Malalbergo

In the past it was called Maletum; the opinions on its meaning are divided between unhealthy place and area rich in apple trees. The word Albergo (hostel in Italian) was added to the root Mal for the presence in town of an Hospitale which hosted pilgrims and wayfarers.

An ancient river port on the Navile Canal, Malalbergo no longer has many of the ancient buildings, most of them having been destroyed during the last world war. Among the exceptions are Palazzo Marescalchi, now the Public Library, and not far (in via Selciato) the Casermone, once the seat of the customs house and then of the Napoleonic Gendarmerie, now substantially restructured.

A 14-kilometre cycle-track links Malalbergo with Altedo, the world capital of the Green Asparagus, designed in 2003 as a Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) product. In May, this area becomes the haunt of cuisine-artists and a workshop for taste engineers, the stars of the festival dedicated to the asparagus.

The Green Asparagus of Altedo is protected by a European trademark, but the tortellino is the venerated lord of Bolognese cooking and Malalbergo becomes its ambassador on occasion of the Tortellino Festival in June.

Nature-lovers should take note of the wet zones of the estates, Valle La Comune Natural Reserve, nesting grounds for various species of aquatic birds such as herons, stilt-plovers and black storks.