Minerbio

Minerbio
Country	Italy
region	Emilia-Romagna
Metropolitan city	Bologna (BO)
Coordinates	44 ° 37 ' N , 11 ° 28' E Coordinates: 44 ° 37 '3 " N , 11 ° 28' 18" E
height	16 m slm
surface	43.04 km²
Residents	8,897 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density	207 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	40061
prefix	051
ISTAT number	037038
Popular name	Minerbiesi
Patron saint	John the Baptist
Website	Minerbio

Minerbio is an Italian municipality with 8,897 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019) in the metropolitan city of Bologna . The name Minerbio comes from the Roman era and was dedicated to the goddess Minerva .

Minerbio

Together with the municipalities of Budrio , Granarolo dell'Emilia , Malalbergo , Baricella and Molinella , Minerbio is part of the "Associazione Terre di Pianura" (roughly translated: Association of Cities in the (Po) Plain ).

history

The area around Minerbio has been populated since the Roman era. This is evidenced not only by the origin of the name, but especially by the Roman traces that are still visible today in the surrounding areas. The draining of these areas began in the first phases of Romanization and was fundamental for the land to be used. The Romans had a decisive influence on the settlement until the late Middle Ages.

One of the oldest documents pertaining to the Minerbio area is dated November 2, 1186, but the foundation of the Minerbios municipality is fixed to the De Pactis Altedi of 1231.

On the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, before the eyes of the whole people, the Lord Mayor of Bologna, Federico da Lavellolungo Bresciano, left the area around Altedo and Minerbio to 150 families. It is not known exactly why the families, all from Mantua , settled in the Bologna area, likely to flee the fighting between the Guelfi and Ghibellini, but it is also possible that climatic changes or simply economic reasons worsened life in Mantua.

This first core of residents may have settled in today's old town, where the typical shapes of the ancient medieval fort can be seen. In addition, the right-angled road crossings have been preserved.

The arrival of the noble Isolani family brought important changes to the settlement. Coming from Cyprus (hence the name Isolani ), they arrived in Bologna in the first years of the 14th century and immediately became famous silk traders. In Minerbio, they started buying land until they had very large estates. In 1369 Domenica Isolani left the testamentary decree to build a church for the people, also a sign of the close relationship between the noble family and the inhabitants. Under the direction of Carlo Francesco Dotti, this church was built in the 18th century and has been called one of the most beautiful in the Bologna region.

The Isolani family developed slowly but steadily from simple rich landowners to real feudal lords with large land holdings, over the centuries the family became one of the most important of the time.

The decisive event was the help in the war at the end of June 1402 in the area of Casalecchio di Reno , in front of the Porta Saragozza. Iacopo Isolani equipped the Minerbiesi with weapons and took part in the war. Together with the other noble families, he set out for Porta S. Donato that night. Their troops took possession of the city and ousted the Bentivoglio government over Bologna.

The Viskonts wanted to show their appreciation for this and expanded the lands of the Isolani family, which were previously restricted to the zone of the castle, in 1403. The Viskonts 'document is the first document that proves the Isolanis' entry as feudal lord. From that moment on, the quarter, which has probably existed since the first Mantuan settlers, developed into its current definitive shape. A magnificent historical and artistic complex of buildings winds around the stately fortress, the construction of which dates back to 1403. 1527 after swiping the mercenaries destroyed, it was built mid-16th century and again in the interior contains a series of frescoes, whose designs in the British Museum are kept in London. You are witness to one of the most famous painters of the time: Amico Aspertini .

The complex also includes a beautiful 17th century villa attributed to Bartolomeo Triachini and the elegant Colombaia Tower. It was built in 1536 and is considered an architectural gem with the wooden spiral staircase by Jacopo Barozzi .

With the debut as Pope of Clemente VII in 1524, Minerbio became forever a county under the ownership of Giovanni Francesco Isolani and his heirs, with an increase in territory much larger than what was added when he entered as a feudal lord.

The Bologna Senate never ended its presence in these areas, in the midst of its jurisdiction. In 1712 the conflicts flared up again and after a series of events the Isolani definitely lost their old rights and their remaining territories were assigned to the municipality of Minerbio.

With the fall of the Isolani, the settlement grew along the bed of the Savena River , which cut through the center of the town at that time. The river, which also supplied the moats of the fortified district with water, is also called Savena Vecchia (Old Savena), as it can look back on a long history, and nowadays the name also appears in two street names (towards Ferrara: Via Savena Inferiore ; Direction Bologna: Via Savena Superiore).

Another example of the fortress architecture in the area is the Castello dei Manzoli (Castle of Manzoli) in the district of San Martino in Soverzano. Built in the first half of the 16th century and renovated under the direction of Alfonso Rubbiani in the 20th century, it is an outstanding example of Bologna's neo-Gothic architectural style.

With the arrival of Napoléon Bonaparte , the area was reclassified and more than 16 places in the zone of Minerbio were merged. After 1815 Minerbio was assigned to the municipality of Budrio, but three years later it was reappointed a municipality itself, this time also including Ca 'de Fabbri and San Giovanni in Triario. Many public buildings were also erected in the 19th century. The first industry emerged and at the end of the century the first workers' associations, such as the Società Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso (1883), were founded.

At the beginning of the 20th century the socialists came to power. The beginning of the Bologna-Malalbergo railway gave the region momentum, but then came the two world wars that claimed many victims.