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Water in Emilia Romagna

Waterways have always played a prominent role in our region. The River Po, which flows in the northern part of our Region represents an important ecological heritage.
Reggio Emilia
Water in Emilia Romagna

 

Information

Route across the outskirts and the Towns of the Po River lands.

Route description

Since medieval times, communities settled along the Via Emilia have created a unique system of artificial canals, used for travelling as far as the main trading artery and providing a useful mode of transport for the small town factories. There are records of a complex system in the Reggio territory, with routes in various directions - a Canal to Bagnolo (1270), a Canal to Reggiolo (1273), and a Canal to Correggio (1335) which secured links with Mantova and Ferrara.

Reggio Emilia - Villa d'Este
The villa stands in the centre of a circular lake, created to supply the Ducal Villa fountains. The project was completed in 1757 by Lodovico Bolognini. The small house and island known as "Fuggi l'ozio" and "Isola di Alcina" evoke a world of escape, an ideal and poetic natural world. The place is visible from the Main SS63 road, 7 km south of Reggio Emilia.

 

Gualtieri - The Bentivoglio water tank

Built by the request of Cornelio Bentivoglio in 1576, it is one of the most important hydraulic structures in Reggio, linking the Canal sluice to the "Cavo Fiuma" (River Cavity) passing under the River Crostolo. It is accessed from the SP63 road to Gualtieri: before the bridge over the Parmigiana - Moglia Canal (at "Setteponti"), turn right to arrive at the water-pumping works.

Bagnolo in Piano - The Water Courses (“Le Rotte”)

It was the main Reggio waterway junction, where the Reggio Canal waters leaving the city met the Rodano stream. The two routes commissioned by Borso d'Este in 1455, one going towards Bagnolo - Novellara, the other to Guastalla, both started here. The modern water-pumping works are visible from Via Gramsci, before entering Bagnolo in Piano.

Boretto -  Museum dedicated to the Po and internal Canals, and the management of the waterways
Material in the museum originate from the autonomous Section of the Po Engineers, responsible since 1925 for the management of the waterways. Boats and equipment relating to their maintenance and construction are on display.

Castellarano - Aqueduct

The remains of the 13 original arches constructed in 1740 by Carlo Filiberto II d'Este to support the channel supplying the fortress's fountains, fired the imagination of 19th century historians, who created the legend, still found in today's cartography, that the ruins are part of a "Roman Aqueduct".