REGGIO (anc. Rhegium Lepidi), a town of Italy, in the duchy and 15 miles W. of Modena, on the canal of Tassone, leading to the Po. A handsome and well-built though extremely dull town, defended by walls and a castle, it contains a cathedral of the fifteenth century, adorned with marble columns, and containing several monuments by Clementi, as well as his tomb. Another beautiful church is that of Madonna della Ghiara, in the shape of a Greek cross, surmounted by five cupolas, and adorned with
many fresco paintings. Besides many other churches and convents, there are at Reggio a public library of 30,000 volumes, a theatre, Jesuit college, lyceum, and lunatic asylum. Silk and linen fabrics are made here; and various delicately-carved articles in ivory, horn, and wood. The town has an active trade in wine, cattle, and other articles; and a fair held here annually is much frequented. Reggio is celebrated as the birthplace of Ariosto. A house is pointed out by tradition as that where the poet first saw the light, though, according to some, the event must have taken place in the castle. Pop. about 20,000.