Correlazioni tra geografia fisica e urbanistica antica: il caso della pianura padana centrale. (Correlations between physics geography and ancient urbanistic: The case of Central Padana Plain)

Correlations between physics geography and ancient urbanistic: the case of Central Padana Plain. The Roman expansion in the Pianura Padana (Po Plain) started in the last quarter of the 3rdcentury B.C. At first the Flaminia Road was built from Rome to Rimini to facilitate the travel to that plain (220 a.C.). At a later time (218 a.C.) the Romans built two colonies at the sites of the present towns of Cremona and Piacenza. These sites are at the centre of the Pianura Padana respectively on the north and south bank of the Po River. The chosen locations illustrate the skillfulness of the ancient Romans in interpreting the physical geography to find the best places for their purposes. Both colonies were placed near two of the easier river crossings and they were located near the limit of the terraces. Their planning was adapted to the landscape and use was also made of the scarps for defensive purposes. These landscape characteristics continued to influence the development of the sites throughout the medieval and later times, with variations dictated by historical conditions and development of new technologies. Pavia is another Roman colony of the 1stcentury B.C. and had a similar evolution to Cremona and Piacenza. It was located on an alluvial terrace near the confluence of the Ticino and Po rivers. The local landscape influenced both the original settlement plan and the subsequent urban expansion. Analyzing the history of these towns and their relationship with the landscape we can find out some common elements that identify an urban model typical of the central area of the Pianura Padana.