Loiano

Loiano is an important tourist center in the Bolognese Apennines and boasts a privileged position due to its proximity to the historic Futa road, which connects the cities of Bologna and Florence. This road is the privileged destination of the "Mille Miglia," the famous car race that crosses the Apennines towards Rome. Loiano is also home to the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Bologna, founded in 1936 and equipped with modern devices to conduct studies of the celestial vault and explore the infinity of the universe. Among its attractions is a historic Zeiss telescope dating back to the 1930s, as well as a more recent one with a diameter of 152 cm, dedicated to astronomer Domenico Cassini.

Many hikes allow people to discover the beautiful surrounding mountain landscape. An ideal route is the "Vie dell'Anello" a soft mobility project that connects the four partner municipalities namely Loiano, Monghidoro, Monzuno, and San Benedetto Val di Sambro. The Vie dell'Anello is a trail created with the aim of allowing residents and visitors to explore the area's splendor through a well-organized and accessible route that offers the opportunity to fully plunge in the nature and culture of the area.

For mountain bikers, in Loiano riders can challenge themselves on the trails of the Bologna Montana Bike Area, the mountain area dedicated entirely to cross country and enduro riders. In BOM.BA., there are trails dedicated to downhill, freeride and enduro as well, attracting riders from all over the region. In 2014, it even hosted a stage of the Challenge Emilia Romagna mountain bike championship.

Also part of Loiano's history is one of the most fascinating episodes of the Italian Risorgimento. On the 28th of September 1859, at Palazzo Loup in the small town of Scanello, was held a secret summit that would later lead to the adoption of the single currency, the Lira, in anticipation of the unification of the Kingdom of Italy under Vittorio Emanuele II.