Piacenza

Piacenza
Comune
Comune di Piacenza
Francesco Mochi's 1615 equestrian statue of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma, in the city’s main square, Piazza dei cavalli.
Coat of arms
Piacenza Location of Piacenza in Italy
Coordinates: 45°2′52″N 9°42′2″E / 45.04778°N 9.70056°E / 45.04778; 9.70056Coordinates: 45°2′52″N 9°42′2″E / 45.04778°N 9.70056°E / 45.04778; 9.70056
Country	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna
Province / Metropolitan city	Piacenza (PC)
Frazioni	Vallera, San Bonico, Pittolo, La Verza, Mucinasso, I Vaccari, Roncaglia, Montale, Borghetto, Le Mose, Mortizza, Gerbido
Government
• Mayor	Paolo Dosi (PD)
Area
• Total	118.46 km2 (45.74 sq mi)
Elevation	61 m (200 ft)
Population (30 November 2012)
• Total	100,413
• Density	850/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Piacentini
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	29121-29122
Dialing code	0523
Patron saint	Antonino of Piacenza (4 July), Giustina
Website	Official website

Piacenza [pjaˈtʃɛntsa]  listen  (Emilian-Romagnol: Piasëinsa, Latin: Placentia) is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza. Modern forms of the name descend from Latin Placentia. The etymology is long-standing, tracing an origin from the Latin verb , "to please." In French, and occasionally in English, it is called Plaisance. The name means a "pleasant abode", or as James Boswell reported some of the etymologists of his time to have translated it, "comely". This was a name "of good omen."

Piacenza is located at a major crossroads at the intersection of Route E35/A1 between Bologna and Milan, and Route E70/A21 between Brescia and Tortona. Piacenza is also at the confluence of the Trebbia, draining the northern Apennine Mountains, and the Po, draining to the east. Piacenza also hosts two universities, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Polytechnic University of Milan.