History of Mirandola

The name Mirandola comes from 'Mirandula' from the Latin mirari (to watch attentively). Historically, this ancient walled city played a very important role because its strategic location, attracting the attention of both the great medieval lords and of the Church State.

In the twelfth century it belonged to the powerful family of Countess Matilda of Canossa (1046-1115) and it was later a secular domain of the Pico Family, very famous in Italy for being the native town of Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494), the eminent humanist with an exceptional memory and culture. Of Lombard origin, the Pico family exercised important offices in Modena and Reggio. During the twelfth century Pico, the founder of the dynasty, was Podestà of Reggio while Francesco Pico was Podestà of Modena in the early fourteenth century. He obtained the fiefdom and the 'Pieve of Quarantoli' from Emperor Henry VII (1275-1313), making Mirandola the capital of the Duchy, dominated by the castle of  the Pico, which was already well established in the early fourteenth century.

The Pico family had a key role in building development of Mirandola, which, between the fourteenth and sixteenth century, was reinforced by massive walls with corner towers and an impressive array of civic and religious buildings like the church of San Francesco (XIV century ), the Cathedral (XV century), Collegiate church (XV century), Municipality Palace (XV century) and others. In the sixteenth century, the Pico were at the centre of important military events; the struggles among noble families for control of the city brought a siege of Pope Julius II (1443-1513), and, after these events the fortifications of Mirandola were greatly strengthened, while the castle was transformed into a Royal Palace. Between the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century the Pico continued to grow ever more, acquiring the titles of Princes and Dukes.

With the Duchy crisis in Italy the economic difficulties combined with waves of plague greatly affected the city and the sights of the Dukes of Ferrara, and led gradually to the descent of Mirandola and the end of the Pico dynasty. Duke Francesco Maria (1661-1689), accused of treason for having handed over Mirandola to the French, was deprived of the duchy by Emperor Charles VI of Habsburg (1685-1740), which was granted instead to the Dukes of Ferrara. With the Estensi there was a clear decline of the duchy and an almost complete end to its urban development - along with a deterioration of the magnificent palaces built by the Pico.

After the Napoleonic age, the city participated in the struggles of the Risorgimento, entering the kingdom of Italy in 1860. Always an agricultural centre of considerable renown, Mirandola today boasts important agro-industries and services affecting the surrounding territory.