CHURCHES
ST. PETER'S CHURCH
One of the church's two towers serves the Church as a bell tower, while the other serves the Municipality as a clock-tower. So, like a character from Guareschi's popular “Don Camillo and Peppone” novels, which pitted a priest against a Communist mayor in comical conflict based on animosity infused with affection and respect, the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Sasso stands straddling dual identities in the town’s main square (Piazza dei Martiri della Liberazione – “Martyrs of the Liberation Square”). The church was built between 1802 and 1831 to house the shrine of the Blessed Virgin, formerly kept in the a cave carved into the cliffside. In 1945, the building and the 15th century shrine it contained were both destroyed in a terrible bombing raid, which left only the two bell towers standing. The reconstruction of the current church was completed in 1951, the same year in which artist Giovanni Franchi donated an oil reproduction on wood of the ancient effigy lost to the war. Of particular interest inside the church is an 18th century canvas of “Enthroned Madonna with Children, Angels and Saints,” attributed to the French school, and a magnificent work from the school of Caracci depicting the Madonna of Carmine with Saints Peter, Paul, John the Baptist and Francis. built between 1802 and 1831 to house the shrine of the Blessed Virgin, formerly kept in the a cave carved into the cliffside. In 1945, the building and the 15th century shrine it contained were both destroyed in a terrible bombing raid, which left only the two bell towers standing.
SAN MARTINO OF TIGNANO
Already inhabited in Roman times (accounting for the probable origins of its name, derived from Attinius), during the Middle Ages, the area was owned by the famous Canossa family. They granted vassalage of it to the lords of “Tignano” who, after the death of the countess Matilda (1115), attempted to gain autonomy. In 1366, on the list of Bolognese churches, there were three separate parishes in Tignano dedicated respectively to Saint Martin, Saint Mary and Saint Nicholas. In the 16th century they were united into a single parish. The current structure, dedicated to Saints Martin and Nicholas, was remodeled in 1883-84. Curiously the church does not have a bell tower, but its belfry is located on a hilltop and can be reached by a 90-step staircase. Five hundred meters to the east, on another hill, stands the oratory of Saint Mary, perhaps in homage to the former parish church.
SANTA GIUSTINA OF MONTECHIARO
The Nonantolan List of 1366 includes a Church in the village of Montechiaro, dedicated to Saint Justine who was martyred during the reign of Diocletian in the 4th century. Its white, yellow and rose-tinted façade was the backdrop to the mysterious assassination of parish priest Don Arcangelo Marconi, the illustrious scientist’s uncle, in 1865. But this was not the only event linking this hill to Marconi and his family: in 1427 Cardinal Ludovico Alemanni, papal legate, instituted the County of Montechiaro and nominated Giovanni Giacomo Grifoni (from whom the Marconi home, nearby Villa Griffone, gets its name) as count, with his male descendents to inherit the title.
SAN NICOLO' LAGUNE
There is archeological evidence that the presence of man in the Lagune area dates back at least 5000 years. Documents from the 10th and 11th century mention a castle reported to be located not far from the present day location of the Church. The castle most likely belonged to the L’Aigoni noble family, from which the village name evolved. The church in its present form dates back to the late 18th- early 19th century. Inside the Church are three altars. The central one is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the side ones to the Madonna of the Rosary and Saint Blaise. In some nearby infiltrations of salt water and tar, a gigantic shell fossil, 1.6 m wide and 82 cm tall, was discovered 200 years ago, but unprotected handling of the object led to its eventual crumbling and destruction. Not far from the church stands the little 16th century village of Cò di Villa, home to the chapel of Saint Rocco, built at the end of the 17th century by the Mini family, probably in gratitude for having survived the plague of 1630.
