Fontana – Borgo, Fountain and Mastelletta Route

Fontana is a borgo beyond the cliff, in the direction of Marzabotto. Its history comes to life through tangible features: Palazzo Sanuti, the fountain in its courtyard, and the paths connecting the village with journeys of the past and the Mastelletta Route. The perspectives shift between architecture, place names, landscape and movement. If you are choosing a holiday destination not only for its green character but also for the stories told by its buildings and paths, Fontana offers several starting points for planning. The key question is whether you would prefer to focus on its architectural and local history or on the route.

Palazzo Sanuti, the Fountain and Traces of Frescoes

Palazzo Sanuti was built in the mid-15th century by Nicolò Sanuti as a country residence for his family. The building offers a tangible starting point for exploring Fontana’s local history: the borgo’s name derives from the fountain in the palazzo’s courtyard. Spring water was drawn from this fountain. In this way, the building, the place name and the historical use of water are part of a shared local story. Traces of a fresco depicting Sanuti and his second wife, Nicolosia Castellani, can also still be seen on the palazzo.

Opposite the entrance to the palazzo, the oratory stands among a row of houses along the street. A fresco of Saint Anthony Abbot once occupied the lunette on its façade, but no trace of it remains. Two different stories therefore stand side by side: remnants of a fresco are visible on the palazzo, while the image in the oratory is known only as a lost work. Visitors interested in art and historic buildings will find a striking contrast between surviving traces and a vanished fresco.

A Route Between the Borgo and the Reno

The Mastelletta Route offers another perspective on Fontana. It connects the centre of Sasso Marconi with Borgo Fontana and follows the Reno; Palazzo Sanuti is one of its stops. The route is associated with the Baroque painter Giovanni Andrea Donducci, known as Mastelletta. The landscapes and the route’s setting are also connected with him. The route thus brings together local history, landscape and art history: the palazzo is a tangible historical landmark, while the path along the Reno draws attention to the surrounding area.

The ancient Via Saragozza, now Via Porrettana, passed by the cliff, descended via Via Gasparri to the river, then climbed back up through Fontana. This historic sequence illustrates the transition from higher ground to the river and then uphill again. It offers a different way of understanding the area from the Mastelletta Route: here, the focus is on the former road, while the other route connects Sasso Marconi, Borgo Fontana and the Reno. The Osteria alla Fontana is also part of the history of travel. It was a resting place for travellers heading up the valley from Bologna.

Green Surroundings and Choosing a Travel Focus

Greenery dominates Fontana; in some places, trees introduced from distant regions shape the village’s appearance. This landscape adds another perspective to the stories of the palazzo, the oratory and the historic paths. When planning a trip, you can consider whether you would rather explore the buildings and traces of frescoes or experience Fontana in the context of a route and its landscape.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Fontana, this question can help you decide what you want to focus on during your stay. The history of travel offers further points of interest: the palazzo was built as a country residence, the fountain gave the borgo its name, and the osteria once served as a resting place for travellers making their way through the valley. Together, these details paint a picture of Fontana that can be explored through its buildings as well as its paths and landscape.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ponticelli, Fontanelice, Borgonuovo, San Lazzaro Di Savena, Bologna, Grizzana Morandi, Marzabotto, San Giorgio Di Piano

Return to the main travel overview: Bologna.