Romagna solatìa, dolce paese cui regnarono Guidi e Malatesta, cui tenne pure il Passator cortese, re della strada, re della foresta. Giovanni Pascoli Map of ...... 48 CONTENTS Discovering ...... 62 Map of Bagnara di Romagna ...... 66 Symbols used in the guide...... 3 Discovering ...... 70 In the "land in between"...... 4 Map of Conselice...... 74 A land without borders...... 6 Discovering ...... 78 Transport...... 7 Map of Cotignola...... 82 Road distances...... 11 Discovering ...... 86 Deep historical roots...... 12 Map of Fusignano ...... 90 Famous people...... 14 Discovering Lugo...... 94 Famous painters...... 16 Map of Lugo...... 100 Fertile land for art...... 19 Discovering ...... 114 Reading Bassa Romagna: landscapes of literature...... 20 Map of Massa Lombarda...... 118 Listening to Bassa Romagna: landscapes of music...... 22 Discovering ...... 124 Seeing Bassa Romagna: landscapes of cinema...... 26 Map of Russi ...... 128 The culture of fine living...... 30 Discovering Sant'Agata sul ...... 134 A land of passion and competition...... 32 Map of Sant'Agata sul Santerno...... 138 An authentic talent for tourism...... 34 Gourmet itineraries...... 142 Tourist Information Centre...... 35 Traditional recipes...... 144 Discovering ...... 36 Traditional local produce...... 147 Map of Alfonsine...... 40 Arts and craft itineraries ...... 150 Discovering Bagnacavallo ...... 44 Natural environment itineraries ...... 154

· CONTENTS · 48 62 66 70 74 78 82 SYMBOLS USED IN THE GUIDE 86 90 : Leisure and culture office 94 : Tourist information centre 100 : General enquiry office for the public 114 118 : Municipal secretary 124 : Weekend 128 : Visits must be booked in advance 134 138 : Places of interest for tourists 142 144 147 150 154

· SYMBOLS USED IN THE GUIDE · in the “land in between”

we tried to find an extensive definition for the homes and rural houses. Ancient rural habits are still alive If intense and varied world of Bassa Romagna, we could here, in accordance with nature's cycle of seasons. While describe it as a sort of "land in between" the Adriatic coast strolling around town, it is not unusual to come across and the Apennine. This oasis of peace is full of charm and timeless scenes of life. A group of old and lively card players is surrounded by some of the most beautiful art towns of engrossed in intense competition with their enigmatic faces; the Emilia-Romagna region: , ancient capital of a small group of carefree children running around wrapped the Byzantine Empire, , famous worldwide for its up in their games. It's nice to take a seat at a tavern under the ceramics, , home to the oldest university in Europe, arcades, in the piazza or in one of the numerous little squares, and Ferrara, cradle of the noble . Ferrara, and soak up the relaxed atmosphere which is typical of this {04} the neighbouring Delta and Ravenna share the honour "small universe" in which the frantic and alienating rhythm of of being UNESCO World Heritage sites. Thanks to its modern life hasn't replaced the unflappable cadence of bicycle favourable position, from here it is easy and quick to get to the pedals. Despite this, locals have embraced the positive aspects vibrant Adriatic Riviera of Romagna, which is, so to speak, of modernity such as cutting-edge farming technology, with "behind the corner". However, Bassa Romagna shouldn't be utmost care for the environment and for the wholesome considered a "land in between" just from the geographical produce of the land. In this part of Romagna the indissoluble point of view. In this wide and fertile plain dotted with relationship between the land and its people is timeless and vegetable gardens, vineyards, orchards and waterways, time utterly authentic. appears to be floating between past and present. In winter The territory's landscape is suspended between the water, the this land is protected by an evocative mist, in summer it is earth and the sky; the eye can find it difficult to wholly grasp nourished by generous sunshine; the line of the horizon is the depth of field of this vast space. In this corner of each only broken by the silhouettes of parish churches, stately season features a variety of different colours in the landscape,

· in the “land in between” · {05} including delicate pastel tones as well as dazzling hues; the result is a natural palette that has caught the imagination of more than a few painters over the centuries. This is the place for rediscovering the art of fine living, as well as the local traditions and highlights. This genuine microcosm entices visitors with its warm character and its informality rather than its formality; here it's easy to feel at home because the second time you’ll visit a place, they will already call you by your name.

