Pianoro
Encyclopedia
Pianoro is a town and comune
in the province of Bologna
in the Emilia-Romagna
region of Italy
, in the hills of the Tusco-Emilian Apennines
(200 m above sea-level).
Highway SS 65 connects the town to Bologna
and Florence
across the Apennines
. Pianoro has a local railway station with connections to Florence
and Bologna
.
king Ocno (also known as Bianore, mythical founder of Felsina and other cities), lived in the area. There is evidence of Celtic and Etruscan settlement at the Monte Bibele archeological site. The Roman presence in the area is seen in the names of local villages such as Sesto.
Bonifacio of Canossa, feudal lord of Pianoro during the 11th century, used to live in the Castle of Pianoro, subsequently demolished by the inhabitants of Bologna who accused the people of Pianoro of conspiracy.
During World War II
the town was heavily bombed by Anglo-American forces. The Gothic Line
was very close and in October 1944 there was a huge battle (in Livergnano) involving German, American forces and local partisan
s, leaving on the ground thousands of Anglo-American soldiers. Civil engineers reported that 98.5% of the town was completely destroyed during the battle. Many German soldiers are buried in the German Military Cemetery and War Memorial at the Futa pass
, a few kilometers south of the town in the direction of Florence
.
The town was rebuilt three kilometers north of the old site, toward Bologna. The new town is called Pianoro Nuovo (New Pianoro) and the remains of the old are called Pianoro Vecchio (Old Pianoro).
, contains an area of karstic topography
with doline
s, badlands
and cliffs. There are many trails used by walkers and trekkers.
They also have the most successful cricket team of recent times, winning the Serie A 12 Times, the Italian Goblet 14 times and the European Championship once, in 1995.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
in the province of Bologna
Province of Bologna
The Province of Bologna is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Bologna.-Geography:It has an area of 3,702 km², and a total population of 991,647 . There are 60 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Bologna...
in the Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
region of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in the hills of the Tusco-Emilian Apennines
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
(200 m above sea-level).
Highway SS 65 connects the town to Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
across the Apennines
Apennine mountains
The Apennines or Apennine Mountains or Greek oros but just as often used alone as a noun. The ancient Greeks and Romans typically but not always used "mountain" in the singular to mean one or a range; thus, "the Apennine mountain" refers to the entire chain and is translated "the Apennine...
. Pianoro has a local railway station with connections to Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
.
History
According to legend the EtruscanEtruscan
-Etruscan civilization:*Etruscan alphabet*Etruscan architecture*Etruscan art*Etruscan cities*Etruscan civilization*Etruscan coins*Etruscan language*Etruscan mythology*Etruscan numerals*Etruscan society*Etruscan terracotta warriors*Etruscan warfare...
king Ocno (also known as Bianore, mythical founder of Felsina and other cities), lived in the area. There is evidence of Celtic and Etruscan settlement at the Monte Bibele archeological site. The Roman presence in the area is seen in the names of local villages such as Sesto.
Bonifacio of Canossa, feudal lord of Pianoro during the 11th century, used to live in the Castle of Pianoro, subsequently demolished by the inhabitants of Bologna who accused the people of Pianoro of conspiracy.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the town was heavily bombed by Anglo-American forces. The Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
was very close and in October 1944 there was a huge battle (in Livergnano) involving German, American forces and local partisan
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
s, leaving on the ground thousands of Anglo-American soldiers. Civil engineers reported that 98.5% of the town was completely destroyed during the battle. Many German soldiers are buried in the German Military Cemetery and War Memorial at the Futa pass
Futa Pass
The Futa Pass or La Futa Pass is a pass in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, at an elevation of . It is located in the comune of Firenzuola, in the province of Florence. It separated the valleys of Mugello and of the Santerno River....
, a few kilometers south of the town in the direction of Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
.
The town was rebuilt three kilometers north of the old site, toward Bologna. The new town is called Pianoro Nuovo (New Pianoro) and the remains of the old are called Pianoro Vecchio (Old Pianoro).
Economy
Companies located in the area are in the mechanical engineering (Marchesini Group and MG2) and chemicals (Sayerlack S.r.l.) industries.Landscape and tourism
The Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell'Abbadessa Park, shared with San Lazzaro di SavenaSan Lazzaro di Savena
San Lazzaro di Savena is an Italian comune of some 30,000 inhabitants in the province of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna.- Geography :...
, contains an area of karstic topography
Karst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
with doline
Doline
Doline can refer to:* Doline , a village in the Kanjiža municipality, Serbia.* Sinkhole, a natural depression or hole in the surface topography caused by the removal of soil or bedrock, often both, by water....
s, badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
and cliffs. There are many trails used by walkers and trekkers.
They also have the most successful cricket team of recent times, winning the Serie A 12 Times, the Italian Goblet 14 times and the European Championship once, in 1995.
External links
- Official webite
- Googlemap: Pianoro as seen from the satellite
- Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell'Abbadessa Park
- Marchesini Group
- MG2
- SAYERLACK S.r.l.