Grizzana Morandi: Art, Montovolo and Historic Places

Grizzana Morandi between Art, Landscape and History

Grizzana Morandi is situated on a ridge in a scenic location. From here, views stretch across the Reno and Setta valleys. However, the special character of the town is revealed not only in its landscape: culture, sacred buildings, historic villages and trails for hikers and cyclists can be combined to create different travel experiences. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Grizzana Morandi can therefore plan their stay around their preferred focus – with art history, mountain landscapes or active days at the centre.

Following in the Footsteps of Giorgio Morandi

An important cultural point of interest is the Casa Museo Giorgio Morandi. It preserves the complete furnishings and the studio where Giorgio Morandi painted some of his best-known works. The Centro di Documentazione in the Fienili del Campiaro, housed there since 2000, offers further insight. The Fienili also contain exhibition spaces for artists who studied under Morandi at the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Bologna. In the workshops of the Associazione Liberi Incisori, also located there, etching and printmaking are practised.

The architecture also makes a striking impression. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta di Riola was the first Christian church designed by Alvar Aalto. Rocchetta Mattei was built by Count Cesare Mattei (1809–1896) on the ruins of the 13th-century Rocca di Savignano. During visits, a guided tour accompanies visitors throughout the entire route. For travel planning, it is also worth noting that Riola SFM railway station is considered an intermodal transport hub for environmentally friendly tourism and is located in the immediate vicinity of the Rocchetta Mattei complex.

Historic Villages and Sacred Places

In the Borgo La Scola, a historic centre has been preserved almost unchanged. In Campolo, an important Apennine tradition of sandstone processing developed on the slopes of Montovolo; the village is known as the “village of stonemasons”. Sacred destinations include the Santuario di Santa Maria della Consolazione, built in the 13th century on the remains of an earlier church, and the Oratorio di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria di Montovolo. The latter dates from between 1217 and 1219 and is decorated with a cycle of paintings created in the second half of the 15th century depicting scenes from the life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

Montovolo, Pilgrimage Route and Active Days

Montovolo is 912 metres high. Its summit is home to a sanctuary, a crypt around nine centuries old, the oratory dedicated to Saint Catherine and the so-called Balzo, a steep slope several hundred metres high overlooking the valley below on the Reno. The landscape around Montovolo is protected by the Parco provinciale di Montovolo-Vigese and the Natura 2000 network.

For longer excursions, the approximately 157-kilometre Via Mater Dei leads in seven stages to the Marian sanctuaries of the Bolognese Apennines and passes through Grizzana Morandi, among other places. A shorter 14-kilometre hiking trail begins at Riola railway station, passes Rocchetta Mattei, La Scola, Cà Dorè, Predolo and the Borgo degli Sterpi, and reaches Campolo at the foot of Montovolo. The route is marked with CAI trail marker 039. Cyclists will find mapped and rideable cycling routes in the Grizzana Bike Area, covering the area of Grizzana Morandi and the neighbouring municipalities. Mowi provides technical route details, information on the required level of experience, recommended bicycle types, and information on services, refreshment options and local activities.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When looking for accommodation in Grizzana Morandi, it helps to determine your preferred daily rhythm first. For travellers interested in culture, Morandi’s studio, the Fienili del Campiaro, Rocchetta Mattei and the churches are the main attractions. Those who want to experience the landscape actively can include the hiking trail from Riola, the Via Mater Dei or the activities of the Grizzana Bike Area in their plans. Families and groups with different interests can combine the cultural attractions and trails into different day programmes without committing to just one type of travel. This keeps the choice of a holiday apartment or holiday house aligned with their own travel plans.

For further guidance, you can also open the following entries: Ponticelli, San Giorgio Di Piano, Calcara, Calderara Di Reno, I Casoni, San Martino in Pedriolo, Madonna dei Fornelli, Marzabotto.

To the higher-level travel overview: Bologna.