· in the “land in between” · Unione a land dei Comuni without borders della Bassa Romagna

The portion of Romagna known as Bassa Romagna is not VENICE marked by real geographical boundaries. This area is identified BOLOGNA as the heart of the , a consortium RAVENNA of municipalities of the following towns: Alfonsine, FORLiÉ RIMINI Bagnacavallo, Bagnara di Romagna, Conselice, Cotignola, {06} FLORENCE Fusignano, Lugo, Massa Lombarda, Russi and Sant'Agata sul Santerno. It stretches across an area of 480 square km and has over 100,000 inhabitants. Bassa Romagna benefits from an excellent transportation system because it's right in the ROM E middle of a wide network of roads and railway tracks.

· A LAND WITHOUT BORDERS · lugo alfonsine transport conselice

AIRPORTS The nearest airports are:

> Bologna - "G. Marconi" Airport {07} www.bologna-airport.it

> Rimini - "F. Fellini" Airport massa fusignano www.riminiairport.com lombarda bagnacavallo > Forlì - "L. Ridolfi" Airport sant'agata www.forliairport.com sul santerno

bagnara di romagna cotignola russi

· TRANSPORT · train www.trenitalia.it

Bassa Romagna is crossed by the following railway lines: Useful phone numbers · Bologna - Ravenna 199 892 021 · Rimini - Ravenna 06 3000 (for handsets unable to dial 199 phone numbers) · Ferrara - Venice For purchasing tickets through the automated phone system, and by rail connections for Faenza and Forlì. for information regarding compensation, refunds or claims, The rail network connects the municipalities of Alfonsine, for reservation changes through the automated phone system, Bagnacavallo, Lugo (+ Voltana), Conselice (+ Lavezzola + for timetable information and service updates, to arrange San Patrizio) and Russi. assistance for people with limited mobility.

{08} Useful phone numbers Useful phone numbers 892021 199 30 30 60 +39 06 68475475 (for calls from outside Italy) Customer assistance for people with limited mobility. For purchasing tickets, getting information on Frecciarossa and Frecciargento rail services or changing a reservation lfonsine with a customer assistant. A Viale Stazione, 42 To reach the station from the main road SS16 Adriatica, go to the town centre and look out for Viale Stazione; the station is at the bottom of the boulevard and there is a large car park. The station has an automatic ticket machine.

· TRANSPORT · Bagnacavallo Conselice Viale della Stazione Via Roma The station is on the main road Strada San Vitale, about 500 The station is very close to the town centre. Tickets can be mt from the town centre and has a large car park. The station purchased from: Tabaccheria G.K., in via Garibaldi 11, has an automatic ticket machine; tickets can be purchased also Tabaccheria Centrale, in via Garibaldi 46, and Tabaccheria from: Hotel Al Flor, in via Chiusa 37 (just few metres from Oltrefumo, in via Puntiroli 43. the station), tel. +39 0545 64475 and at Tabaccheria Take and Go, in via Cristofori 4 (near the town gate Porta Superiore), Lavezzola (Conselice) tel. +39 0545 64638. Viale Ricci The station has an automatic ticket machine. Lugo {09} Piazzale Pascoli, 2 San Patrizio (Conselice) The station is very close to the town centre, about 1 km from Via Ferrovia, 2 the central Piazza Baracca. There is a ticket office, a bar and Tickets can be purchased from Tabaccheria Rosanna newsagent; taxis and buses leave from outside the station. Chersoni, in via G. Mameli 20/22.

Voltana (Lugo) Russi Viale della Stazione Via della Repubblica The station is very close to the town centre and there is a large The station is about 1 km from the town centre, in the trading car park. The station has an automatic ticket machine. estate. The station has an automatic ticket machine.

· TRANSPORT · bus bicycle Town buses and suburban buses are run by: For information about cyclists' itineraries and assistance A.T.M. Ravenna (tel. 199 199 558 - www.atm.ra.it) please contact: ATC (tel. +39 051 290 290 - www.atc.bo.it). Associazione Cicloguide Lugo Ricci Bus company operates in the municipality of Bagnara Via Rossetta, 130 - 48012 Bagnacavallo (RA) (tel. +39 0545 76001 - www.ricci-bus.it). Tel. +39 0545 58328 / +39 348 7469283 / +39 335 6393000 E-mail [email protected] taxi www.racine.ra.it/cicloguidelugo/ The only taxi stand in Bassa Romagna is located just outside {10} Lugo train station (tel. +39 0545 26020). Cyclists' itineraries in Bassa Romagna can be downloaded from www.romagnadeste.it car and motocycle The main roads that run across Bassa Romagna are: the places of interest motorway Adriatica A14 (Bologna - Taranto), the provincial near bassa romagna road no.253 San Vitale which connects Bologna with Within the radius of around 150 km there Ravenna, and the state road no.16 Reale which connects are several interesting places: Ravenna and Ferrara with Ravenna. The area has an intricate network of the Adriatic Riviera of Romagna on the east, secondary roads that can make journeys longer, but which Faenza and Florence on the south, Bologna on can also be the best way to enjoy the rural landscape of Bassa the west, Ferrara, the Po Delta and Venice on Romagna and connect with the land's genius loci. the north.

