|
 |
Tourist Guide - Around Bologna
 MARZABOTTO
The name Marzabotto derives from the words "MARZA BOT" which indicated the casks used to steep the hemp that was widely cultivated in this area until the mid 1900s. The town is located about 25 km south of Bologna along the Via Porrettana, which connects Bologna with the Tuscan Apennines. The town itself lies on the Reno river valley but its large municipal territory extends to another river valley, that of the Setta.
Although the area's history begins with the ancient Etruscan city of Misa, the town obtains a recognizable structure only in the 1700s. The fragmented hill territory, however, tells a different, more complex history, tied to mountain traditions such as that which produced the beautiful Romanesque parish church at Panico.  The history of Marzabotto, however, naturally gives first place to the remains of the Etruscan necropolis found on the Misa plateau, a hilltop position that dominates the immediate countryside, including the modern city. Now home to a National Archeology Museum, the remains at Misa tell the story of a long-ago past in which the Etruscan people and culture were well established in this area. If the Etruscan cemetery represents Marzabotto's ancient past, more recent deaths have made the town infamous for World War Two enthusiasts. In the autumn of 1944, the territory of Marzabotto was the target of a brutal Nazi-fascist retaliation in which hundreds of innocent men, women and children were massacred. To commemorate this tragic event, the community of Marzabotto has created the Historic Park at Monte Sole, a setting that unites the actual sites where the atrocious crimes were committed more than 50 years ago.
IN HALF A DAY
The half-day trip to Marzabotto focuses on the area's principal attractions: the Etruscan Museum P. Aria and the archeological park of ancient Misa that surrounds it. The Acropolis, Necropolis and the city structure allow us to recreate the life of the Etruscans during the 5 th century B.C., an exciting opportunity to "relive" history.
IN ONE DAY
Albeit they are the main reasons to visit the area, the Museum and archeological digs are not the only artistic and cultural options Marzabotto has to offer. After lunch, which may be packed or eaten at a local trattoria, the following sites may be visited: the ancient hamlet of Panico with its splendid 13 th church of S. Lorenzo, the medieval township of Luminoso with its villages Ca' di Zanetti, Rio, La Costa, and Frascarolo, the 16 th century Casamento di Medelana, the Montasico Castle, and many other small hamlets. Alternatively, it is possible to head towards Grizzana where the famous painter Giorgio Morandi spent many years of his life and see first-hand the inspirations for many of his paintings.
COMBINATION
All'itinerario half day a Marzabotto si può abbinare un itinerario half day nella città di Bologna.
TOPICAL TOURS AROUND MARZABOTTO
Monte Sole Park and the Second World War
The tour takes place inside the beautiful Natural Park, touching on the main areas affected by the slaughter, such as the ancient villages of Canaglia di Caparra, San Martino and Carpiano. On the route, the tourist will come across bunkers and trenches as well as houses and churches semi-destroyed by bombs, silent but terrifying witnesses of that brutal tragedy.
|
