Comune di Conselice

The town of frogs Conselice lies in a territory that used to be dominated
by water and marshes. The town boasts a reputation for gastronomy related to this ecosystem, to the extent that it’s known as the “town of frogs”. Every year, at the beginning of Autumn, Conselice celebrates this gourmet delicacy with a renown feast.

The earliest historical document about Conselice dates back to 1084; the place was known as Caput Silicis and was a port in the marshes of Po di Primaro, in the “Valle Padusa”, a strategic location for commercial exchanges between Imola and Venice. The settlement started to grow around the fort
and its mooring docks. The village of S. Patrizio grew up in a more salubrious location south of Conselice; it had a parish church, woods and lands for pasture (in San Giovanni in Pentecaso) which were the cause of centuries-old quarrels with the neighbours in Massa Lombarda. Conselice was often flooded and its inhabitants used to find shelter in S.Patrizio; this led the two communities to merge in 1430.
The town was ruled by the church and by the House of Este, but in 1460 it achieved a degree of autonomy by setting up its own municipal statute, which ranks amongst the oldest in Romagna. In 1598 the Pope Clement VIII declared the town “Castello della Delegazione di Ferrara”, under the rule of the Prince of Ferrara, but still in his own control. Conselice also cultivated strong links with Imola’s bishop.
During the Napoleonic period the town was annexed to Massa Lombarda; in 1814 it became an independent municipality again and Rodolfo Vacchi was nominated podestà.
The village of Lavezzola, which was once independent, joined Conselice. Over the centuries locals have maintained and created new canals, protecting the ancient mills canal and planting rice fields. However, major reclamation works only took place from the end of the 19th century onwards; the canal Destra Reno was created in 1930. When Conselice was annexed to the Kingdom of Savoy in 1859 it was a very poor community; it was only then that the town hall, the squares and the school were designed and the first segment of the railway was opened by the MP Andrea Costa, thus connecting the area with the main towns of Romagna. The fact that two-thirds of the population lived in extreme poverty and worked in the harsh environment of the rice fields led to social unrest and violence in 1890. This was the beginning of 20th century economic development; workers’ associations of “mutuo soccorso” started to provide welfare support. These were followed by workers cooperatives in Conselice and
Lavezzola; the harsh economic landscape of the 19th century started to change. Thanks to the effort of the locals, rice fields and large estates gave way to great reclamation works and to a new economic system based on modern farms and flourishing small and medium businesses.

THINGS TO SEE

CHIESA ARCIPRETALE DI SAN MARTINO
Piazza F. Foresti
The church is located in the main square of the town and was built in 1830 on the ruins of an 11th century Romanesque church. It was designed by the architect Giuseppe Magistretti in 1820; it was consecrated in 1869 and decorated by the Ferrarese painter Augusto Paglierini in 1928. It houses an
altarpiece, painted by the local 19th century artist Martino Vacchi, depicting the Saints Martin and Patrick; the oval Madonna and sleeping child is an 18th century painting of Bolognese school. The last chapel on the right has an interesting decoration on the theme of the rosary and was painted by Alessandro Scorzoni in 1880.

MONUMENTO A DON FRANCESCO GIANSTEFANI
Piazza F. Foresti
The monument was created by Cesare Rabbi in 2004 to celebrate the decades-long effort of Father Francesco Gianstefani in helping the local population, from the ’30s till the long and difficult reconstruction after World War II.

PALAZZO COMUNALE
Via Garibaldi, 14
The Neoclassical town hall was designed by the engineer Lorenzo Fontana and built in 1880. It has two storeys and a portico with five arches on the ground floor. The large windows and the decorated pilasters contribute to refine the façade.

TEATRO COMUNALE DI CONSELICE
Via Selice, 125 – Tel. +39 348 7095919 – www.teatroconselice.it
The theatre originates from a former 1866 cholera ward. The building has typical 20th century architectural features. The theatre has a varied programme of entertainment and events, amongst which a theatre season directed by the famous actor Ivano Marescotti.

