Grizzana Morandi: Art, Architecture and Trails on Montovolo

Grizzana Morandi brings together art history, architecture and landscape. When planning a stay, you can focus on its very different attractions: from Giorgio Morandi’s studio to historic religious buildings and hiking and pilgrimage routes. The following places and routes offer concrete points of reference.

Art and Architecture in Grizzana Morandi

The Casa Museo Giorgio Morandi preserves the studio and its complete furnishings. The Fienili del Campiaro are also connected with Morandi’s artistic circle: they house exhibition spaces for artists who studied under Morandi at the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Bologna. Since 2000, the Fienili have also housed the Centro di Documentazione. The workshops run by the Associazione Liberi Incisori are devoted to etching and printmaking.

The Rocchetta Mattei tells a different story. Count Cesare Mattei (1809–1896) had it built on the ruins of the 13th-century Rocca di Savignano. During a visit, a guide accompanies visitors throughout the tour. As visitor arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before your visit.

The religious buildings also vary in age and design. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta di Riola was the first Christian church designed by Alvar Aalto. The Oratorio di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria di Montovolo dates from between 1217 and 1219; its cycle of images depicting scenes from the life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria was created in the second half of the 15th century. The Santuario di Santa Maria della Consolazione was built in the 13th century on the remains of an earlier church.

Craft history also shapes some of the local sites. Campolo is known as the “village of stonemasons”; a significant Apennine tradition of sandstone working developed on the slopes of Montovolo. Borgo La Scola, meanwhile, has been preserved almost unchanged and is recognized as a historic centre. Grizzana Morandi thus brings together different ways of engaging with history: visual art, religious architecture, stoneworking and a historic town centre.

Montovolo, Landscape and Trails

Grizzana Morandi is set on a ridge with panoramic views across the Reno and Setta valleys. Montovolo is 912 metres high. Its summit is home to a sanctuary, a crypt dating back around nine centuries and an oratory dedicated to Saint Catherine. The summit area also includes the so-called Balzo, a steep slope several hundred metres high overlooking the valley below along the Reno. The landscape around Montovolo is protected by the Parco provinciale di Montovolo-Vigese and the Natura 2000 network.

For a hike, the clearly described 14-kilometre route starting from Riola railway station is one option. It passes Rocchetta Mattei, La Scola, Cà Dorè, Predolo and Borgo degli Sterpi before reaching Campolo at the foot of Montovolo, following the route marked with CAI trail sign 039. Check trail conditions before setting out.

The Via Mater Dei offers a different scale: this pilgrimage route, around 157 kilometres long, runs in seven stages to the Marian sanctuaries of the Bolognese Apennines and passes through Grizzana Morandi, among other places. Its length and stages distinguish it clearly from the 14-kilometre hike described above. This raises a practical question for your planning: would you rather focus on a single hiking route passing through several named places, or make the longer pilgrimage route your main focus?

Cycling is another possible focus in the area. Project information published in June 2025 about the Grizzana Bike Area lists mapped and rideable cycling routes in Grizzana Morandi and the neighbouring municipalities. Technical route details, the required experience level, recommended bicycle types, and information about services, food and drink, and local activities were available via Mowi. The routes and services listed there may change; check the information before making your plans.

Riola SFM railway station is an intermodal transport hub for sustainable tourism and is located close to the Rocchetta Mattei complex. Riola is therefore also a useful reference point if you are looking into the connection between the station and this cultural landmark.

Discover more destinations: Fontana, Castel Di Casio, Cà Bianca, Pizzano, Monzuno, Vidiciatico, Monghidoro, Dozza.

For the broader travel overview: Bologna.