VERGATO- Bologna
Guide to VERGATO
Vergato is a town of 7,714 inhabitants in the Tosco-Emilian Apennines in the province of Bologna, which is about 42 kilometers away. Its origins are very ancient, dating back to the Etruscan and Roman periods: "vergato" was a striped fabric used in antiquity, and it seems that this is the origin of the town's name.
Due to its border position between various fiefs and important holdings, its history shows many territorial changes from the Middle Ages to the present.
It was part of Countess Matilda of Canossa's possessions, then became the seat of the Captain of the Mountains (an administrative institution established by Bologna), until it became an autonomous city in the second half of the 1500s. For a period in the 1800s, it was part of the Papal States, before becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy.
WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO
In the main square one can see the Town Hall, which today serves as the town hall. Over the centuries it has undergone many restoration interventions, the last following the severe damage it sustained during World War II. On the facade one can still see the 97 coats of arms (originally 116) and some inscriptions of the families of the Town Captains who succeeded from 1440 to the end of 1770. Interesting are the stained glass windows created by the internationally renowned artist and native of Vergato, Luigi Ontani, in the Council Chamber. The Town Hall is open every day except Sunday and entry is free.
MATTEI SPINELLI
Absolutely worth visiting is the Rocchetta Mattei, an eclectic-style castle built in the 1800s by Count Cesare Mattei, an early scientist who dedicated his life to a science he called Elettromeopatia, which reached its greatest international success in the 1820s and 1830s.
Famous for this "healing art" and the air of mystery that surrounded him, his ingenuity is responsible for the grandeur and powerful allegorical nature of this building, which is now open to visitors again following an extensive restoration, although it is not yet complete.
In addition to the Castle, it is also possible to visit the Archive-Museum with various documents and artifacts related to Count Cesare Mattei and his creations, the Rocchetta, and Electrophobia.
HISTORICAL REGIONAL PARK OF MONTE SOLE
The Historical Regional Park of Monte Sole deserves a visit, established in 1989 to commemorate the Monte Sole Massacre; today, the park is a protected area and an ideal habitat for many animal species, from wolves to deer, to roe deer, to many bird species, such as the green woodpecker or the kingfisher. Ideal for a walk or a mountain bike ride, but also for pleasant horseback rides, the park also offers some interesting thematic trails: a historical trail that leads to the remains of the ancient Etruscan city of Kainua, another that retraces the history of the Monte Sole Massacre, and two naturalist trails, one that shows the changes brought about over the centuries by humans, and one that allows observing animals in their natural habitat, finally an artistic trail to admire the landscape that inspired Italian painter and engraver Giorgio Morandi of the 1900s.
LABANTINE CAVES
A pochi chilometri da Vergato si trovano le splendide Grotte di Labante, scavate nel travertino dal passaggio dell’acqua e sormontate da una cascata che rende questo paesaggio ancora più pittoresco. Le Grotte si trovano all’interno di un parco adatto sia per escursioni a piedi che in bicicletta, inoltre ci sono vari punti attrezzati per organizzare barbecue in tutta sicurezza.
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS - TRADITIONAL PRODUCTS
There are many events that take place in the commune of Vergato: in May in Riola, the Sagra della Sfrappola, this year at its 62nd edition, with reenactments of ancient trades, parades in medieval costumes and enogastronomic stands with local specialties such as tigelle, crescentine and sfrappole (a kind of frappe), ending with fireworks.
Typical of the area and very renowned is the Tolè potato, celebrated in September with the Potato Festival where it is possible to taste typical dishes made with potatoes (try the potato tart with truffle).
In mid-October, the “Tartufesta” is held, a great event that celebrates mountain cuisine and the goodness of the white truffle of the Bolognese hills.
Pro Loco di Vergato
www.prolocodivergato.it
Town of Vergato
Piazza Capitani della Montagna, 1
Tel. 051.674 67 00
USEFUL CONTACT INFORMATION
LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) Hospital of VERGATO -
Via Dell'Ospedale, 1
Tel.: 051 674 9111
where - on the mountains of Bologna, towards the south
CAR: From the A1 Motorway, take the exit for Sasso Marconi to reach Vergato, then continue on the SS64 Porrettana towards Porretta/Pistoia
TRAIN : Metropolitan Railway Service, frequent schedule, from Bologna Central to Porretta, Vergato Station
