Castello di Serravalle

The hamlet, located on the border between Modena and Bologna, occupies a strategic position rising on a small hill that dominates the landscape and provides a panoramic view of the valley of the Ghiaie di Serravalle stream, characterized by vineyards and cultivated fields. Toward the north, the village overlooks the valley of the Rio d'Orzo stream. The village of Castello di Serravalle, located on the border between Modena and Bologna, occupies a strategic position on a small hill overlooking the landscape and providing a panoramic view of the valley of the Ghiaie di Serravalle stream, characterized by vineyards and cultivated fields. To the north, the village overlooks the valley of the Rio d'Orzo stream. Walking through the small center feels like taking a step back in time: you can see a section of battlemented walls, the palaces of Boccadiferro and the Municipal Palace (formerly the headquarters of the Mountain Captaincy), and the dovecote tower. The ancient town hall now houses the Ecomuseum of the Hill and Wine, a distributed museum that tells the history and traditions of Valsamoggia.

Despite some legends, such as that of Charlemagne's supposed stop in Castello di Serravalle on his way to Rome for the imperial coronation in the year 800, there are no certainties about the presence of an actual "castle" until the 13th century.

The village, today quiet and peaceful, has experienced a complex past of contrasts, destructions, reconstructions and modifications, evidenced by the many gates and passages that were opened and later plugged, still visible today in the walls. On November 15, 1325, Castello di Serravalle was at the center of a circumventing maneuver that led to the Battle of Zappolino, one of the bloodiest battles of the Middle Ages. Involving some five thousand horsemen and thirty thousand infantrymen, the battle saw the Ghibellines of Modena inflict a severe defeat on the Guelphs of Bologna, pushing as far as the gates of Bologna and resulting in robbery and looting. This historical event left an indelible mark on the history of the village of Castello di Serravalle.