Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italian comune
Ozzano dell'Emilia is a small town near Bologna with deep roots in Roman history and settlement patterns. It sits between the ancient Via Emilia and rolling hills, containing historical structures such as the church of Monte Armato and remains of a medieval castle on the San Pietro hill.
This settlement grew over the remains of Claterna, an important Roman city whose artifacts are now displayed in the Claterna Museum. In the medieval period a feudal structure developed here with castles and abbeys, including the convent connected to the legend of the blessed Lucia.
The name Ozzano dell'Emilia reflects its position along the ancient Via Emilia, a key Roman trade route. Today visitors notice this heritage in the annual Sagra della Badessa festival, a medieval celebration featuring costumed processions that tell the story of the abbess Lucia and the knight Rolando.
The town is easily reached from Bologna by car or bus and offers a quiet retreat close to the city. Plan a few hours to walk through the historical areas and explore the surrounding hills on foot, especially if you are interested in marked walking trails and cycling routes like the Ciclovia dei Gessi di Gaibola.
The nearby village of Ciagnano offers a surprising view of calanchi, a wild-looking landscape of gullies and sinkholes that appears frozen in time. This dramatic erosion formation remains unknown to many visitors and contrasts sharply with the flat plain below.
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