Ghedi (Brescian: Ghét) is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on November 24, 2001.

Ghedi
Ghét
Città di Ghedi
The Ghedi's city hall.
The Ghedi's city hall.
Coat of arms of Ghedi
Location of Ghedi
Map
Ghedi is located in Italy
Ghedi
Ghedi
Location of Ghedi in Italy
Ghedi is located in Lombardy
Ghedi
Ghedi
Ghedi (Lombardy)
Coordinates: 45°24′N 10°17′E / 45.400°N 10.283°E / 45.400; 10.283[1]
CountryItaly
RegionLombardy
ProvinceBrescia (BS)
FrazioniBelvedere, Ponte Rosso
Government
 • MayorFederico Casali
Area
 • Total60 km2 (20 sq mi)
Elevation
85 m (279 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2011)[3]
 • Total19,012
 • Density320/km2 (820/sq mi)
DemonymGhedesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
25016
Dialing code030
Patron saintSt. Roch
Saint dayAugust 16
WebsiteOfficial website

Ghedi is known for a base of the Italian Air Force, Ghedi Air Base. It was also the site of the Palazzo Orsini, now demolished, a c.1515 doorway from which survives in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.[4]

Geography edit

Climate edit

Ghedi experiences a four-season humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa).[5]

Climate data for Ghedi, Italy (1991-2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.9
(67.8)
21.4
(70.5)
27.3
(81.1)
30.6
(87.1)
35.3
(95.5)
36.2
(97.2)
38.2
(100.8)
38.4
(101.1)
33.3
(91.9)
29.0
(84.2)
22.8
(73.0)
16.4
(61.5)
38.4
(101.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 6.44
(43.59)
9.36
(48.85)
14.76
(58.57)
18.84
(65.91)
23.84
(74.91)
27.98
(82.36)
30.49
(86.88)
30.19
(86.34)
25.2
(77.4)
18.59
(65.46)
11.83
(53.29)
6.77
(44.19)
18.69
(65.65)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.28
(36.10)
4.16
(39.49)
9.02
(48.24)
13.15
(55.67)
18.12
(64.62)
22.44
(72.39)
24.59
(76.26)
24.18
(75.52)
19.42
(66.96)
13.84
(56.91)
8.09
(46.56)
2.96
(37.33)
13.52
(56.34)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.24
(29.77)
−0.47
(31.15)
3.47
(38.25)
7.58
(45.64)
12.42
(54.36)
16.76
(62.17)
18.66
(65.59)
18.35
(65.03)
14.18
(57.52)
9.66
(49.39)
4.60
(40.28)
−0.3
(31.5)
8.64
(47.55)
Record low °C (°F) −10.1
(13.8)
−14.0
(6.8)
−9.3
(15.3)
−2.5
(27.5)
−0.4
(31.3)
6.0
(42.8)
10.3
(50.5)
9.0
(48.2)
4.2
(39.6)
−5.8
(21.6)
−6.7
(19.9)
−15.2
(4.6)
−15.2
(4.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 51.19
(2.02)
48.55
(1.91)
49.97
(1.97)
75.67
(2.98)
89.36
(3.52)
76.24
(3.00)
66.41
(2.61)
74.89
(2.95)
91.23
(3.59)
112.17
(4.42)
102.48
(4.03)
67.48
(2.66)
905.64
(35.66)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.53 5.27 5.27 8.37 9.13 7.4 5.1 5.33 6.53 7.9 9.1 6.77 81.7
Average relative humidity (%) 82.19 76.2 70.19 69.39 67.93 67.66 67.57 67.77 69.12 77.22 82.86 84.51 73.55
Average dew point °C (°F) 0.01
(32.02)
0.46
(32.83)
3.47
(38.25)
7.25
(45.05)
11.33
(52.39)
15.18
(59.32)
17.29
(63.12)
17.09
(62.76)
13.33
(55.99)
10.36
(50.65)
5.96
(42.73)
1.08
(33.94)
8.57
(47.42)
Source: ncei.noaa.gov[6]

History edit

The town has been founded during the Early Middle Ages by the Longobards, as a small village defended by a fortified enclosure. This area is called Castle of Ghedi, in which arose the ancient Early Christian church, some small shacks and, since the High Middle Ages, the town hall. During the 14th century, the construction of structures outside the walls began and were formed four suburbs: Bazzina, Gazzolo, Borgonuovo and Malborgo.

The town, due to its location and its citadel, soon gained much strategic importance and, on August 15, 1453, it was the theater for the Battle of Ghedi, between Republic of Venice and Duchy of Milan. However, the Milanese victory, after the Treaty of Lodi Ghedi has been retaked by the Serenissima.[clarify] During this century, in the town opened a Franciscan convent (1465). In 1498, Venice granted in fief the town to Niccolò Orsini, count of Pitigliano and of Nola and commander of the Venetian army, which commanded to erect Palazzo Orsini and to place a funeral monument in the convent's church.

Due to the development of increasingly powerful weapons, during the 16th century, Ghedi and its castle lost their strategic importance, and the town began to decline. During the 18th century, Palazzo Orsini, in state of decay, collapsed; its access portal was bought by the Victoria and Albert Museum of London, where it is still located. In the same century, the Niccolò Orsini's funeral monument was bought by Santa Giulia Museum, where it is still located.

During the 20th century, Ghedi experienced economic growth, favored by construction of the Train Station (1893) and of the Ghedi Air Base (1909). In this period, the Cotonificio del Mella cotton mill opened with around 500 workers and became the largest factory in the town.[7]

Sources edit

  1. ^ "The World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  2. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ ISTAT Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Doorway". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  5. ^ Climate Summary for Ghedi, Italy
  6. ^ "eteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Brescia Ghedi-16088" (CSV). ncei.noaa.gov (Excel). National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  7. ^ "GHEDI (2)". enciclopediabresciana.it.

External links edit

See also edit