Piacenza

Piacenza (ancient Placentia), city in northern Italy, capital of Piacenza Province, in Emilia-Romagna Region near the confluence of the Po and Trebbia rivers, on the Lombardy plain. It is a commercial and manufacturing centre, with natural gas and oil-refining facilities, and factories producing cement, processed food, plastics, leather goods, and agricultural implements.

Founded by the Romans in 218 bc, Piacenza has many fine churches, including a cathedral in the Lombard-Romanesque style (1122-1133). During the 12th and 13th centuries it was an important member of the Lombard League. From 1545 to 1731 it was ruled by the Farnese family, which left its imprint on the architecture of the city. Population (1990 estimate) 103,536.