Pieve di Cento – Art, History and the Ciclovia del Reno
Accommodation in Pieve Di Cento
Pieve di Cento combines art, urban history and stage events with the Ciclovia del Reno, which runs through the riverside landscape on flat terrain. If you would like to combine cultural experiences with an active pursuit during your trip to Italy, you will find several different points of interest here: museums and sacred art, a medieval fortification, a theatre with a varied programme, and a 42-kilometre cycling route.
File:The ancient tramway station in Pieve di Cento Bologna Italy.jpg
Photo: Gehadad via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Artistic connections with Bologna, Ferrara and Veneto
The “Le Scuole” Pinacoteca in Pieve di Cento preserves paintings by artists, particularly from the areas around Bologna, Ferrara and Veneto, dating from the 14th to the 18th century. It also has a remarkable collection of contemporary art, built up over time through various donations. This gives you an insight that combines older pictorial art with more recent artistic works.
The Rocca and the history of the town
The Rocca of Pieve di Cento was designed and built by Antonio Di Vincenzo between 1382 and 1387. The architect of the Basilica of San Petronio created it as a fortification to defend the town. The Museo delle Storie di Pieve presents the thousand-year history of Pieve di Cento in eight rooms.
The Collegiata di Santa Maria Maggiore also preserves a special historical testimony: it houses a wooden crucifix from the 14th century that is venerated as miraculous. Such architectural and artistic works provide tangible points of reference for the town’s history, without requiring you to limit yourself to a single museum.
Visits and events
The Pinacoteca Graziano Campanini - Le Scuole offers guided tours, educational activities and workshops for children. It is fully accessible and open on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00; visits are also possible by prior reservation. This is particularly helpful if you are planning a museum visit for different age groups and are looking not only to view the works but also for an educational programme.
The Teatro comunale Alice Zeppilli hosts theatre and music events, meetings, conferences, performances by numerous local amateur groups, concerts and film screenings. Its programme therefore ranges from cultural events to public gatherings and offers another way to access local cultural life.
Flat cycling along the Reno
The Ciclovia del Reno stretches for 42 km along the banks of the Reno and currently connects eight municipalities: Castel Maggiore, Calderara di Reno, Sala Bolognese, Argelato, Castello d'Argile, Cento, Pieve di Cento and Galliera. The Ciclovia del Reno is completely flat and suitable for every level of fitness. Its length and connection of several municipalities make it a clearly defined option for planning a cycling trip.
Museums in the surrounding area
The MAGI'900 - Museo delle Eccellenze artistiche e storiche is located in the area surrounding Pieve di Cento. The Pinacoteca Civica “Il Guercino” is also nearby. Both institutions complement the art and history themes that you will find directly in Pieve di Cento at the Pinacoteca, Rocca, Museo delle Storie and Collegiata.
For your further travel planning, you can also consider Crespellano, Madonna dei Fornelli, San Benedetto Val Di Sambro, CĂ Bianca, Granarolo Dell'emilia, Malalbergo, Minerbio and Castel D'aiano.
To the higher-level travel overview: Bologna.
