Between Modena and Bologna lies a little-known yet fascinating heritage: markets, canals, workshops, and hydraulic infrastructures that show how water, labor, and ingenuity have shaped the territory.
This two-day itinerary passes through places where production and innovation intertwine with the landscape, offering an original perspective for discovering both cities and countryside.
From the mercantile architecture of Modena to the industrial areas of Bologna, and on to the canals and hydraulic systems of the plains and the Apennines, the route follows a clear thread: water as the driving force of economic development.
An itinerary suited to those who love history, architecture, and cultural landscapes, as well as to those who wish to explore lesser-known places and observe the territory from a different perspective.
Tip
For logistical reasons, it is advisable to stay overnight in Modena at the end of the first day, allowing time to visit the city stops at a relaxed pace and then travel to Bologna the following day without haste. Alternatively, you may choose to move closer in advance and stay overnight in Bologna to optimize travel on the second day.
Our itinerary begins in Modena, in the heart of the city, with the Foro Boario, built in 1834 at the behest of Francesco IV d’Este.
Its imposing neoclassical façade, with a central portico of three arches and symmetrical colonnaded wings, reflects the importance given to monumentality even in buildings intended for commerce.
To know
Originally conceived as a cattle market and agricultural warehouse, it was for decades the hub of trade linked to Modena’s rural economy. After serving as a barracks and hosting various public functions, today it houses the Department of Economics “Marco Biagi” and exhibition spaces. The building can be visited during opening hours, while the interiors are accessible during events and exhibitions.
We continue to the Fruit and Vegetable Market, designed from 1917 onwards to strengthen the wholesale trade of produce.
Its courtyard layout, with perimeter warehouses and reinforced concrete canopies, reflects the evolution of construction techniques and commercial logistics in the early 20th century. This is where negotiations, weighing, and loading operations took place, within a system that was modern for its time.
Today the complex is listed as a site of cultural interest.
We now move to the Parco della Creatività –exAMCM, just a short walk from Piazza Grande and overlooking the ring roads.
Thanks to a major redevelopment project, the site has been returned to the public as one of the most significant examples of industrial archaeology in the city. The ex-AMCM now hosts the Modena Open Laboratory, a hub for research, innovation, and experimentation in culture, performing arts, and creativity. The restored buildings, with their brick structures, large trusses, and typical early 20th-century industrial volumes, tell the story of the city’s productive past.
To know
At the beginning of the 20th century, this area housed the AMCM complex, home to the municipal electric companies, which managed the city’s electricity and tram network, including the trolleybus line—essential for connecting new districts and supporting urban expansion.
We then leave the city to reach the Water Tower of Formigine, a symbol of civil engineering and local industrial archaeology.
The 36-meter-high tower is accessed via a ladder running along the main water pipe and an elegant external elliptical staircase.
Entering through the gate, one can imagine the well-kept garden that once surrounded it, bordered by a tricolor hedge. To the right lies the large basin of the main fountain, once capable of spectacular jets, while along the promenade stood two rows of fountains leading to the hoist chamber building, used to descend into the pump room below.
Curiosity
After the bombings of 1945, the tower’s few rooms were converted into temporary housing for caretakers, highlighting its strategic and social role within the community.
Useful info
Today the tower can be viewed from the outside, while occasional openings allow visitors to explore this iconic site of Modena’s industrial heritage.
The second day of our itinerary begins in the heart of Bologna, among historic canals and the buildings of the Manifattura delle Arti.
This area lies in the Porto district, named after its historic role as the access point to the Naviglio port, Bologna’s inland harbor for canal-based trade.
Once the core of the city’s production, the area still preserves traces of mills, silk workshops, and factories powered by water. Covering over 100,000 square meters, the Manifattura delle Arti is now home to:
Don’t miss
Nearby, we recommend a visit to the Opificio delle Acque, a documentation center housing tools, machinery, and records on Bologna’s hydraulic system, illustrating how water powered the city’s economy for centuries.
Heading toward Imola, we discover the Canale dei Molini and the historic mills along its banks.
This medieval hydraulic system, one of the most important in the region, powered millstones for grinding grain and supported other productive activities.
Along the canal, remains of buildings and infrastructure reveal how water was managed as an economic driver before modern industrialization. The route is freely accessible, with pedestrian and cycling paths starting from various points in the city, offering a chance to combine industrial archaeology with urban landscape exploration.
Tip
On Viale Saffi, in the green area known as “Le Lavandaie,” you can stop to observe the restored structures of the former washhouse and learn more about the site’s history.
Useful info
Imola can be reached from Bologna in about 30 minutes by regional train or 40 minutes by car. Summer and autumn are the best seasons to enjoy the canal at its most vibrant.
We continue into the plains to visit the Water Museums of the Bonifica Renana.
The expansion basins and historic pumping stations document the transformation of what was once marshland into productive agricultural land. These sites are located in:
Here, water is no longer just a source of energy but an element to be controlled. The industrial buildings, often imposing and designed in Art Nouveau style, house historic pumps and machinery that illustrate the evolution of hydraulic management and land safety.
Useful info
We conclude our itinerary by heading into the Apennines, where historic mills tell the story of mountain communities.
Mulino Cati, located in Ponte di Verzuno (Camugnano) and dating back to the 18th century, still preserves its original millstones and hydraulic structures, demonstrating how water powered local production.
It is often included in walking or hiking routes through the surrounding woods, which offer spectacular views—especially in autumn, when foliage enhances the landscape.
This final stop shows how water has long been a driving force of production, shaping both the economy and architecture of the region.
Curiosity
The site also includes:
Useful info
Mulino Cati can be reached from Bologna in about 1 hour and 15 minutes by car.
