SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA - Bologna
SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA Travel Guide
San Lazzaro di Savena is a commune of Bologna historically built at the intersection between Via Emilia and the Savena river.
Its territory has been inhabited since ancient times by pre-Roman populations. Sites from the Paleolithic, the Copper Age, and the Bronze Age have been found.
San Lazzaro di Savena was colonized by the Romans from the 1st to the 2nd century A.D.
During the Middle Ages, it became a fiefdom of Matilda of Canossa and became famous for its leper hospital. This last, with the expansion of the city of Bologna, was moved further away and became a lazaretto in the locality of Ronco Maruni.
Over time, Ronco Maruni, because of the lazaretto, changed its name and became known as San Lazzaro. Now Ronco Maruni is just the name of a street facing the San Lazzaro di Savena railway station.
Today San Lazzaro di Savena is a commune of about thirty-two thousand inhabitants, rich in monuments and places of interest to visit and natural areas in which one can go hiking and for walks.
WHAT TO SEE IN SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA /1 - ART AND CULTURE
There are numerous religious and civil architectures to admire. Among the churches, the most enchanting is the Abbey of Santa Cecilia della Croara, dating back to 1095 and originally part of a Benedictine monastery. Inside, there is a panel attributed to Annibale Carracci, a terracotta Via Crucis, a painting of Saint Anthony of Padua, and two effigies of Giovanni Andrea Donducci.
The territory of San Lazzaro di Savena is dotted with noble villas and luxury homes that the nobility had built to enjoy the surrounding landscape and countryside.
- The Cicogna Villa was built in 1500 by the architect Jacopo Barozzi. The property was commissioned by Giacomo Boncompagni, then passed to the Falconieri, and in the eighteenth century to the Princes Colonna. Interesting are the stuccos and frescoes depicting biblical scenes, Greek myths, and eighteenth-century war scenes.
- Finally, visit the Dolfi-Ratti Castle, whose structure has a sixteenth-century layout with various renovations, the last of which gives it a late eighteenth-century appearance. The ancient site of the lazaretto from which the city takes its name, the castle covers 1200 sq m of villa proper with over 180,000 sq m of park and Italian gardens. The building features on the ground floor an entrance formed by a large loggia with barrel vault adorned with frescoes of mythological scenes, an ancient private chapel with stucco decorations from 1777, and an auditorium.
WHAT TO SEE IN SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA/2 - Nature
Le colline di S. Lazzaro, di origine carsica costituiscono un importante patrimonio ambientale con il Parco Naturale dei Gessi bolognesi e dei Calanchi dell'Abbadessa . Nel parco vi sono varie grotte visitabili tra cui la grotta del Farneto, una cavità scoperta nell'ottocento che presenta tracce di frequentazioni di popolazioni durante l'età del Bronzo, fra cui resti di vasellame, sepolture e resti di pasto.
Il Museo della preistoria raccoglie importanti reperti frutto appunto dei ritrovamenti nelle grotte e lungo i calanchi del Parco.
Finally, along the hills of San Lazzaro run beautiful bike paths that represent a true paradise for bike lovers.
Si può iniziare partendo proprio dalla Stazione Ferroviaria dove c'è un cartello con la mappa di tutti i percorsi ciclabili dell'intero territorio di San Lazzaro di Savena. Si arriva in treno con la bici al seguito oppure con l'auto ( parcheggio gratuito).
SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA EGG HUNT
A NEW WAY TO VISIT SAN LAZZARO
AN ENTRING TREASURE HUNT
that unites the entire family in fun
Start at the San Lazzaro Station and venture into the parks and the Historic Center, visiting places like Bracci Square and Republic Street, following a circular route that will surprise you at every stop.
With Street Adventures® you explore San Lazzaro di Savena by playing: a fun, flexible city escape suitable for everyone aged 6 and up. Experience the city at your own pace and let yourself be enchanted by the magic of the Stones!
SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA. THE MIRACULOUS AMPULLA
Un'avventura StreetAdventures™
EVENTS IN SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA: Fairs & Gastronomy
San Lazzaro di Savena is a vibrant town rich in life and traditions: every year a colorful carnival takes place, with its main character being the Lazzarone, a mischievous and fun-loving rascal.
At the end of July, the San Lazzaro Fair is held, which began as a traditional market but has now evolved into a fair filled with food stands, performances, artists, antique dealers, events, and concerts.
Among the typical dishes, almost all in common with Bologna, we remember the tortellini in brodo
Reaching San Lazzaro di Savena
From San Lazzaro with the Metropolitan Railway Service one reaches the center of Bologna in just a few minutes (about 6 minutes). Trains every half hour during peak hours, every hour the rest of the day.
For those coming by car can park their vehicle in the parking lot adjacent to the station, next to the exit from the A14 motorway.
SAN LAZZARO DI SAVENA
Center
Useful Info and Contacts
Town of San Lazzaro di Savena - Metropolitan City of Bologna
Piazza Bracci, 1
phone 051 622 8111
website:
www.comune.sanlazzaro.bo.it/
other useful addresses
- A.S.L. (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) Via Repubblica, 11 - San Lazzaro di Savena (BO) Tel.: 051 6224111
- Luigi Donini Prehistory Museum - Dedicated to the environment and the first human settlement, with important artifacts from the Parco dei Gessi area.
via Fratelli Canova, 49 - San Lazzaro di Savena (BO) Tel +39 051 465132 www.museodellapreistoria.it
- CAVE OF THE GESSO PARK : Visitor Center “Casa Fantini” - via Jussi, 171 - 40068 Farneto di San Lazzaro di Savena. Tel. +39 051 6254821 info.parcogessi@enteparchi.bo.it ; web site: enteparchi.bo.it/parco.gessi.bolognesi
