Lizzano In Belvedere
Mount Belvedere dominates the small town of Querciola and from its top you can enjoy an extraordinary panorama of both the Tuscan-Emilian ridge and the Modena-Bolognese one.
The position of the castle is strategic; it was built here in 1227 as a defence against the aggression of the emperor Frederick II, who aspired to conquer towns such as Rocca, Belvedere and Cappel Buso.
The castle was once known as “Cimbriano”, possibly from the ancient word "cembro", indicating pine wood; it used to have two entrances, one on the south and one on the west, a chapel (where an iron cross currently stands, since 1904), a wide indoor cistern with a well, defensive walls with battlements and two towers at the entrance.
In the XV century, when the seigniories started to prevail over the municipalities, the castle lost importance and part of its structures were transferred into various buildings in the area.
More recently, during the Second World War, the Gothic Line passed through here, where the Americans and the partisans conquered the German stronghold during the famous battle of the 10th Mountain Division (February 1945, as part of the "Encore" military operation).
This mountain has some colourful legends; the most famous one is about a young woman named Oliva, who was kidnapped, taken on top of the mountain and given to the devil in exchange of the ancient treasure of Belvedere; the devil had indeed asked for a young pregnant woman bearing the name of a plant. When the devil lifter her, he saw an image of the Madonna on her belt and dropped Oliva immediately; the young woman fell with her arms open where now lies the “cross of Oliva”, a cross shaped furrow where allegedly the grass does not grow.
Map
Mount Belvedere
40042 Lizzano in Belvedere
