Voghera

Not to be confused with Voghiera.
Voghera
Comune
Città di Voghera

The Cathedral of Voghera.

Coat of arms

Voghera within the Province of Pavia
Voghera

Location of Voghera in Italy

Coordinates: 44°59′33″N 09°00′33″E / 44.99250°N 9.00917°E / 44.99250; 9.00917Coordinates: 44°59′33″N 09°00′33″E / 44.99250°N 9.00917°E / 44.99250; 9.00917
Country Italy
Region Lombardy
Province / Metropolitan city Pavia (PV)
Frazioni Medassino, Oriolo, Valle, Torremenapace, Campoferro
Government
 • Mayor Sergio Pomponio (special commissioner)
Area
 • Total 63 km2 (24 sq mi)
Elevation 96 m (315 ft)
Population (1 January 2015)
 • Total 39,400
 • Density 630/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Vogheresi or Iriensi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 27058
Dialing code 0383
Patron saint San Bovo
Saint day First Friday before Ascension
Website Official website
The Castle of Voghera in a 19th-century etching.

Voghera (Vogherese dialect of Emilian: Vughera; Latin: Forum Iulii Iriensium) is a town and comune of 39400 people located in Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Pavia. It is the third town in the province by population, after Pavia and Vigevano. It is located 30 km south-southwest of that city, on the Staffora (a tributary of the Po).

It is the main town of Oltrepò Pavese, and is an important rail and road hub as well as a renowned wine and manufacturing center.

History

Known in ancient times as Iria, it took its name from the river on which it was situated. It was on the road from Piacenza to Dertona, and was made a colony by Augustus (colonia Forum Iulium Iriensium).

In the 1st century CE it was destroyed by the Rugii, and it is next mentioned as Viqueria (contracted from vicus Iriae, Iria's village) in the 10th century. After several lordships, it was acquired by the House of Savoy in 1743 with the Concordat of Worms. Five years later it became provincial capital and received the city status.

In 1800 it was occupied by the troops of Napoleon, who set his headquarters in the Palazzo Dattili for the battle of Montebello. In 1805 it became part of the département of Genoa; after the French defeat in 1814, it was captured by the Austrians, who handed it over to the Piedmontese. In 1860 it was included in the province of Pavia.

During World War II, owing to its strategic position on the roads Milan-Genoa and Turin-Bologna, it was heavily bombed by the Allies.

On May 31, 1962, it was the location of a railway disaster that killed 62 people.

Main sights

The Historic Museum houses, among the others, the personal A112 car of General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, killed by the Mafia in 1982, and the weapon that allegedly killed Benito Mussolini.

Transport

Voghera railway station, opened in 1858, forms part of the Alessandria–Piacenza railway, and is also an important node of the railway from Milan to Genoa. Due to its strategic position, the station is an important trading node, and one of the major railway stations in Italy's north-west.

The term "Voghera housewife" (Casalinga di Voghera) is often used in the media, political discourse and even in common parlance as a reference to the average, stereotypical, somewhat lower-middle class person, voter or consumer. It is not a disparaging term, but refers to an average person who - despite not being very educated or sophisticated - with hard work and self-sacrifice is trying to raise a family as best as possible.

Notable people

Twin cities

Notes

    See also

    References

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