Castenaso: Villanovian History on the Idice
Accommodation in Castenaso
Castenaso lies on the banks of the Idice River. This gives the landscape a tangible presence alongside a range of cultural themes: Villanovian archaeology, Baroque sacred art, historic buildings and motor racing. This picture is complemented by a riverside path and a railway station on the Bologna–Portomaggiore line.
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Photo: Alessandro sgarzi via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Archaeology in Villanova di Castenaso
The MUV – Museo e Centro di documentazione della civiltà villanoviana is housed in the former hayloft of the rural Casa Sant'Anna complex in Villanova di Castenaso. There, between 1853 and 1856, the archaeologist Giovanni Gozzadini discovered and identified traces of the earliest phase of Etruscan civilisation. This developed from the beginning of the 1st millennium BC until the final decades of the 8th century BC; at that time, it was still unknown in Italy, and Gozzadini called it “Villanovian”.
The MUV also displays the Villanovian necropolis of Marano di Castenaso, dating from the 7th century BC. On display are eight sandstone and limestone grave stelae or grave markers: three are figurative, while the others were made in different forms. The MUV offers guided tours as well as educational and hands-on workshops for different age groups.
Churches and Historic Buildings
The Chiesa della Beata Vergine del Pilar is a church dating from the late 17th century. Its interior is distinctly Baroque and houses a Madonna painting by G.B. Bolognini of particular religious significance. The wedding of Gioacchino Rossini and the famous soprano Isabella Colbran was also celebrated in this church.
The Pieve di San Geminiano in Marano is about 3 km from Castenaso and has architectural origins dating back to the 12th century. It was rebuilt in Neo-Romanesque forms in 1929, while retaining its 16th-century bell tower. This building therefore brings together several clearly distinguishable layers from different periods.
The Museo Moto Poggi COMP houses more than 60 Yamaha racing motorcycles. The park known as Parco della Chiusa contains part of a lock associated with Castenaso's historic milling activities.
Getting Around the Idice and Finding Your Bearings
The CAI 801 and 801A trails run along the right hydrological bank of the Idice River and connect the centre of Castenaso with the hamlet of Borgatella. If you like to plan your journey around the course of a river, you can consider this route as a distinct way of getting around alongside the cultural attractions – both on foot and by bicycle.
For arriving by train, Castenaso has a station on the Bologna–Portomaggiore railway line, which can be reached from Bologna's main station. Thus, alongside the museums, churches and historic traces, the rail connection is also one of the concrete factors you can take into account when planning your trip.
Discover More Places
To compare other destinations, you can also explore San Giorgio Di Piano, Villanova, Loiano, Castel Maggiore, Camugnano, Roncobilaccio, Sassoleone and Savigno.
Return to the higher-level travel overview: Bologna.
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