DOZZA
The town of Dozza is located about 15 km east of Bologna on the gentle slopes of the Bolognese hills. Cobbled side streets and an imposing medieval castle make Dozza one of the region's most picturesque towns; add uncontaminated natural surroundings and it becomes a fascinating tourist attraction well off the beaten path.
The name "Dozza" derives from the word "doccia" (shower, water), which is paradoxical considering the town is best known for, and has made its fortune with, the quality wine it has produced for centuries.
Although the site has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, the city structure we admire today originated in the 13th century.
Dozza is famous not only for its beautiful historic buildings and high quality wine but also for its biennial modern art festival the "Painted Wall". Every two years internationally known artists meet here to "decorate" the streets and houses of the city center. Established in 1960, this initiative has made Dozza "the capital of the modern fresco".
The "Painted Wall" is Italy's only example of an open-air modern art gallery and contains more than 90 works that can be viewed all year long at no charge. This little-known gem features such renowned artists as Matta, Sassu, Licata, Pozzati, Keizo, Tornquist, Mascellani and many others.
This open-air gallery is eclectic by choice; therefore, walking down the city center's narrow streets, it is possible to see examples of Neorealism, Neoexpressionism, Pop Art, Conceptual Art, Abstract Art, Neoplasticism, and Fantasy/Surrealism. Adding to Dozza's artistic patrimony is the Painted Wall Gallery, which contains drafts of all the frescos from every edition of the show, as well as "removed murals" of the more prestigious works. The Gallery is located inside the town's superb castle.
Guided tours may be organized to the historic center, the Castle, and the Art Gallery or even to the numerous wineries to be found in the surrounding area. Learn more about Dozza...
...HALF DAY (approx. 2 hours)
This tour takes full advantage of what Dozza has to offer, allowing the visitor to discover the medieval town, the ancient Romanesque church of Santa Maria, and most of all, the 13th century fortress, rebuilt in the late 15th century by Caterina Sforza. The castle's rooms retain much of their original flavour: halls, bedrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and the terrifying dungeons where you can still see the graffiti written by its unfortunate inmates. On a lighter note, a visit to the castle also includes the Modern Art Gallery and the Enoteca where it is possible to taste and purchase the superior local wines.
...FULL DAY
After lunch, which may be enjoyed in one of the historic center's characteristic restaurants, the tour continues with a visit to one or more of the numerous wineries located on the hills just outside Dozza that produce and sell their wines directly to the public. This itinerary gives the visitor the chance not only to learn about and appreciate this excellent product but also to discover the natural environment and centuries-old tradition upon which it is based.
...COMBINATION
It is also possible to combine a half-day trip to Dozza with a half-day tour in Bologna.
FOOD AND DRINK TOURS
It is also possible to combine a half-day trip to Dozza with the following food tours:
 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. Learn more about Marzabotto...
...HALF DAY (approx. 2 hours)
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 5th century B.C., an exciting opportunity to "relive" history.
...FULL 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 13th church of S. Lorenzo, the medieval township of Luminoso with its villages Ca' di Zanetti, Rio, La Costa, and Frascarolo, the 16th 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
It is also possible to combine a half-day trip to Marzabotto with a half-day tour in Bologna.
ITINERARIES NEAR 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 Capara, 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.
MONTEVEGLIO
Beautifully situated on the foothills of the Bolognese Apennines, near the ancient Castle Road approximately 20 km west of Bologna, Monteveglio is one of the region's most beguiling medieval townships.
The area has long been a zone of contention - between Romans and Byzantines, Byzantines and Longobards, the Church and State, Bologna and Modena - and the town's thick walls bear the imprint of these cultures and their conquests. Some of the conflicts have an epic flavor, such as those between Mathilda and the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, a dispute that brought this humble town to the forefront of European history.
No man's land, in between the provinces of Bologna and Modena, Monteveglio today offers superb natural beauty (it is located inside the Regional Park "dell'Abbazia") and great historical interest, a must-see tourist attraction far from the madding crowd.
The peace and serenity that this spot naturally inspires convinced the Bologna Curia to install a Franciscan community in the monastery and the church of Santa Maria, breathing new life into the region.
The abbey as it appears today is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, but its roots lie as far back as the 5th century, as testified by the suggestive, ancestral crypt. The reconstruction effected by Mathilda of Canossa in 1000 A.D. is the building we see today in all its austere splendor. It is impossible to remain unaffected by its peaceful cloisters, beautiful scenery, and imposing towers. Don't miss this historical and in many ways mystical experience. Learn more about Monteveglio...
...HALF DAY (approx. 2 hours)
The tour allows the tourist to discover the medieval hamlet: the impressive entrance gate to the castle, the imposing crenellated tower, the oratory of San Rocco & San Sebastian, the massive bell tower, the ancient house of San Bernadette and naturally the Abbey itself with its cloisters and adjacent church of Santa Maria Assunta.
The town and monastery are rendered even more suggestive by the uncontaminated nature of the surrounding Natural Park of Monteveglio.
...FULL DAY
After lunch, which may be packed or eaten at the characteristic restaurant inside the village, the visitor may choose to visit one of the numerous surrounding wineries, or a local cheese maker to see how the famous Parmigiano Reggiano is made, or even tour a traditional balsamic vinegar plant, seeing as Monteveglio lies on the border with Modena.
