Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry: ICAA

The Istituto di Chimica Agraria ed Ambientale (Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry: ICAA) is part of the Agriculture Faculty of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Piacenza and it was born since the beginning of the Faculty in 1953. The primary scientific and research role of ICAA is to produce high quality scientific advice underpinned by the appropriate national and European research to enable the public to meet social aims.

The Piacenza site of the Università Cattolica (The Catholic university), founded in 1953 with the opening of the Faculty of Agriculture, is a modern university campus whose buildings, including lecture theatres, laboratories, library and sports facilities, are located together in a single area of over 27,000 sq. m., to facilitate students in their daily lives at the university. There are now more than 3,000 students following courses in the four faculties now open: Faculty of Agriculture - degrees in Agricultural Science and Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Education Sciences (opened in 1998). The site is well known abroad as an excellent site for research and education. Jus the standards at a glance: the Università Cattolica in Piacenza has a student/teacher ratio: 11/1 (Italian university average 55/1); student seating in lecture theatres: 1 place for each student (Italian university average 2 students per place); student seating in library: 1 place each 8 students (Italian university average 25 students per place); drop out rate: 20% (Italian university average 67%).

THE TOWN

Piacenza rose on the right bank of the river Po, at a crucial crossroads in the south-west area of the Po Valley. The earliest urban settlement foundation is dated 218 B.C., when Roman soldiers created the colony of "Placentia".
During the Middle Ages the town was ravaged quite a few times, Piacenza fell under the barbarian supremacy and the community became the chief town of a Longobard dukedom.
Around the year 1000 Piacenza had a demographic, civil, and economical renaissance; a great role was played by its strategic location along the Via Francigena. The town became a free municipality in 1126.
In the 12th and 13th two civic emblems were erected: first the Cathedral (1122), then Palazzo Gotico (1281). In 1545 Pope Paul III Farnese created The Dukedom of Parma e Piacenza for his son Pier Luigi.
In 1848 Piacenza was the first town in Italy to join the kingdom of Sardinia with a plebiscite, deserving the name "Primogenita".

THE PROVINCE

Four rivers descend from the Appennines to the main Po river: the Arda, Nure, Trebbia, and Tidone rivers. Their four valleys, Val d’Arda, Valnure, Valtrebbia, and Valtidone are the main body of the province, together with the Po plain to the east of the Via Francigena (now via Emilia).