 60km from Bologna, 35 from Parma, 20 from Modena, 13 from Reggio Emilia, 180 from the Adriatic Riviera, 160 from Milan, 90 from Ferrara, 155 from Florence, 75 from Mantua, 100 from Piacenza, 95 from Verona.