Alternatively, the afternoon may be spent visiting the nearby castles at Bazzano or Vignola.
...COMBINATION
It is also possible to combine a half-day trip to Monteveglio with a half-day tour in Bologna.
ITINERARIES NEAR MONTEVEGLIO
Castles and Watchtowers - Medieval Defense Systems in the Valleys: the area between the Lavino and Samoggia river valleys was the scene of many battles from the eleventh to the fourteenth century, most of which were waged in order to gain possession of the region's castles, towers and fortified towns that constituted the vital nerve centers of the territory. The tour touches on many towns whose contemporary peacefulness belies their bellicose pasts: San Teodoro, Monteveglio, Monte Freddo, Castello di Serravalle, Palazzo Boccadiferro, Castelletto, Zapponino, Ca' Casini, Venerano, La Stella, Ca' Casella, Castello di Mongiorgio, Badia, San Chiurlo, Monte San Giovanni, Ca' Rossa, Ca' Bertù, Cuzzano, Tintoria, Monte Mauro, Tiola, Pieve di Samoggia, Villa, Castello di Samoggia, and San Prospero.
Pilgrim's Progress: The Churches, Chapels and Abbeys of the Valleys: ecclesiastic ties - through the Dioceses and parish churches - were often used to manage the territory between the Lavino and Samoggia river valleys. The tour follows the complex knit of this religious organization and includes not only churches and chapels, but also all the infrastructure that was necessary to provide the pilgrim with safe passage to and from Rome: San Lorenzo in Collina, San Giovanni Battista, San Cristoforo, Santa Maria Assunta di Fagnano, Santa Maria Assunta di Monteveglio, Sant'Apollinare a Castelletto, San Michele Arcangelo a Tiola, Pieve di San Giorgio, Oratorio di Santa Maria del Pruno, Santa Maria di Merlano, San Matteo a Savigno, San Biagio a Ca' dell'Oste, Oratorio di Santa Croce, San Prospero, Oratorio della SS: Trinità, Monastero della Badia, Chiesa di San Chiurlo, and San Giovanni Battista a Monte San Giovanni.
Apennine Architecture: Rural Buildings, Tower-Houses, Fortified Houses: from the Middle Ages to post World War Two, the shapes, colors and styles of rural architecture have marked the Apennine scenery, becoming a vital part of its landscape. The use of "natural" construction materials, such as stone and wood, has necessarily created strong ties with the environment. It was the knowledge of the "Comacini Masters" (from Como) that sparked the sudden evolution of constructive art from 1000 to 1500. A few buildings that bear their symbolic signature are still standing today. The tour will touch on the primary architectural styles, from noble villas to the common people's houses, from residential structures to factories: Borgo di Monteveglio, la Casa dell'Ebreo ad Oliveto, Ca' Rossa, Chiesa di Maiola, Cavezzano, Tintoria, Corano, Roncaschiera, Ca' Maselli, Molino del Dottore, Borgo di Rodiano, Vedegheto, Venola, Ca' D'Anino, Ca' del Dottore, Gavignano, La Villa, Casella, Palazzo del Paleotto, Torre di La Guarda, and Castagneto.
SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA
Located just a few kilometers east of Bologna, the small town of San Lazzaro has been inhabited since Paleolithic times, as documented by its excellent archeological museum. San Lazzaro truly came into its own, however, during the Middle Ages when it became a strategic watering place on the roman "Via Emilia", an obligatory stop for those traveling from south to north.
The town's name derives from the presence of a leper hospital that once stood in the area now occupied by the town hall.
History and wars have not been kind to San Lazzaro; it retains almost none of its past charm. Not far from the town, however, is the extraordinary park "dei Gessi Bolognesi" which contains valuable historical, artistic, architectural artifacts in a setting of spectacular natural beauty. Of particular interest is the Karsts system Spipola-Acquafredda, one of the world's largest gypsum caves, an obligatory stop for lovers of Nature and adventure. Learn more about San Lazzaro di Savena...
... HALF DAY (3 hours)
The tour begins with a visit to the excellent local Museum of Archeology L. Donini, recently renovated with an eye to innovation and interaction, providing the visitor with a fascinating introduction to the subject. After the museum, the tour continues by foot in the Natural Park with visits to the Santa Cecilia Abbey in Croara, the "Palestrina", an ancient selenite mine dating from Roman times, the quarry at Filo where many of the artifacts on display at the museum were recovered, the oratory of the Madonna of the Forests, and a medieval castle.
...FULL DAY
After lunch, which may be packed or eaten in a local trattoria, the tour may be continued with visits to some of the nearby noble villas and their beautiful gardens, or by visiting the suggestive crypt at Vangnana or the enchanting Abbey of M. Armato. An unusual choice for the afternoon might be a visit to the Memorial War Museum. Dedicated to WWII, this museum contains an open-air exhibit of tanks, vehicles, airplanes and armory; the showpiece of the collection, however, is the reconstruction, complete with sounds, lights and other special effects, of a hill-town unfortunate enough to lie on the famous "Gothic line" and the battles it endured. Watching the show, the visitor relives those events first-hand in an unforgettable experience.
...COMBINATION
It is also possible to combine a half-day trip to San Lazzaro with a half-day tour in Bologna.
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