PLACENTIA, a city of the north of Italy, in the government of Parma, and capital of the former dutchy of Placentia. It is situated in a rich and extensive plain, at the confluence of the Po and Trebia. It is a large and handsome town, surrounded with fortifications ; the streets are, in general, broad and regular; the houses and public buildings are mostly constructed of brick ; and many of the ornaments are of the same materials, and have a good effect. Few of the public building are remarkable. In the great square is the town-house, a large building in the Gothic style, with Saxon arches and reticulated brick work. In the same square there are two bronze eques trian statues, which are much admired for their attitude, animation, and drapery. The best of them represents the celebrated Alexander Farnese, who commanded the Spanish army in the wars of the League. The cathedral is an ugly Gothic building, but enriched with many paint ings of great celebrity; and the dome, painted by Guer cino, is admired for the richness of its colouring. Seve ral of the churches are of fine Roman architecture, and adorned with numerous paintings; that of St. Augustine is remarkable for the beautiful proportions of its facade. The religious establishments were formerly very nume rous, but many of them have been suppressed; the cler gy, however, still form a tenth part of the population. The university of Placentia is of no great celebrity. The
theatre, though small, is a handsome and commodious edifice. Placentia is not a trading town; the few manu factures carried on consist chiefly of silk stuffs, woollen, fustian, stockings, and hats. It has given birth to Pope Gregory X. Cardinal Alberoni, the celebrated prime mi nister of Spain, and several other eminent persons. The population is estimated at 15,000. Placentia derives its name, according to Pliny,from the beauty of its situation. It was founded by a Roman colony 219 years before Christ, being the first town that the Romans built in Cisalpine Gaul. Shortly after its foundation Placentia sheltered the remains of the Roman army after the disastrous battle of Trebia, and was afterwards besieged by Hannibal, but without effect. In the war between Otho and Vitellius its spacious and magnificent amphitheatre, which stood without. the walls, was destroyed by fire. It was taken in the sixth century by Totila, after an obstinate siege. On the overthrow of the kingdom of Lombardy, Placentia obtained its liberty, which it enjoyed for a very short pe riod; after having frequently changed masters it was an nexed to Parma. In 1799, a bloody engagement was fought in its neighbourhood between the French and the Russians, under Marshal Suwarrow ; in which the for mer were defeated. North lat. 2' 44". east long. 9° 42' 32".