SANT'APOLLONIA ORATORY
“Anyone, holding no matter what title, who happens into our fold, shall be required to hold nine perpetual mass celebrations per week in this oratory for the soul of Claudio Achillini, his forefathers, friends and enemies, under pain of eternal damnation, should this obligation fail to be fulfilled, and under pain of other condemnations as contained in the deed drafted by Romanico Albano in 1638. This marble shall attest to this eternally, in lieu of documents, notaries or witnesses.” This sentence, still visible inside the Oratory, was ordered to be carved in marble by the owner of the villa facing it, Villa Achillini. Claudio Achillini was a renowned poet (see Villa Achillini) who had the oratory of Saint Apollonius built in gratitude for having survived “a year of plague, famine and war, 1630.” The building, located in the center of Sasso Marconi, is entered through a doorway delicately carved in local sandstone displaying two winged creatures in the center of the lintel: the Achillini family crest. A plaster cast of Saint Apollonius being crowned by an angel adorns the apse inside.
SANT'ANSANO OF PIEVE DEL PINO
Saint Ansanus’s Church is among the oldest anywhere around Bologna. The earliest records of its existence date back to 1056, but it is supposed that the church was actually built sometime before the year 1000. During the Middle Ages it was under Bolognese direction and around the year 1300, became the head of about 30 churches, until it was taken over by Pianoro in 1600. Between 1850 and ’60, it was renovated into its current form thanks to the construction and handiwork offered by the community. The trunks of the cypresses in front of the church still bear scars left by explosives set off by the Germans retreating during World War II. Inside, in addition to the main altar, displaying a 17th century Bolognese School painting of Saint Ansanus with John the Baptist and the Madonna and Child, we find four side chapels. The surrounding hillsides, a moonscape of sandstone badlands, are full of characteristic “calanchi,” dramatic cliffs and ravines including a 30 meter tall one known as “il dente” (the tooth).
SAN MICHELE ARCANGELO OF BADOLO
From medieval times, just below the top of the Rock of Badolo, there stood an ancient Church known as Saint Mary of the Castle, unfortunately destroyed during World War II. Still higher up, on the summit stood the castle itself, belonging first to the Bishop of Bologna and later to the Municipality. In 1306, however, it was occupied by the fearsome Counts of Panico, Ghibellines who, after being expelled from Bologna, took refuge in their many castles in the mountains, including the one in Badolo. The Panico family resisted armed Bolognese forces until 1363, when they succumbed to the troops who had been sent to permanently defeat the enemy presence. The vanquished Counts, however, were granted the honors of war by their adversaries. All that remains of that castle today is its ancient staircase, carved into the rocks, which now leads to the church of Badolo dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, first built in the late 14th century. The original building was also destroyed in the war, but was reconstructed in 1976, incorporating some of the elements of its predecessor, still visible, into the new structure. The façade of the church still displays the pockmarks left by the bullets which devastated it. Near Badolo Rock, in addition to archeological finds dated to 2000 years B.C., in July of 1881 a hole was discovered containing 41 bronze axes dating from the Bronze Age (1900-900 B.C.)
SANT'ANDREA OF RASIGLIO
The area of Rasiglio was once divided into two parishes: Rasiglio and Monte Polo. The community of Rasiglio is first mentioned in a decree issued by the Senate of Bologna in 1233 while Monte Polo once boasted a hilltop church, Saint Mary’s, and a castle which would later be conquered by the Viscounts and destroyed. In 1398, Guido da Monte Polo, commanding a troop of 150 men, led an allied army comprised of Bolognese, Florentines, and supporters of the Houses of Gonzaga and Este in a war against the Viscounts of Milan. In the 18th century, the Church of Saint Mary’s of Monte Polo was destroyed by a rockslide and the two parishes were united. The material recuperated from the ruins of the church were utilized for re-enforcing the structure of Saint Andrew’s Church of Rasiglio, giving it its present name dedicating it to both Saints Mary and Andrew. The Doric interior contains a presbytery whose half-domed ceiling is supported by four columns. There are three altars, the largest of which contains and altarpiece depicting Saints Andrew, Lucia and Rocco