Villanova di Castenaso – Castenaso – Budrio – Bagnarola – Granarolo – Minerbio – San martino in Soverzano – Baricella
We leave Bologna taking S. Vitale Street; after few kilometers we find VILLANOVA DI CASTENASO where we visit the beautiful 17th century villa, “Villa Marana”, which is decorated in a wonderful way and is surrounded by a large park.
Five kilometers farther on we arrive in BUDRIO, a village full of history and traditions, with a beautiful historical centre which should be visited. There are several churches among which “S. Lorenzo”, rebuilt in the 18th century by Torreggiani (who was born here). In the interior there are also Gandolfi and Mastelletta’s works. Then we find the “Chiesa del Crocifisso”(the Crucifix Church), which dates back to 1617, “Chiesa di S. Domenico”, Chiesa della Madonna delle Creti, S. Gervasio and Protasio, which is one of the most ancient parish church of the Bolognese province. The Town Library and the Art Gallery are of particular importance as well as the theatre, which is located in the same palace and organizes one of the most prestigious theatre, ballet and opera season in the province. Finally you can’t miss the handicraft shop of “ocarine” the famous terra-cotta instruments invented here last century.
Moving towards Granarolo we arrive in BAGNAROLA, also called “Bolognese Versailles” because of the wonderful group of villas, among which there is “Aurelio Palace”, which dates back to the end of the 16th century and the great “Floriano”, which has got a beautiful eighteenth century north front created by Torreggiani while the south front dates back to the 19th century and was created by the architect Venturoli. The villa still belongs to Malvezzi and it can’t be visited. In the vicinity there is also “Villa Ranuzzi-Cospi”, called also “Palazzo di Sotto”, built in the 18th century and “Palazzo Odorici”, called also “Palazzo di Sopra” which dates back to the 18th century as well. After Bagnarola along the provincial road “S.Donato” we find GRANAROLO where we recommend to visit some important villas: Villa Amelia, which dates back to the 16th century, the neo-classic Villa Lagorio and Villa Minghetti.
We get to another centre MINERBIO. In the historical centre we find the 12th century S. Giovanni Battista’s church, the 12th century Rocca and the beautiful dovecot which seems to be one of Vignola’s works.
We turn off in the South-East of Minerbio and we get to S. MARTINO IN SOVERZANO in order to visit the wonderful Manzoli’s castle, built in the 15th century and restored then at the end of the 19th century by Rubbiani. Before the castle there is a medieval village where we find a very old tavern where it is possible to taste good wines and tasty sausages. Coming back on the provincial road of “S. Donato” we stop at BARICELLA; here we find some interesting buildings among which the “Malcantone” which is probably a former monastery and S. Maria’s parish church where are kept two works of Fancelli’s.
