ANZOLA EMIILIA - Bologna
Driving Guide of ANZOLA DELL’EMILIA
Anzola dell’Emilia is an Emilian municipality of 12,260 inhabitants in the province of Bologna. Its ancient name was Unciola, which probably derives from the ancient tradition of dividing the land into ounces; following the Unification of Italy, the appellation "dell’Emilia" was added to distinguish it from the similarly named town in the Val d’Ossola.
Due to its favorable geographical location, this area has been inhabited since the Villanovan and Etruscan periods, and there are documents that later attest to the presence of Romans as well; however, the first proper reference to Anzola dates back to 888 and concerns the Benedictine monastery of San Martino.
Due to its proximity to the city of Bologna, just 13 kilometers away, Anzola has always been under the control of the city, aligning itself with it from the time of the League of Lombardy battles to the conflicts between Guelphs and Ghibellines and the war against the Visconti family. In 1643, it was also struck by the plague.
WHAT TO SEE IN ANZOLA EMILIA
Very interesting is the Tower of King Enzo, called so because in 1249 King Enzo was imprisoned here after being captured by the Bolognese: it is all that remains today of the ancient Anzola Castle, destroyed in 1630, which once housed the residence of the local Lords, as well as warehouses and artisan workshops.
Also worth seeing is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the Abbey of Santa Maria in Strada, which, despite having been rebuilt between the 1600s and 1700s, still show characteristics of their past, as well as some important paintings from the Bolognese school.
Merita sicuramente una visita il Museo del Gelato, inaugurato nel 2012, nel quale si può ripercorrere la storia di questo gustosissimo cibo dalle sue origini fino ad oggi (pare infatti che i primi “gelati”, più simili ai sorbetti di oggi, risalgano addirittura alla Mesopotamia), osservare le antiche macchine che servivano per farlo, oltre alla possibilità di imparare a preparare e poi assaggiare gelati e sorbetti.
Also interesting is the Environmental Archaeological Museum, which traces, through the many historical finds of the area, the close relationship of love and hate that this land has always had with water (also called terramara).
FAIRS AND EVENTS ANZOLA - SAN MARTINO
Many events take place in Anzola:
- in may there's Beer'n'Grill, a festival dedicated to street food, with particular reference to the world of grilling (with challenges among professional grillers) and craft beer;
- at the beginning of July Festival Park takes place, this year at its second edition, allowing you to get to know and listen to new musicians from the Bologna scene and beyond;
- in early september Badia in Festa takes place, where it is possible to taste the traditional dishes of the territory, including fried crescentinas and polenta, as well as to purchase products from Santa Maria Badia, such as nocino and cherry liqueur;
- a metà ottobre viene organizzata la Festa di Anzola, con mercatini di prodotti di artigianato locale e stand enogastronomici;
- On November 11, during the St. Martin's Feast, Pig World is organized, a festival dedicated to the art of charcuterie and all products derived from the processing of pork, there is also a competition to see who will be able to prepare the longest sausage.
- Always on the occasion of St. Martin's Feast the Sauce Festival takes place, where it is possible to taste the traditional sauces prepared with cooked must, in addition to the new wine and many traditional sweets, such as ravioli, pinza or brazadèle, and fried doughnuts.
Pro Loco ANZOLA DELL’EMILIA
Via Carpanelli 24
Tel. +39 051 736 593
www.facebook.com/prolocoanzola
Town of ANZOLA DELL’EMILIA
Via Grimandi, 1
Tel.: +39 051 650 2111
www.comune.anzoladellemilia.bo.it
other useful addresses
- A.S.L. - Hospital of S. Giovanni in Persiceto SS. Salvatore Via Enzo Palma, 1 Tel. +39 051 681 3111
First Aid tel. 118
HOW TO GET TO ANZOLA
HOW TO GET TO ANZOLA DELL'EMILIA
by Car: Coming from the East (Venice or Rimini), take the Autostrada A1/A16 exit for Bologna Borgo Panigale, then follow the Strada Statale 9 Via Emilia towards Modena until Anzola. Coming from the North or South: take the Autostrada A1 exit for Valsamoggia, then follow the Strada Statale 9 Via Emilia towards Bologna until Anzola.
On Train: on the slow line Bologna-Milan, station of Anzola dell'Emilia
ANZOLA EMILIA
