Trek in a city criss-crossed by canals. Bologna as an important industrial city with a sophisticated hydraulic system of which, to this day, we can still find traces. In the thirteenth century, Bologna was the fifth largest city in the European population and the largest textile center of Italy.
Of dense water system traces can still be in place names. The channels were almost all underground, as the only natural watercourse, the river Aposa, which runs beneath the streets of the city center and is still seen today with an exciting journey through underground Bologna.
The water has meant for centuries as the essential energy to fuel the manufacturing and trade, particularly for the silk mills, now reconstructed at the Museum of Patriminio Industriale. There is therefore no coincidence that modern symbol of Bologna is really the fontana del Nettuno.

From the Villa Angeletti park the route follows the course of the Canale Navile, since the Middle Ages the main waterway connecting  the great river Po and Bologna and then to the bustling port of Venice. He remained in use until after World War II and along its banks stood the production plants that use energy on  the water with the paddle wheels, as the furnaces, mills and small power plants. Along the way are clearly visible remains of factories, examples of industrial history, the locks and braces used to allow boats to overcome the unevenness. The trek passes by Sostegno del Battiferro in via Beverara then proceed along the Canale Navile until you find the Sostegno Torreggiani, the Sostegno Landi and Grassi. We come finally to the Ponte della Bionda and the Ponte del Vignola.

DATA SHEET

Departure: Villa Angeletti Park, Via Carracci
Difficulty: easy
Time: 1 hour and 30
Distance: 4 km