Historical places
The history
The area in which the Regional Park of Monteveglio Abbey is located has always been a border between the territories of Modena and Bologna. Dating back to the time of the wars between the Lombard and Byzantine empires, the Panaro-river was the border between these empires. Later, at the time of wars for the political and spiritual power between The Pope and the Emperor, it kept having this role as a border of regions, and even during the Late Middle Ages between the city-states of Modena and Bologna. Still this territory keeps the signs of this turbulent past with the many towers, castles and fortresses present in the hilly landscape.
Excursions
Medieval cottage of Monteveglio, Monteveglio castle and abbey
Duration: half day
The antique medieval cottage of Monteveglio was the property of the Canossa counts and nowadays is one of the most beautiful and well- preserved Italian country towns. Today the main entrance to the cottage is trough the ruins of the impressive castle of the 1300ds, actually born as a fort: castrum in Latin language. A street with pebbles, lined by old houses, leads to the Santa Maria Assunta abbey, an example of Romanic architecture, that keeps an old baptisimal font in stone of the Lonbard time. The visit to the church will also give the opportunity to admire the internal courtyard that brings you to the monastery of the Franciscan monks.
Vignola fortress
Duration: half day
Vignola fortress was built on a river side cliff of calcareous rock (commonly called “tuff”). This fortress has been a protagonist many times during the most important historical moments of the Panaro River. The ancient and impressive structure contains underground catacombs, rooms at the ground level, first and second floor, surrounding stones walls, towers and many walkways. Going trough the many rooms, towers and chapels (wonderfully decorated with frescos) the visitor can admire the final building obtained after many reconstruction steps, first by the Grassoni family and later by the Contrari family, transforming this initial fortress in an important nobles’ residence and an attractive point for artists, musicians, writers and politicians.
Castello di Serravalle
Duration: half day
Many elements still nowadays present in this city are remembering its history. Walking on the 486 meters of walls of the antique castle it is possible to admire the old buildings in stones as the arch of the main entrance door, a big trapezoidal tower called Cassero and the city hall from the XIIIth century.
A look from Castello di Serravalle on the hilly landscape that surround it, will open up to a beautiful baroque church of 1774 of S. Apollinare built in the river Ghiaia-Park area.
Bazzano fortress
Duration: half day
The guided tour in Bazzano will bring the visitors to the Bentivoglio fortress. The date of its construction is unfortunately not known. Probably the building was born as a fort: castrum in Latin language, a light fortified structure that in the years has been strongly reinforced, becoming a real fortress. During the history the fortress has been completely destroyed in the 1250, rebuilt and again fortified; at the end transformed in a noble’s residence by Giovanni II Bentivoglio, nobleman of the city until 1506. The evolution of the building from castum to fortress and at the end to noble residence are evident from the presence of towers, strong walls, the extra rooms added to the main building, courts, paintings and other different kind of decorations.
The mill called “Mill of the Doctor”
Duration: half day
The mill of the doctor is a building of the seventeen century, built with river stones and in which there is an old mill with millstones. The water taken from the Venola stream is collected in a basin, and drives the millstones trough an antique turbine. During the tour it will be possible to view the grinding of the cereals, the sieving of the flour and its transformation in fragrant bread cooked on a wooden fire. In the small shop next-door it is possible to buy the flour of the mill, biscuits and other local products.