MONUMENTO AL RANOCCHIO
Via Prestankow
This curious monument celebrates frogs, the protagonists of one of the oldest feasts in the region and important contributors to the local economy. The sculpture was created by Gian Piero Baldazzi and inaugurated in September 2000.

MONUMENTO ALLE MONDINE E AGLI SCARIOLANTI
Via Copernico, corner with via Di Vittorio
The monument celebrates the earliest workers revolts and the rice weeders claims, which lead to the 1890 massacre, during the infamous “Settimana Rossa”. The sculpture is by Luciano Caldari.

MONUMENTO ALLA LIBERTÀ DI STAMPA
Piazza della Libertà di Stampa
The monument celebrates press freedom; in particular, it’s a memorial to the brave World War II clandestine printers and couriers of CNL. The sculpture was created out of an old printer activated by pedals; today it proudly reaffirms the importance of freedom of information in the history of Italian democracy.

PIAZZETTA GUARESCHI
This small and magic square lies along Via Buscaroli, near the main square. Inaugurated in October 2004, it features a series of mural paintings created by the stage designer Gino Pellegrini; the paintings depict the local rural landscape, events of the collective memory and images from the films based on Guareschi’s novels.

IN THE AREA

MAGAZZINO MANIFATTURA TABACCO E RISO
Via Coronella (Tarabina di Chiesanuova) – Tel. +39 0545 980013
Lovers of industrial archaeology should not miss this old building, which
used to be a tobacco and rice factory and warehouse. It was probably built
before 1877 and featured in the land register of the Kingdom of Italy. Today
it houses a small museum with a display of objects related to World War II.

CHIESA DI SAN MAURELIO
Piazza Caduti (Lavezzola)
The church of San Maurelio was the original ancient centre of the village of
Lavezzola. It was designed by Giovan Battista Aleotti and built at the end of the 16th century. In 1609 it became the parish of the area, following the request of Alfonso Lavezzoli; Pietro Aldobrandini, bishop of Ravenna, granted him the privilege of jus patronato.

CHIESA DI SAN PATRIZIO
Via Mameli (San Patrizio)
This 9th century parish is the earliest Romanesque church of the area; it was
established by a group of Irish pilgrims that settled here and worshipped St.
Patrick. The pilgrims first set up an aedicule and then erected the church; the
building has been modified over the centuries and the current architectural
features date back to the end of the 18th century, when the central nave was expanded and the façade and bell tower were rebuilt. The bell tower was embellished with a precious 19th century clock; the vaults and the apse were decorated by the Ferrarese painter Augusto Paglierini.

MULINO DI SAN PATRIZIO
Via Selice, 2 (San Patrizio)
The mill was built at the end of the 15th century and was owned by the Duke Francesco Pico della Mirandola; it was located along the mills’ canal (Canale dei Molini) which connected San Patrizio with Imola. The two-storey building was erected across the canal; in the 1950s two rooms were added and one of these still hosts the old machinery of the mill.

MAIN EVENTS
Dates are subject to change. For information please visit the website www.romagnadeste.it
From the 1st DAY of LENT – Carnevale di San Grugnone – Carnival celebration starting on the first day of Lent and ending on the 2nd Sunday of Lent with a sparkling parade in the town centre.
3rd WEEK of MAY – Lavezzola – Sagra della Porchetta e del Tortellino – Gourmet event – Tel. +39 0545 986970
JUNE – Carnevale dei fiori in notturna Tel. +39 0545 88067
JUNE – Motoraduno Femminile – Tel. +39 0545 89003
LAST of AUGUST – San Patrizio – Sagra del Tortellone
3rd WEEK of SEPTEMBER – Sagra del Ranocchio Gourmet event – Tel. +39 0545 986970
NOVEMBER 11 – San Martino – Celebration of the Patron Saint – Tel. +39 0545 986970

URP and Tourist Information Centre
Via Garibaldi, 14 – Opening hours: Monday to Saturday,
08:00 – 13:00; Thursday, 08:00 – 18:00
Tel. +39 0545 986970; fax +39 0545 986967
e-mail urp@comune.conselice.ra.it
www.comune.conselice.ra.it
www.romagnadeste.it