San Polo d’Enza is located in the Matildic area southwest of Reggio Emilia.
San Polo d'Enza is an important communication centre between the Reggio Emilia and Parma areas and between the plain and the Apennines; its name derives partly from St. Polo, to whom a chapel was dedicated, and partly from the Enza, the river touching the municipality’s borders.
It was inhabited in ancient times, as showed by the important Etruscan settlement of Servirola (around 1 km north of today’s inhabited area) and it is assumed that the town was established by the Etruscans maybe in the 5th century b.C. The ancient name of San Polo, "Plebs de Caviliano", was first mentioned in a certificate of Emperor Ottone II dated October 14, 980. In 1070 it passed from the Church of Reggio Emilia to the dominion of Marquis Bonifacio di Canossa, then in the subsequent centuries to the Visconti and Este families and, in the 17th century, to the Gherardini family.
The ancient restored castle, that hosts the Town Hall with a medieval entrance into the village, is a perfect example of the very ancient history of San Polo d’Enza.
In the partly-walled village are the Fallen Giant, modern tribute to the Resistance, and the parish church. On a hill towards Quattro Castella stands the Montefalcone convent, now under restoration, and, in the north of the village, the ancient Caviano parish church.
In the hill area of San Polo d’Enza towards Canossa is the Grassano village, with its traditional stone-shaped houses.
The ancient Fortress, built in the 11th century, derives from the transformation of the castle into a noble residence; it now hosts the municipal offices and the Museum of the Resistance. Through a medieval entrance to the town centre, it is a spectacular example of the ancient history of the town built around it, on the banks of the Enza river.
August Fair - last weekend: evening concerts, theatre performance, beer and street food, activities and events, kids' area, amusement park.
Sesto Rocchi Festival - first week of September: concerts and lessons in all public spaces of the city, masterclasses with teachers, evening concerts by internationally renowned artists, children and amateur musicians.
Grape Festival - third weekend of September: dinner with an autumn menu, shows and music, grape treading, hobby stands, vintage tractors, kids' area.
The former Franciscan convent Montefalcone, now unfortunately abandoned, stands on a hill towards Quattro Castella and, north of the town, the ancient parish Church of Caviano.
Worth mentioning in the hillside of the town, on the road to Canossa, is the hamlet of Grassano, with traditional stone houses.
