Palazzo Zambeccari Il Conte, Sala Bolognese - foto d'archivio, 2022

Sala Bolognese

The name Sala seems to relate to the handicraft activity of "sala" (vehicle axles) builders. Sala, also means marsh grass once used to make chairs bottom.

The Romanesque Parish Church of Santa Maria Annunziata and San Biagio alone makes a visit to Sala Bolognese worthwhile. The basilica - temporarily closed - dates back to 1096 and was restored to its original form in 1920. Its Romanesque-Lombard architectural style is a unique example this side of the River Panaro, a natural border which for centuries separated the western part of the region from the eastern with its Lombard influences.

By bicycle, it is possible to visit the numerous small villages, churches and villas spread around the countryside, or reach the banks of the Reno and Samoggia Rivers. Among ruins surrounded by elms and white willows, if you keep your eyes open, perhaps with the help of a good pair of binoculars and some plant and animal handbooks, you can spot many interesting examples of flora and fauna.

In the village of Bagno di Piano, there are many things to visit. The 16th-century Church of San Michele Arcangelo - temporarily closed - contains two important paintings attributed to Crespi and Francia, around which the mysteries of the rosary of the School of Carracci are arranged.

Palazzo Zambeccari (Il Conte) is a beautiful 16th-century building, University's property. It has the traditional four angular towers, a two-flight staircase leads inside, where traces of fresco decorations are still visible. It is a University's property and, at the moment, it can only be seen from the outside. In Villa Minelli, a farm now that offers visitors a wide range of services, it is worth noting the tower, courtyard and the small 18th-century chapel.

Not to be missed is a visit to the water-pumping plant of Bagnetto, which together with the nearby area of ecological restructuring in the Dosolo Basin, is one of the major land reclamation works and hydraulic systems to have permitted cultivation and settlement in this area, once extremely swampy.

In Osteria Nuova, we come to Villa Terracini (18th century), a typical country house of the plains: in its extensive park, there is a lovely example of a "conserva", a sort of natural larder- fridge in use until last century.

More information

  • Distance from Bologna: 18 Km.
  • Altitude: 21/31 m.
  • Inhabitants: 8.353 (updated January 1st 2016)
  • Market day: Friday in Padulle, Tuesday in Osteria Nuova
  • Patron Saint: San Petronio (October 4th)
  • Hamlets: Bagno di Piano, Buonconvento, Osteria Nuova, Padulle and Sala

Recurring events

  • Children's Carnival: in January and in February
  • The Sala Festival: June
  • Puppet-Theatres in parks and gardens, puppet shows: in July and in August
  • Nocturnal Carnival: July
  • Verso Ovest (Towards the West), musical events: July
  • Medieval Evenings: end of August and September
  • Summer of San Martino, events linked to rural culture: November

Guida della provincia di Bologna

The text is taken from

Guide to the province of Bologna - Valley itineraries

Discover the Guide of the province of Bologna

How to get to Sala Bolognese

By car

  • Roads from Bologna: SS 9 Via Emilia, pass Borgo Panigale SP 568 Persicetana, in Tavernelle Emilia turn right towards Sala Bolognese
  • Motorways from Bologna: A14 Motorway, exit Borgo Panigale, take SP 568 Persicetana, in Tavernelle Emilia turn right towards Sala Bolognese from Firenze: A1 Motorway, exit Bologna-Casalecchio, drive along the tangenziale (ringroad), exit number 3, take SP 568 Persicetana, in Tavernelle Emilia turn right towards Sala Bolognese.

By bus

From the Bologna Bus Station, ATC Public Transport Company (for information on timetables and fares visit www.atc.bo.it):

  • Bus n. 81A Bologna-Calderara di Reno-Padulle-Bagno di Piano,
  • Bus n. 91A Calderara di Reno-Padulle-Bagno di Piano.

By train

From the Bologna Central Railway Station (for information on timetables and fares visit www.trenitalia.com): railway line Bologna-San Giovanni in Persiceto-Verona, Osteria Nuova stop, then bus n. 91.

By plane

The Guglielmo Marconi Airport is about 10 km. from Sala Bolognese.
The BLQ Airport shuttle connects every 15-30 minutes the airport to the city centre and to the central station. Piazza XX Settembre stop to get a bus towards Sala Bolognese.

Information

City of Sala Bolognese - Culture Office (Ufficio Cultura)
Address: Piazza Guglielmo Marconi 1 - 40010 Sala Bolognese (BO)
Phone: +39 051 6822535 | +39 051 6822531
cultura@comune.sala-bolognese.bo.it
www.comune.sala-bolognese.bo.it

Opening times:

  • Tuesday 9am-12pm
  • Thursday 3pm-7pm