San Benedetto Val di Sambro

The municipality of San Benedetto Val di Sambro is located in the mountainous area south of Bologna, surrounded by green and vast forests that cover the highest elevations, from Pian di Balestra up to Monte dei Cucchi, which are more than 1,000 meters high. A lovely tourist attraction is Castel dell’Alpi lake, originated in 1951 after a landslide that blocked the Savena River. This event was catastrophic for the ancient hamlet of Castel dell’Alpi, however it created the lake, which is now a popular tourist destination, mainly during the summer. Fishing in this lake is also allowed. History has left significant artistic evidence in the area.

In the center of the village of Pian del Voglio, you will find the ancient hamlet and the Palazzo Comitalem with a tower dating back to the 15th century. This building was used as a residence by the Medici family during their exile from Florence and was also the home of Cardinal Lambertini, future Pope Benedict XIV.

A crossroads for naturalistic destinations and a stop on the famous path Via degli Dei, which leads from Bologna to Florence, at an altitude of almost 800 meters the locality of Madonna dei Fornelli allows walkers to plunge in the scenic mountain forests, where are hidden the findings of the ancient Roman road Flaminia Minor, or Militaris, which ploughed the ridge here, heading towards Tuscany. The remains of the cobblestones, although widely debated in the academic world, still arouse great fascination.

Not far away, the beautiful and little-known village of Qualto, the oldest in the area, dating back to the 1200s, is worth a visit. Here you can get lost in the narrow medieval alleys among centuries-old stone houses. In the main square stands the monumental 14th-century church of San Gregorio Magno, dedicated to the Beata Vergine del Carmine.

Another interesting hamlet is Cà Musolesi, with its architectural elements dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and a building that clearly shows the characteristics of the tower-house, a very common type of building in the Apennines, which served both for residential and defensive purposes. In Ripoli, on the other hand, you will find a 14th-century church, while in the village of Serra stands the sanctuary of the Beata Vergine built in 1616, In Ripoli, on the other hand, you will find a 14th-century church, while in the hamlet of Serra stands the sanctuary of the Beata Vergine built in 1616, inside which is a canvas depicting the Madonna del Rosario. Ripoli, as well as Madonna dei Fornelli, is a stop on the Via Mater Dei, the route that links all the main shrines of the Bolognese Apennines.

Other ancient villages include Zaccanesca, of medieval origin, which still has intact architectural features left by the Comacini masters. Another interesting attraction is the so-called "Via dei Mulini", which runs along the Sambro and Setta rivers. You can discover about 40 water mills here, some of them hidden by vegetation, others still clearly visible and functioning. These mills testify an important part of local history and the ancient milling activity.

Not to be missed

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