Poviglio’s origins are linked to an ancient Roman legend, according to which its founders were two Pupili, meaning two young orphans, who are now represented in the municipal coat of arms by a pair of putti, who lie at the origin of the town’s name. 

This land, inhabited since the 16th-11th century BC, has yielded ten archaeological sites, originating from settlements associated with the culture of the Terramare -Bronze Age villages (from 1650 to 1150 BC) built by a civilization that developed in these lands. The main and most extensively studied of these is the Terramara di Santa Rosa, in the district of Fodico, open to visitors during summer excavations campaigns. The homonymous museum, which exhibits some of the most representative artifacts of these Bronze Age people -such as ceramics, glass paste jewels (pâte de verre), pendants, and bone or bronze tools- is instead accessible all year round. 

The town centre is outlined by its square, named after King Umberto I, which is the heart of Poviglio’s social, economic and cultural life, and is characterized by its modern buildings and structures. The Chiesa di Santo Stefano (a church dedicated to Saint Stephen) is the only edifice that, throughout the centuries, has always come out unscathed from various destructive events. It was erected in the 12th century, and inside it visitors can admire a painting by the artist Carlo Zatti.