Carpi is a historic city associated mainly as the finish line of the annual Italian Marathon. Enzo Ferrari. It is located on the local market, which is one of the largest Renaissance squares in the country.
The city was founded in the 8th century by the king of the Lombards, Aistulf. It was then that the local castle was built, of which only the ruins have survived, and the church on which the present-day Santa Maria in Castello temple stands. From the 14th century Carpi belonged to the Pio family, and then to one of the most important princely families in Italy, the Este family.
The Old Town is centered around Carpi's greatest attraction, Plaza dei Martiri . It is one of the largest Renaissance markets in Italy. It is surrounded by a 52-column portico and the town hall , which was in the past the palace of the Pio family (Palazzo dei Pio).
At the main square, you can also see the Church of Santa Maria in Castello, built in the 12th century and completely rebuilt in the Renaissance style at the beginning of the 16th century. A brick, 50-meter square belfry rises next to the temple.
