Bentivoglio - Museo della civilta contadina

Bentivoglio

In the Middle Ages it was known as Ponte Poledrano, being the place where "puledri" (young horses) crossed the bridge over the Navile Canal.

Bentivoglio has been influenced by the Navile Canal, crossing all the area, and by the Castle, built here by the Bentivoglio Family at the end of the 15th century.

The Navile Canal runs gently through the town centre and is closely linked to the history and evolution of the territory. From the 12th century the canal has carried the Reno water from the Gate of Casalecchio to Malalbergo and was even used as a system of transport connection. Still in 1930 the canal was used to carry rice from the Bentivoglio ricefields to Bologna.

The Castle was built by the Bentivoglio Family, as a vacation house named "Domus Jocunditatis", created as a place for enjoyment hunting with dogs and falcons.

Overlooking the Navile Canal, there is Palazzo Rosso, today the local library. Built by Carlo Alberto Pizzardi in 1897, it has splendid decorations by Augusto Sezanne, showing scenes typical of the local swampy areas; a decorative masterpiece, the Zodiac Room is one of the greatest examples of Ars Aemilia. Since October 2014 it's possible to visit the impressive Mulino di Bentivoglio, a masterpiece of the Bolognese industrial archaeology.

In the nearby area of San Marino di Bentivoglio, it is well worth visiting the Museo della Civiltà Contadina, a truly unique experience for the richness of documents collected and their systematic organisation.

Nature-lovers should not miss the Oasi La Rizza, with its white storks.

Traces of the ancient cultivation and elaboration of hemp still remain in the territory in the form of "maceri" (small artificial basin similar to rectangular pools). The most interesting example of that is in Via Santa Maria in Duno, after the dirt road for Cinquanta.

In the gastronomical history of the territory, the name of Bentivoglio is linked to the legends about the invention of tagliatelle (flat pasta ribbons), one of which says that they are inspired to Lucrezia Borgia's blonde hair.

More information

  • Distance from Bologna: 17 Km.
  • Altitude: 11/26 m. Inhabitants: 5.469 (updated January 1st 2016)
  • Market day: Friday
  • Patron Saint: Santissima Maria Ausiliatrice (May 24th)
  • Hamlets: Saletto, San Marino, Castagnolo Minore, Santa Maria in Duno

Recurring events

  • Farmers' Market, at the Museo della Civiltà Contadina of Villa Smeraldi: from the end of May to the end of October, first, third and fifth Sunday.
  • Festa dei sapori (Flavour Festival): end of May Castello in festival, at the Bentivoglio Castle: beginning of June
  • Festa della mietitura e della trebbiatura (Harvesting and Threshing Festival), at the Museo della Civiltà Contadina: end of June
  • San Marino in festa: first Saturday of September
  • Festival Internazionale di Musica da Camera (International Festival of Chamber Music): September and October
  • Museo della Civiltà Contadina (Museum of Rural Culture): guided visits every Sunday.

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 Bentivoglio

By car

  • Roads from Bologna: SS 64 Porrettana towards Ferrara, turn left near Corticella. At the crossroad, after the bridge upon the A13, turn right onto SP 45 Via di Saliceto and keep on going up to Bentivoglio Motorways from Bologna: A13
  • Motorway, exit Bologna-Interporto, take SP 3 Trasversale di Pianura, get onto SP 45 Via Saliceto and go on to Bentivoglio

By bus

From the Bologna bus station, TPER public transport company (information on timetables and fares www.tper.it)

  • Bus n. 376 Bologna-Bentivoglio-Saletto
  • Bus n. 95 Bologna-Funo-Centergross-Interporto-Bentivoglio-Saletto
  • Bus n. 377 Bologna-Z.I Saliceto-Bentivoglio-Saletto
  • Bus n. 378 Bologna-Centergross-Interporto

By train

From the Bologna Central Station (for information on timetables and fares visit www.trenitalia.com): railway line Bologna-Ferrara-Venezia, San Giorgio di Piano stop. Pronto Bus di Pianura (TPER bus) towards Bentivoglio.

By plane

The Guglielmo Marconi Airport is about 25 kms. Bentivoglio.
The Aerobus BLQ 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 Piazza XX Settembre stop to get a bus towards Bentivoglio.

Information

URP - Public Relations Office
Address: Piazza dei Martiri per la Libertà, 2 - 40010 Bentivoglio (BO)
Ph. +39 051 6643511
urp@comune.bentivoglio.bo.it
www.comune.bentivoglio.bo.it


Timetable:

  • Mon, Wed, Fri 8:30-12:30
  • Tue, Thu 14:30-18:00