What the territory surrounding the Ca’ Corradini Farmhouse offers.

Ca’ Corradini Farmhouse, situated in the town of Monterenzio, has the fortune to be in one of the most beautiful and historically interesting regions of Italy. The facility rests at the very foot of Mount Bibele, an archaeological area renowned for rare examples of cohabitation between the Etruscans and the Boi Gauls. The first discoveries came only in the 1960’s with subsequent excavation confirming it to be one of the most important Celtic finds in Europe, both for its burial remains (which show the transition from the Etruscan to the Celtic rule) and for the excellent condition of the archaeological site itself.

Even though the territory was deserted after a fire destroyed the area at the beginning of the 2nd century B.C., today we are still able to get a clear picture of everyday life of the period. The archaeological finds are on display at the Archaeological Museum in Bologna and at the Fantini Museum in Monterenzio which holds the fullest Celtic collection in the region and one of the most important in Italy.

In addition to history, if you love nature, you must travel the nearby Flaminia Minor route, an ancient road the Romans used during their conquest of this Celtic territory and subsequently to consolidate their Latin presence.

A more recent history of our Apennines can be seen by visiting the Museum of Peasant Civilization in Monghidoro, which seeks to give a sense of day to day rural life, or the Museum of Art and Craft in Pianoro, with its collections from the past peasant and artisanal civilization of Savena, Idice and Setta Valleys. The area of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines was the scene of important conflicts during the 2nd World War, where the allied front settled for seven months in winter of 1943/44. Numerous collections of war artifacts can be seen in the many museums dispersed along the Gothic Line of the German fortifications.

In the town of Monterenzio they have recently opened the Museo della Linea Gotica nelle NostreTerre (Museum of the Gothic Line in our Lands), where original finds are displayed alongside illustrative documentary panels. Then there is the Museo della Guerra (Museum of War) in Castel del Rio, which has custody of artifacts found in the Santerno Valley and the Museo Storico Etnografico (Historical Ethnographic Museum) in Bruscoli, in Tuscany. Both of these museums give a sense of the many problems caused by the cohabitation of the local population with the foreign troops which flooded into the area during the war.

Just outside the Tuscan regional border, only a few kilometers from the Farmhouse, you can visit the German Military Cemetery of Futa, in which the remains of 30683 German soldiers, who died during the military operations of 1944 and 1945, are buried. Also in this area is the Parco Storico Monte Sole which commemorates the carnage committed by Nazi-Fascist forces in 1944.
The valley is characterized by a number of interesting religious sites. Close to the Farmhouse there is the Shrine of Campeggio, called “la piccola Lourdes Bolognese” (the small Lourdes of Bologna) a copy of the famous Grotto of Massabielle, but as yet no miracles or miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary have been reported here.

Also worth mentioning is the Sanctuary of “Santa Maria of Zena”, better known as Monte delle Formiche (Ants’ Mount). This name comes from a natural phenomenon which occurs every year at the beginning of September when male winged ants migrate to this region in swarms from Central Europe to perform their mating ritual and then die in their hundreds of thousands. Traditionally the peak of this phenomenon occurs on September 8th, the feast day of the sanctuary, but of course this date does vary according to climatic conditions.
The sanctuary offers truly amazing views of the surrounding countryside as well as the Grotto dell’Eremita (the hermit’s cave), dug in the rock and occupied by a hermit of the Jesuata Religious Order in the 16th century. Unfortunately entrance to the cave is no longer possible because of a natural collapse in 2003.

The position of our Farmhouse in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines makes for easy travel to numerous Emilian and Tuscan towns, while the major cities of Bologna or Florence are also easily accessible.
Besides providing all the comforts of home, the Farmhouse sits amidst beautiful natural surroundings, enabling contact with nature while also being close to numerous outdoor recreational activities. This area is well-known for its many exhilarating trekking and mountain bike routes: it is recognized by CAI (Club Alpino Italiano). You can choose from a wide variety of trails which vary in difficulty from easy to challenging and which offer wildly contrasting views of the surrounding area.

The Historical Park of Mount Sole, besides offering the opportunity to visit the memorial sites just mentioned, is also a great choice for open air trips among its diverse native flora and fauna. A visit to Ants’ Mount, with its many interesting geological features should not be missed.

Just a few minutes’ drive from the Farmhouse is the wonderful park “Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell’Abbadessa”, the largest Karst Park in Emilia-Romagna. The roads and walking trails that cross this protected area allow people to view landscapes of unbelievable beauty. From the upper lookout points you can at a glance take in the valley below and on a clear day there is the almost unreal view of the Alps rising above the horizon.

Only a short trip away you can admire the ancient chain of the watermills which in the past was the dominant feature of the area between Loiano and Monghidoro or you can gaze at a starry sky from the Astronomical Observatory in Loiano without the negative and irritating effects of city lights.
Ca’ Corradini Farmhouse is also an excellent starting point for motorcycle enthusiasts who want to take on part of the route of the Passo della Futa (Futa Pass). The old national road, La Statale 65, is considered ideal for motorcyclists: besides assuring breathtaking landscapes, it offers the chance to try an excellent ‘fiorentina’ (a T-bone steak which is a specialty of the area) at any of the numerous restaurants dotted along the way.

For those who just want a relaxing holiday far away from work and stress, the Farmhouse offers a quiet getaway in a country setting. Even so you may still be tempted by the Acquapark swimming-pool, the “Villaggio Termale della Salute Più” (Health Spa) in Monterenzio, the internationally famous Molino del Pero Golf Club or horse-riding in numerous manèges, many of which offer riding lessons.