ZOLA PREDOSA - Bologna
Guide of ZOLA PREDOSA
ZOLA PREDOSA is a city with a population of 18,625 in the province of Bologna.
His origins are very ancient and date back to the Bronze Age. In this area, artifacts belonging to the Villanovan, Etruscan, and Roman cultures have been found, which can now be admired at the Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna.
Before coming under the control of the city of Bologna, these lands belonged to Countess Matilda of Canossa; later, during the Middle Ages, many of the castles and parish churches that were located in this territory were destroyed, although many of them were rebuilt exactly where they once stood.
In the sixteenth century, when Bologna becomes part of the Papal States, there is a period of peace and tranquility that lasts for about three centuries, during which some of the most beautiful country houses of Zola Pedrosa are built by noble families.
WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IN ZOLA PREDOSA - the villas
The villages are the jewel of Zola Predosa in Bologna: it is worth going to visit:
- Palazzo Albergati, of Baroque era, one of the most important architectural works of European seventeenth century. Its great halls with vaulted ceilings, frescoed with scenes from mythology, have been used both as theater and as center of social life, hosting prominent figures of various eras, from Voltaire to the King of Spain to Luciano Pavarotti.
- Also very beautiful is Palazzo Bentivoglio Pepoli, which has recently been completely restored, with its painted wooden ceilings and gardens with fountains for water games, a feature that has distinguished it even in antiquity.
- The visit to Ca' La Ghironda, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art cannot be missed: the park features a botanical garden, an open-air theater, and an exhibition of 210 sculptures by various artists, including Manzù, Messina, Stahler, and many others. Inside the museum proper, one can admire 500 works by the most important national and international artists, from the 1500s to the present day, including De Chirico, Fontana, Picasso, and Chagall.
- For motor enthusiasts, nearby in Borgo Panigale is the Ducati Museum, where one can trace the history of the famous motorcycle manufacturer.
- For those who love outdoor activities, starting from Gesso and following the Gessaroli Trail, one can reach the ancient gypsum quarries, from which many trails can be explored on foot or mountain bike, passing through oak and chestnut forests, and along which, if one is lucky, deer, roe deer, and foxes can be spotted.
EVENTS AND MANIFESTATIONS
So many events are held every year in Zola Predosa:
- a cavallo tra la fine di giugno e l’inizio di luglio si svolge la manifestazione “Zola Jazz&Wine”, nel 2017 alla 18° edizione, un’occasione per ascoltare dell’ottima musica e degustare il vino delle cantine di Zola;
- a metà luglio si tiene la Fira d’Zola, nella quale si possono riscoprire gli antichi mestieri e le tradizioni del territorio, con bancarelle, spettacoli e stand enogastronomici;
- nella seconda metà di settembre c’è “Mortadella, please” un festival internazionale dedicato al salume simbolo dell’Emilia Romagna e della zona di Bologna in particolare;
- a dicembre invece la città si veste a festa in occasione dei Mercatini di Natale, diventati ormai una tradizione.
in the hinterland of Bologna, towards south-west
CAR:: From the A14 Motorway, take the exit for BolognaBorgo Panigale to reach Zola Predosa; from the A1, take the exit for Bologna Casalecchio; from Bologna's ring road, take exit n. 3
TRAIN : Metropolitan Rail Service, frequent schedule, from Bologna Central to Vignola, stops Zola Predosa : Riale ; Pilastrino, Ponte Ronca, Zola Centro, Zola Chiesa
PREDOSAL ZOLA
Information and Tourism Office
Bolognese Hills
Villa Garagnani, Via Masini 11 - 40069 Zola Predosa
Tel. +39 051 9923221
info@iatcollibolognesi.it
www.iatcollibolognesi.it
Town of Zola Predosa
161 Republic Square,
Tel.: +39 051 616 1611
www.comune.zolapredosa.bo.it
