Crespellano: History, Villas and Roman Traces
Accommodation in Crespellano
Crespellano is considered a small fortified village of Roman origin. Its character derives from historic churches and villas, ancient transport links, and a multifaceted landscape. For visitors interested in cultural history, the key points of interest are located in Crespellano itself, in Pragatto and Confortino, and between Crespellano and Calcara.
File:Crespellano - Casa natale di Antonino Sartini.jpg
Photo: Syrio via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cultural History in the Townscape
The Palazzo Garagnani is located in the heart of Crespellano. It houses most of the Centro Culturale Luigi Calanca, including the Biblioteca di Crespellano. The tower of the Palazzo belonged to the former castle of Crespellano. The former Torre Cattanei fortress is now known as Palazzo Stagni.
The Church of San Savino was founded in the 16th century and renovated in the mid-18th century and again at the beginning of the 19th century. As an ancient church, it was the former parish seat of Crespellano before the parish was moved to the church of the Castello. The Church of San Francesco was built in 1232. The 17th-century Villa Aldrovandi is decorated with friezes and heraldic motifs; it lies north of Crespellano, is now known as Rinaldi Ceroni, and has a lush park.
Archaeology and Historical Connections
In Pragatto, the parish church of Santa Maria Nascente is mentioned together with the Castello di Pragatto in a papal bull issued by Pope Eugene III in 1148. The Via Claudiola is now called Bazzanese and is considered a consular road connected with the ancient development of the Crespellano area. This development is also linked to the Via Emilia. Artefacts and tools from the Middle Palaeolithic, or Mousterian, were found at the foot of the hill near Pragatto. The historical connections therefore lie not only in individual buildings, but also in the combination of transport routes, settlement traces and ecclesiastical evidence.
In 1874, Giovanni Gozzadini discovered a cremation necropolis near Pragatto, and in 1879 the archaeologist Zannoni identified a Terramare settlement site there. In Confortino, the Church of San Francesco, together with the Oratory of Villa Pedrazzi, bears witness to the widespread worship of Saint Francis in the rural surroundings in the 13th century.
Landscape Between Crespellano and Calcara
From the 17th century onward, country estates belonging to prominent senatorial families from Bologna were built in the Crespellano area. Villas still shape the landscape around Crespellano today and structure its cultural landscape. Between Crespellano and Calcara, traces of Roman centuriation are visible: 700 × 700 metre land squares are bordered by roads and ditches.
Magnalonga di Valsamoggia in 2026
An announced event also combines exercise, regional products and wine. The Magnalonga di Valsamoggia announced for 2026 was scheduled to begin at Parco De Andrè in Crespellano. A six-stage walk between Crespellano and Oliveto was planned for 19 April 2026, with breakfast, tastings of typical products and wines, and musical entertainment.
More Destinations
Villanova, Loiano, Ozzano Dell Emilia, Molinella, Mordano, Bologna, Castiglione Dei Pepoli, Suviana
To the overarching travel overview: Bologna.
