South of Bologna are the mountains of the Bolognese Apennine, the central portion of the Tuscan–Emilian Apennines. Here are several small towns in the valleys and among the hills and mountains hosting various interesting attractions and historic sites.
Grizzana Morandi
Grizzana Morandi is a village among the Apennines of the Metropolitan City of Bologna. It is known as a holiday resort and got part of its name from the painter Giorgio Morandi, who spent many of its summer vacations here.
✪ Rocchetta Mattei
Rocchetta Mattei is a 19th-century fortress located among the mountains in the municipality of Grizzana Morandi. It was the residence of count Cesare Mattei, and it was built with a blend of different styles, mostly medieval, Moorish, and modern. Some of the halls and courtyards bear a clear resemblance to sections of the Alhambra of Granada and the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba. The elaborate palace is known as a great example of the eclectic style of the 19th century and it was visited by many illustrious individuals. Now it houses a museum.
Address: Via Rocchetta, 46A, 40030 Grizzana Morandi BO
Coordinates: 44.2237, 11.0595
Marzabotto
Marzabotto is a small town among the mountains south of Bologna. The area of Marzabotto has been inhabited since ancient times, and it was the site of the Etruscan city of Kainua. More recently, the town became infamous for the war crimes committed here by the Nazi troops during World War II.
National Etruscan Museum of Marzabotto
Kainua was an important Etruscan town and a flourishing city-state between the 6th and 4th century BCE, before falling to the Celts. The National Etruscan Museum of Marzabotto (Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Marzabotto) narrates the history of this ancient city and it hosts numerous findings from the nearby archaeological site.
Address: Via Porrettana Sud, 13, 40043 Marzabotto BO
Coordinates: 44.3369, 11.2039
Parco Storico di Monte Sole
In 1944, during World War II, Marzabotto and the surrounding villages, located on and around Monte Sole, were the site of the deadliest mass shooting in the history of Italy, when at least 770 civilians were killed by Nazi troops. Now the area of Monte Sole is a natural park which features various memorials of this terrible crime, including some cemeteries and the ruins of a few churches that were destroyed during the massacre.
Address: Via San Martino, 25, 40043 Marzabotto BO
Coordinates: 44.3098, 11.1979
Sasso Marconi
Sasso Marconi is a city among the Apennines just south of Bologna. Originally called Sasso Bolognese, the town is now best known for its connection with Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of radio, that had a residence here.
Marconi Museum
The Marconi Museum is hosted inside Villa Griffone, the rural residence of Guglielmo Marconi in Pontecchio Marconi, just north of Sasso Marconi. The museum is dedicated to the early history of radio communication and the life and works of Marconi, the inventor of radio. A mausoleum located in front of the villa houses the remains of Marconi.
Address: Via Celestini, 1, 40037 Pontecchio Marconi BO
Coordinates: 44.4314, 11.2676
Valsamoggia
Valsamoggia is a municipality created from the merger of five communes among the hills southeast of Bologna, and it is centered in Bazzano. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and all the villages host some ancient buildings.
Rocca dei Bentivoglio
Rocca dei Bentivoglio is a castle in Bazzano, erected around the 10th century and later expanded and reworked. The fortification dominates the old town of Bazzano and it houses various cultural institutions such as the Civic Archaeological Museum Arsenio Crespellani (Museo Civico Archeologico Arsenio Crespellani). This museum houses a collection of archaeological findings from the surrounding area spanning a period from the Paleolithic until the Renaissance, and it also includes a section on the Modern Age.