The church, dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin Mary, was commissioned in the first half of the 15th century, around 1430, by Feltrino Boiardo, first Count of Scandiano. The construction was based on a design by an architect based in Ferrara. In his will, Feltrino Boiardo expressed his wish to be buried here after his death, occurred in 1455. Since then, many feudal lords of Scandiano chose to be laid here to rest in this place. The Count Matteo Maria Boiardo Count formed a congregation of priests in 1497, who conferred this church the title of Pieve, an administrative and territorial entity which included other nearby churches. The church was damaged by bombing in 1945, and it was rebuilt by the then parish priest, Don Albino Rossi.

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.