Casalecchio - Chiusa Vignola

Casalecchio di Reno

The word reminds of a casale (farm house) nearby the Reno River. The Reno Valley, inhabited since the most ancient times, has always been, since the Etruscan era, an important link between Tuscany and Emilia.

Already an established holiday spot for the Bolognese aristocracy, in 1883 Casalecchio was connected to Bologna by a steam-tram and some places, such as the Caffè Pedretti, became meeting points for the cultural èlite surrounding Giosuè Carducci.

Dominating the town is the Colle della Guardia, with the massive, famous temple of San Luca, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, connected to Bologna by the longest portico in the world. Casalecchio is also directly connected to the Sanctuary by the path of the Brègoli, an ancient mule track which leads walkers and pilgrims through the woods from the Church of San Martino up to the foot of the venerated Byzantine icon of the Madonna of San Luca.

Opposite the Colle della Guardia, across the river, stands the Eremo di Tizzano that offers a notable view over Bologna and the plains.

In Casalecchio, on the River Reno, the first sluice, the Chiusa, was built in the 12th century to deviate some of the water towards the city along the Reno Canal. The sluice is still in function and along the canal, there is a lovely cycle track, allowing a peaceful transit through the greenery to Bologna.

On the right bank of the Reno, stretching over the hills leading up to the Sanctuary of San Luca, there is one of the green "lungs" which surround Bologna, Parco Talon.

Opposite Parco Talon, there is the Lido, where in summer you can sunbathe and relax on the banks of the Reno, on a beach with all the facilities of a genuine seaside resort. The famous Palasport Unipol Arena is a temple of national-level basketball and the venue for many of the region's most important pop concerts.

There are also two notable cultural centres, the "Casa della Conoscenza" and the theatre (Teatro Laura Betti) in piazza del Popolo, built in 1928 as the local seat of the "Casa del Fascio" (Fascism House). The building is graced with a loggia, intended at the time to be used for fencing.

More information

  • Distance from Bologna: 6 Km.
  • Altitude: 50/368 m.
  • Inhabitants: 36.327 (updated January 1st 2016)
  • Market day: Wednesday Patron Saint: San Martino (November 11th)
  • Hamlets: Ceretolo, Croce, San Biagio, Tizzano.

Recurring events

  • Cioccola-ti-amo – Festa del cioccolato (Chocolate festival): second week end of February
  • Festa dei fiori (Flowers' festival): fourth week end of March
  • Mineral Show: March Festa degli aquiloni (Kite festival), Parco Talon: May 1
  • Festa di primavera (Spring festival): first week end of May
  • Reno Folk Festival: last week end of May
  • Cantine aperte (Open Cellars): May 29
  • Festa di strada: Sundays of May and October
  • Ciliegiando (Cherry Festival): second week end of June
  • Cocomer Lido Festival, watermelons at the Lido: July
  • Festa del gelato artigianale (Homemade Icecream Festival): third/fourth week end of July
  • Festa di fine estate (Ending Summer Festival): second week end of September
  • Sapori e Profumi d'Autunno: 2° week end di ottobre
  • ArtEmozioni: 4° week end di novembre

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 Casalecchio di Reno

By car

  • Roads from Bologna: SS 64 (Porrettana) up to Casalecchio di Reno
  • Motorways from Firenze–Milano: A1 Motorway, exit Bologna-Casalecchio di Reno.

By bus

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

  • Bus n. 20 Pilastro-Bologna (from Piazza Malpighi)-Casalecchio
  • Bus n. 86 Piazza Roosvelt-Villa Marulina
  • Bus n. 89 Cà dell'Orbo-Villanova-Bologna (from Via Marconi)-Casalecchio-S.Biagio-Sibano
  • Bus n. 93 Calderino-Bologna-Granarolo-Baricella-Mondonuovo
  • Bus n. 94 - Bologna-Casalecchio-Ceretolo-Futurshow Station
  • Bus n. 671 Bologna-Casalecchio-Bazzano-Vignola
  • Bus n. 686 - Bologna-Calderino-Tolè

By train

From the Bologna Central Station (for information on timetables and fares visit www.fer.it): railway line Bologna-Vignola, Casalecchio di Reno stop.

By plane

The Guglielmo Marconi Airport is about 10 km. from Casalecchio di Reno.
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 Casalecchio di Reno.

Information

Tourist informations about Casalecchio di Reno are provided by the UIT Colli Bolognesi (Tourist Information Office of the Bolognese Hills), located at Villa Garagnani in Zola Predosa. It also provides information on Zola Predosa, Valsamoggia and Monte San Pietro.

UIT Colli Bolognesi c/o Villa Edvige Garagnani
Via Masini 11 - 40069 Zola Predosa
Ph. +39 366 8982707
info@visitcollibolognesi.it
www.visitcollibolognesi.it

Opening times:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 14:30-19:00
  • Saturday 9:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00
  • Closed on Tuesday, Sunday and Holidays

Sportello Polifunzionale Casalecchio di Reno
Toll free number: 800 011 837
Ph: 0039 051 598 111
fax: 0039 051 598 200
semplice@comune.casalecchio.bo.it

Opening times:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8am – 2pm
  • Thursday 11.30am – 6.30pm
  • Saturday 8.30am-12pm