CASALECCHIO DI RENO
Guide to CASALECCHIO DI RENO
Casalecchio di Reno is a municipality in the province of Bologna, which is about 8 kilometers away from it.
The name probably has Roman origins and derives from "Casaliculum," meaning "small cluster of houses," but the first settlements in the area date back to the Neolithic period: during some excavations, huts, a forge, and several tombs were discovered.
Remains of Etruscan and Roman settlements have also been found.
After a period of abandonment during the barbarian invasions, the area repopulates around the year 1000, following the construction of the Weir and the bridge over the Rhine; during this period, fortresses, castles, and strongholds were built.
Due to its location, Casalecchio di Reno was the scene of numerous battles throughout the centuries.
Between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, Casalecchio became the preferred summer resort for Bolognese people, and many villas and public works were built: during this period the city was so beautiful that it was even called the "little Paris".
During World War I the city of Casalecchio was heavily hit, but during World War II it was almost completely destroyed: it was one of the cities most heavily bombed.
The recovery occurred at the end of the 1960s, thanks to small industries and local craftsmanship.
WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IN CASALECCHIO DI RENO
Worth visiting
- la Chiusa sul fiume Reno, una delle più antiche opere meccaniche del mondo, ancora oggi funzionante. Nell’antichità la Chiusa aveva sia lo scopo di regolare la portata del fiume, che alternava piene improvvise e secche, sia quello di azionare mulini, macine, segherie ed altre fabbriche delle zone di Casalecchio e Bologna.
- The Chiusa Park, also known as Talon Park, was created in the ‘700s at the behest of the Sampieri Marchese family, and within it, in addition to the park itself, one can admire a beautiful Italian garden, two villas, and a forest, which was once the Sampieri family’s hunting reserve. Today, the Park is the perfect place for those who love outdoor activities, from simple walks, to jogging, to mountain biking excursions.
- Remember the Brègoli, a fairly challenging but very evocative trail that starts from the Church of San Martino and reaches the mountain of Guardia, at the Basilica of San Luca; this is dedicated to Marian worship and has been an important pilgrimage destination since ancient times: to reach it, one passes through a characteristic porticoed street that runs through the monumental Arch of Meloncello. Along the trail, one can admire splendid panoramas, the “jump of Pizzacherra”, a stretch of trail that overlooks the narrow valley of Rio della Pizzacra, and also an air-raid shelter dating back to World War II. Today, the Chiusa Park has become a UNESCO Heritage site.
- Also worth visiting is the Eremo di Tizzano, a small fraction not far from Casalecchio, where one can admire an ancient wooden crucifix from the 16th century.
FAIRS AND EVENTS
FAIRS AND EVENTS
There are many events in a lively city like that of Casalecchio:
- the Kite Festival, this year at its 39th edition;
- at the Fair of Curious Flavors, where one can sample passatelli, a typical dish of Emilian tradition;
- the Summer Festival of Artisan Gelato and the Winter Festival of Chocolate;
- "Flavors and Scents of Autumn" is the perfect occasion to take a walk among stands of local enogastronomic and artisan products.
- In November, on the occasion of St. Martin's Day, the patron saint of Casalecchio, there is the traditional opening of the cellars, with the possibility of visits and wine tastings from the local vineyards.
- Do not forget the Unipol Arena, the largest theater in Italy, which hosts concerts by the biggest Italian and international musicians all year round.
Pro Loco CASALECCHIO DI RENO
Via del Child 6, 40033, Casalecchio di Reno, BO
TEL.: +39 0516132867
info@casalecchioinsiemeproloco.org
web: casalecchioinsiemeproloco.org
Town of CASALECCHIO DI RENO
Via dei Mille, 9
+39 051 598111
website: comune.casalecchio.bo.it
other useful addresses
- A.S.L. - HOUSE OF HEALTH - Rita Levi Montalcini Square, 5 (next to the Casalecchio Garibaldi railway station) Tel. 051 4583111
- Municipal Police - Radio Operations Center Phone: 800.253.808
in the hinterland of Bologna, heading south
Casalecchio di Reno
