Chiusa di Casalecchio di Reno

The Chiusa di Casalecchio (Sluice of Casalecchio) stands almost in the middle of the Reno river course: 83 km from its source (on the mount Monte delle Piastre, locality Pruneta, 900 metres above sea level) and 128 km from Torre di Primaro where the river flows into the Adriatic sea after having crossed plains of Bologna, Ferrara and Ravenna.

Impressive powerful walls of the dam that blocks waters of Reno must be admired if you think that the Chiusa di Casalecchio is the oldest, still-operating hydraulic work in Europe– in continuous and uninterrupted function.

The lock and the Reno canal were changing their functions according to economic and environmental needs of the city during long centuries but mainly in the last fifty years. The lock is monumental: 160,45 m long, 35,45 m wide (in average) and 8,25 m high. Part of water of Reno river is diverted through an inlet called “Il Boccaccio” placed on the right side of the river into the artificial Canale di Reno.

It is the symbol of energy that allowed the city of Bologna and its plain to grow up economically. Its importance increased at the end of 2010 when it was included into the list of UNESCO 2000-2010 heritage messengers programme as a symbol of the culture of peace in favour of young people.