BARREL VAULT - Bologna

BARICELLA Guide

Baricella is a village with 5,727 inhabitants in the province of Bologna. In ancient times, around 1300, its name was Guazzarello, meaning "that is submerged in water," indicating that in these territories the struggle against river flooding has always been a constant factor; then it changed to Barigella, meaning the seat of the Bargello, a police official guarding the territory, from which the current name Baricella derives. Until the middle of the 15th century, this area was legally dependent on the town of Altedo, but subsequently, the government of Bologna made it autonomous. The entire territory of the municipality of Baricella experienced the period of major land reclamation carried out between the 1700s and 1900, leading to the creation of the territory as we know it today, and indeed the figure of the "scariolanti," those who emptied the wheelbarrows, has always been extremely important, as well as that of the rice harvesters, since this has always been a land of rice paddies, extensive and numerous.

WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IN BARICELLA

The church of Santa Maria in Baricella, dating back to the 15th century, deserves a visit, where one can admire paintings of great beauty, while in the nearby oratory of Saint Joseph there is a fine organ. The Oratory of San Marco, also known as the Zucchini Chapel, is quite unique, as it features an example of neo-medieval floral-style decoration by the artists of Aemilia Ars, led by Alfonso Rubbiani, one of the most important attempts at neo-medieval decorative renewal in Italy.
For those who enjoy outdoor activities, a short distance from Baricella, some thirty kilometers away, lies the Regional Park of the Po Delta: established in 1998, and already the following year it became part of UNESCO. Within the Park, it is possible to organize excursions that allow one to admire throughout the year new and interesting landscapes, on foot, by bicycle, but also by boat, either alone or with the guidance of expert personnel: in this case, it is also possible to access some areas that are normally not open to the public. Among the proposed excursions, there are also some focused on birdwatching, as the Park, with its 54,000 hectares, constitutes a complex environment where marsh, forest, and lagoon areas intersect, allowing a very large number of bird species to find an appropriate place to nest: the Park is indeed the most important ornithological area in Italy and one of the most important in Europe.

FAIRS AND EVENTS IN BARICELLA

There are many events held throughout the year in Baricella and the surrounding area: at the end of January, the Festival of the Pig is held, where you can taste all kinds of salami, the undisputed typical product of Emilia Romagna; the last weekend of September is the Polenta Festival, with food and wine stands and local crafts, all accompanied by live music; in mid-October, the traditional Fire di Sdazz fair takes place, showcasing sifts, utensils used to sift flour, an opportunity to stroll through the town’s streets tasting typical sweets like raviole and brazadèle, doughnuts to dip in wine. At the end of November, there is the Fog Festival, another "product" typical of the Po Valley: when the cold of autumn and fog begins to be felt, it is the perfect time to savor the delicious hot dishes of Romagna tradition, such as watercress, piadinas, polenta, and tortelli.

In Baricella, in addition to typical regional dishes, there are also several sweets whose recipes have been passed down through generations and jealously guarded: among these, we remember the Pan di Natale, but also the Copp, a dessert made with ricotta, eggs, sugar, and star anise, so called because once baked it takes the shape of a coppo, a tile; typical is also the Latteruolo, a pudding made with milk, flour, eggs, and vanilla, but it also includes coriander, which gives this dessert a unique flavor.