Canale delle Moline, Medieval canal in central Bologna, Italy
The Canale delle Moline is a waterway flowing through central Bologna as part of a network of five canals connected to the Navile, Savena, and Reno. The water channel weaves between historic buildings and remains visible at several points along its path through the city.
The waterway was created in the Middle Ages as a vital part of the city's infrastructure and operated mills for centuries. These mills processed wheat and silk, making the channel essential to Bologna's economy until the early 1900s when the mills eventually ceased operation.
The waterway flows past traditional houses with painted facades that shaped Bologna's appearance over the centuries. This building style allowed residents to live directly by the water while organizing the city around these essential passages.
The canal can be viewed from several vantage points including the bridge on Via Piella and the stretch between Via Capo di Lucca and Via Alessandrini. Morning and early afternoon light works best for seeing the water and the historic buildings along the banks.
The houses numbered 9 to 25 on Via Capo di Lucca were built in the 1500s specifically for the millers who operated the wheat mills. These dwellings had direct access to the water-powered equipment, allowing workers to manage their mills from their own homes.
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