Crespino
The town of the Phaeton myth
Known mainly for the legend of the Myth of Phaeton, Crespino appears to have roots in Roman times.
The horses bolted, now flying too high, so as to burn part of the sky, transforming it into the Milky Way, now too low, burning part of the Earth and thus creating the desert of Libya. The mere mortals, terrified by all that turmoil, asked Jupiter for help. Obviously, the father of gods got furious and hurled one of his thunderbolts mercilessly at them. Phaeton fell into the Po River, known at the time as Eridanus, exactly between Crespino and Alfonsine. The Heliads, sisters of the mourned deceased, started weeping inconsolably. Jupiter then, to ease their distress, to me also his hearing, turned them into poplars and their tears into amber.
The town was part of the Estense territory and Papal States until the end of the 18th century. The centre of Crespino boasts a beautiful parish Church dedicated to the saints Martin and Severus, built in the 18th century. Inside you can admire a 16th century baptistery and a painting by Benvenuto Tisi which represents the Virgin Mary with Child and Saints.
The horses bolted, now flying too high, so as to burn part of the sky, transforming it into the Milky Way, now too low, burning part of the Earth and thus creating the desert of Libya. The mere mortals, terrified by all that turmoil, asked Jupiter for help. Obviously, the father of gods got furious and hurled one of his thunderbolts mercilessly at them. Phaeton fell into the Po River, known at the time as Eridanus, exactly between Crespino and Alfonsine. The Heliads, sisters of the mourned deceased, started weeping inconsolably. Jupiter then, to ease their distress, to me also his hearing, turned them into poplars and their tears into amber.
The town was part of the Estense territory and Papal States until the end of the 18th century. The centre of Crespino boasts a beautiful parish Church dedicated to the saints Martin and Severus, built in the 18th century. Inside you can admire a 16th century baptistery and a painting by Benvenuto Tisi which represents the Virgin Mary with Child and Saints.
Among the noteworthy manors and palaces are Villa dei Principi Pio (dating back to the second half of the 17th century), Villa Sarti Savonarola, now Gianesini, and Villa Tisi.
The Museo delle Acque (museum of water), opened in 2004, through a series of artefacts, tells how daily activities were carried out along the rivers and waterways, from fishing to the work in the floating water mills, from prevention during the periods of river flooding to the reconstructions after the 1951 flood. The museum is open on Sundays from September to mid- December (including the 8th of December and the 6th of January, excluding the 24th, 25th and 31st of December) from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. On the first Sunday of the month also from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. From March to mid- June (closed on Easter, open on Easter Monday) open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. On the first Sunday of the month, it is open from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. It is open upon reservation on all other days.
The Museo delle Acque (museum of water), opened in 2004, through a series of artefacts, tells how daily activities were carried out along the rivers and waterways, from fishing to the work in the floating water mills, from prevention during the periods of river flooding to the reconstructions after the 1951 flood. The museum is open on Sundays from September to mid- December (including the 8th of December and the 6th of January, excluding the 24th, 25th and 31st of December) from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. On the first Sunday of the month also from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. From March to mid- June (closed on Easter, open on Easter Monday) open from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. On the first Sunday of the month, it is open from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. It is open upon reservation on all other days.