· TRANSPORT · ROAD DISTANCES (KM)

Alfonsine ---

Bagnacavallo 13 ---

Bagnara 30 17 --- di Romagna Conselice 26 22 19 ---

Cotignola 21 7 12 23 ---

Fusignano 9 9 17 15 13 --- {11}

Lugo 20 7 10 15 8 8 ---

Massa 31 15 9 11 15 15 8 --- Lombarda Russi 20 9 25 31 10 18 16 23 ---

Sant'Agata 27 11 8 11 12 12 5 4 20 --- sul Santerno Alfonsine Bagnacavallo Bagnara Conselice Cotignola Fusignano Lugo Massa Russi Sant'Agata di Romagna Lombarda sul Santerno

· ROAD DISTANCES · deep historical roots

earliest traces of human settlements in the area town centres of the area. In more recent years, World War II The currently known as Bassa Romagna are really hit these lands harshly; Bassa Romagna distinguished itself in ancient. Traces of a Neolithic settlement (5th millennium the activities of the national resistance movement. Today this B.C.) were found nearby Lugo; archaeological findings from role is commemorated by several museums, monuments and the late Bronze Age were uncovered around Bagnacavallo and memorials located in the various municipalities of the area. two inhumation tombs (late 7th century - early 6th century Bassa Romagna has also a historical tradition of cooperation, B.C.) were unearthed under the surface of the Roman Villa of which the first document goes back to 1860. When a new in Russi. There is plenty of evidence that the human presence decree ordained the creation of the Royal Provinces of Emilia has been continuous and permanent in this area over the main (featuring the definitions of "Circondari", "Mandamenti" {12} historical periods, especially during Roman colonisation and and "Comuni"), on January the 23rd 1860 the head of Lugo's through the Middle Ages. Power struggles were extremely district declared that the "circondario" of Lugo had come fierce at the time of theseigniories , which included Visconti, into effect on January the 19th and this included the towns Sforza and Este; the latter ruled Bassa Romagna between the of Bagnacavallo, Cotignola, Conselice, Fusignano, Massa 14th and the 16th century, naming it "Romagna degli Estensi", Lombarda and Santagata. The district joined the Province of "Romadiola" or "Romagnola". The House of Este offered a safe Ravenna; the declaration of the event stated: "this decision and efficient government with regulations and a statute; they will be welcomed with joy […] and will surely benefit citizens established state schools, gave a boost to culture, promoted the of the area". It's no wonder that the consortium of the reclamation of lands and the farming of new plants. The most municipalities of Bassa Romagna is the biggest in Emilia- visible heritage of this historical period is a series of imposing Romagna, thanks to its 100,000 plus inhabitants and its area walls, solemn arches and grand strongholds built by the Este; of more than 480 square km; this is also one of the largest these buildings are still the most striking features of the historic consortia of municipalities in Italy.

· DEEP HISTORICAL ROOTS · Alfonsine Bagnara Bagnacavallo di Romagna

ROM E

Conselice Cotignola Fusignano {13}

Lugo Massa Lombarda Russi

Sant'Agata sul Santerno

· DEEP HISTORICAL ROOTS · Produced by: Servizio di Promozione Turistica dell'Unione dei Comuni della Bassa Romagna

Editing and coordination: Elisabetta Antognoni, Mariangela Baroni, Raffaella Costa

Thanks to everyone that contributed to the creation of this guide

A special thanks to: Gianni Bartolotti Massimo Berdondini John De Leo Italo Graziani Stefano Ricci

Images copyright: Archivio storico edizioni musicali Casadei Sonora (in "La tradizione del Liscio") Arturo Colamussi (for the aerial images of the Roman road structure) Giovanni Dall'Orto (for the image of Borso d'Este) Claudio Nostri (for the image of Eraldo Baldini) Paolo Ruffini (in "Paesaggi di cinema")

Part of the photographs are by Andrea Canducci

Created by Cambiamenti.net Project leader: Carlo Zauli Graphic design: Laura Zavalloni Texts: Alessandro Antonelli English translation: Giulia Ricci

Printed by: Grafiche Morandi