Massa Lombarda, Italian comune
Massa Lombarda is a small town in the Emilia Romagna region, located in the Province of Ravenna west of Lugo. Its flat landscape is marked by historic buildings from different periods, including the 16th-century Church of San Paolo and a town hall designed by architect Cosimo Morelli, which together with a clock tower frame the town center.
Originally called Massa San Paolo, the town received its current name when families from Brescia and Mantua sought refuge here in the 13th century, fleeing the ruler Ezzelino da Romano. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the town transformed through marsh drainage and fruit cultivation, reaching a peak in 1927 when it hosted the Second National Fruit Exhibition.
The name Massa Lombarda comes from families from Brescia and Mantua who settled here in the 13th century and gave the place their name. The town remains deeply connected to its fruit-growing heritage, which residents celebrate at local festivals like the Sagra delle Sfogline, where women compete to hand-roll traditional pasta sheets.
The town sits on the main road connecting Bologna and Ravenna, making it easy to reach by car or bus. The nearest major airports in Bologna and Rimini are roughly 55 to 75 kilometers away, and train service is available on the Ferrara-Faenza railway line.
Sabadoni are sweet cakes made with a dark syrup called saba, created by boiling grape juice. This local specialty is so important to the town that it is celebrated at festivals and gatherings, drawing visitors who come specifically to taste this traditional treat.
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