Comune di Monzuno

[1] ENGLISH PRESENTATION

Monzuno lies in the heart of the Bolognese Apennines, between the valleys of the Setta, Savena and Sambro streams and marked by the outline of Monte Venere (996 m), one of the main peaks of the area.

The territory extends to about 65 sqkm; the capital hamlet is at an altitude of 632 m. The inhabitants at the end of 2012 are 6.460, gathered in the capital hamlet (about 1.900 inhabitants) and in Vado (about 2.700 inhabitants) and Rioveggio (about 1.000 inhabitants) resorts along the Setta.

The Comune is set in the Region Emilia-Romagna - Province of Bologna

Geoplan Local Map (requires Flash Player)
Monzuno area on Google Maps

HOW TO GET HERE

The territory is crossed by the Bologna-Florence railway, with a Vado-Monzuno station near Vado, at about 20 minutes from Bologna and 40 minutes from Prato.
The capital hamlet and the main resorts are also reached by ATC Bologna public bus transport, and in particular by the extra-urban lines 826 and 827.

Trenitalia website - Railway timetables and online ticket purchase
ATC Bologna website - Travel planner and bus timetables

The Setta Valley is also crossed by the A1 "Del Sole" ("Sun") Motorway, in the section between Bologna and Florence, with a tollgate in Rioveggio and another one in Sasso Marconi, suggested to those reaching Vado from north.

Autostrade per l'Italia website - Motorway Real-time Traffic information

Other roads useful to reach Monzuno from Bologna are the Provincial Road "Val di Setta" (parallel to the motorway) and the "Fondovalle Savena" along the stream with the same name.

HISTORY

The Monzuno area was crucial to control the Apennines along the Middle Ages; unfortunately, little remains preserved from this age. Among the ruins, the Tower of Montorio (resort above Rioveggio), the 16th-century centres of Agadello di Sotto (near Monzuno) and Croci (between Monzuno and Monte Venere), or the 16th-century tower-house Ca' Marsili (near Rioveggio).
The Bolognese Apennines were the stage of fierce battles during World War II, between 1943 and 1945. The Monzuno history is scarred by the Monte Sole slaughter (also known as "Marzabotto Massacre"), the most severe among those carried out by the Germans in Italy, when the Nazi-Fascist troops killed about 800 civilians between September 29 and October 5, 1944. The memory of this event is today preserved by the Historical Park of Monte Sole and by the Peace School Foundation of Monte Sole, of which the Comune of Monzuno is a founder member.

TOURISM

Monzuno is a historical destination of local tourism, and not only local, owing to the relaxing setting of middle Northern Apennines, with oak and chestnut trees and wonderful mountain and hill glimpses, along with the opportunity of tasting the delicacies of the Bolognese culinary tradition.
The territory is crossed by the "Via degli Dei" ("Gods' Route"), a hiker path that crosses the Apennines from Bologna to Florence, reaching also the area of the Contrafforte Pliocenico, around Monte Adone, a geological unique. A network of pedestrian tracks runs across the other Apennines areas.
On the gastronomic level, the area is renowned for high-quality mushrooms and truffles, and for typical dishes of the mountain tradition. To safeguard the local wine and gastronomy, the Comune has established Montagnamica ("Friendly Mountain"), an association taking care in particular of the project "La Via del Pane" ("The Bread Route") for the safeguard of handmade bread, meat, cold cuts and cheese productions.
Besides, Monzuno has an important painting tradition, tied to the names of artists who were born here or stayed here since the second half of the 20th century (like Mario Nanni and Giuseppe Gagliardi), which is kept alive by a rich calendar of cultural events.

Photogallery
Vallibolognesi - Events, accommodation and restaurants in the Apennines
Province of Bologna - Tourism Portal
Emiliaromagnaturismo - Regional Tourism Site

COMUNE MAIN CONTACTS

Municipality of Monzuno - Public Relations Office
Via L. Casaglia 4 - 40036 Monzuno
Ph. +39-51-6773311
Fax +39-51-6770144
E-mail urp@comune.monzuno.bologna.it

Vado Detached Office
Piazza Libertà 8 - 40036 Vado
Ph. +39-51-6779108
Fax +39-51-6778274
E-mail urp.vado@cosea.bo.it