Comune di Russi

Russi is renowned for an important Roman archaeological site which dates back to the 1st century A.D., but the original nucleus of the town is the fortress, which was built by the Da Polenta and today lies in ruins. The town suffered severe damage in the 1688 earthquake, so most of the town centre is characterised by 18th century architecture. Russi has a remarkable historical heritage and is renowned for its traditional gastronomy which visitors can particularly enjoy during one of the numerous fairs that are held here during the year.

The origins of Russi’s first settlement and fortress are ancient. Two inhumation tombs (late 7th century – early 6th century B.C.) were unearthed under the surface of the Roman Villa and they are the earliest evidence of non-Etruscan inhabitants in Romagna around the 7th century. Since then, the area has always been populated, which is probably why in the 13th century the Da Polenta decided to build their fortress here; in the Middle Ages and during Renaissance, the fortress played an important role in the battles between different powers, which included the Manfredi, the Republic of Venice and the Pope. In 1512 the town was savagely attacked and conquered by the French and Ferrarese armies, which were led by the famous commander Gaston de Foix; in 1527 Russi was assaulted again and looted by the Landsknechts on their way to Rome. In the 18th century Russi was expanded and gradually lost its identity as a stronghold to become the town we know today. It’s interesting to notice that the place name hasn’t changed over the course of the centuries.

THINGS TO SEE

PIAZZA FARINI
Russi’s main square is named after Luigi Carlo Farini, an illustrious figure who helped the town to achieve the title of “Città” in 1878. Most buildings overlooking the square date back to the 18th century because the 1688 earthquake was very destructive.

Chiesa di Sant’Apollinare
This church was rebuilt in the 18th century and designed by the architect Campidori. It houses a number of statues created by the famous sculptor Ballanti Graziani from Faenza. The main altar is a fine work of art made with precious marble; originally it was held in the church of the nuns of Corpus
Domini in Ravenna.

Rocca e Museo Civico
Open on Saturday, 09:00 – 12:00, or by appointment
The fortress used to be the core of the ancient castrum built in the 14th century by Guido Da Polenta, lord of Ravenna. The fortress has been severely damaged by earthquakes and assaults over the course of the centuries; it had a square structure with four towers and a donjon, but today all that is left is the lower part of the donjon, which has been incorporated in the building of the former Maccabelli hospital. There are also remains of one of the towers and some ruins of the defensive walls. The town museum is located inside the fortress and includes a painting collection (with several important pieces from the art collections of the hospitals of the Province of
Ravenna), the rooms “Sale della Città di Russi” (with artworks from the 18th till the 20th century), the collection of the Roman Villa (with 1st-2nd century A.D. objects unearthed during excavations in the archaeological site) and the archive “Fondo archivistico Alfredo Baccarini” (with documents, letters, books, medals and other objects that once belonged to the local famous engineer and politician).

RACCOLTA DELL’ARTE CAMPANARIA
Via D’Azeglio, 9 – Tel. 0544 580187 – Free admission
This is a private collection of bells; it is located near the town gate Porta Nuova, in the house of Tino Babini, a passionate collector and researcher of local history and culture. He has studied and researched bells since he was young; over the years he has put together a collection which is unique in the region, featuring more than sixty exemplars, some of which are rare and some of which are made with traditional rural ceramic from Romagna.

CHIESA DI SANTA MARIA DEI SERVI
Via Trieste
This pleasant 18th century church is in the town centre, just off via Garibaldi; it is also known as “chiesa dell’Addolorata”, but the name “dei Servi” derives from the fact that it once belonged to the order of “Servi di Maria”. The building was designed by the famous architect Gioacchino Tomba from
Faenza and built in the middle of the 18th century on the ruins of a 15th century church, whose convent still partially stands next to the church. It houses stucco decorations and the 18th century statue of the “Madonna dei Sette Dolori”, which is carried during the solemn procession that takes place every year on the second Sunday of September.

VILLA ROMANA
Via Fiumazzo, 25 – Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 09:00 till one hour before dusk; Sunday and public holidays, from 14:00 till one hour before dusk; closed on 25/12, 01/01 and 01/05 – Admission: E 2; concessions E 1 (people aged between 18 and 25); free for under 18, for over 65, for teachers and students The archaeological site of the Roman Villa is 2 km from the town centre; this site was uncovered accidentally and is one of the most interesting and best preserved Roman sites in Northern Italy. Excavations began in 1938 and uncovered a site of 3,500 square metres which was inhabited between the Augustan Age and the 4th century. The villa was surrounded by a portico and included the residential home, with beautiful mosaic floors and wooden buildings, workshops and a spa, which has recently been unearthed.
Next to the villa there is an education centre for visitors and the whole area is surrounded by the Oasi Ecologica della Villa Romana, a 13-hectare conservation area which has been established on the site of a former clay pit; the green area includes woods and a pond.

PALAZZO SAN GIACOMO
Via Carrarone Rasponi
Visits with guided tours and during events
This stately home is one of the most beautiful and palatial summer esidencies of Romagna; it is also known as “Palazzaccio” or as “Palazzo delle 365 finestre” (the 365 windows palace). It was built by the Count of Rasponi from Ravenna at the end of the 17th century, probably on the ruins of the medieval castle of Raffanara. The monumental palace features frescos with mythological and allegorical subjects; this is the largest 17th-18th century cycle of frescos of this kind in Romagna. The church of San Giacomo lies next to the palace. It was erected in 1757 and later restored by Cosimo Morelli; it houses the tombs of Federico Rasponi and of his wife the marquise Guerrieri Gonzaga. The palace was abandoned when the Rasponi family died out and then it was damaged by bombs during the war; its amazing scale and fascinating atmosphere have always intrigued artists. Apparently in the 1970s the painter Mattia Moreni used to work here in summer and used a bicycle to wander around the building.

IN THE AREA

PIEVE DI SANTO STEFANO IN TEGURIO 7
Via Croce, 38 (Godo) – Opening hours: 07:00 – 19:00
This church lies in the countryside, in the village of Godo, about 5 km from Russi and not far from the municipality of Ravenna. It was built in the 8th century and the overall structure is similar to the original one, despite the transformations operated from the 18th century onwards and the destruction caused by World War II. One of the external walls hasn’t been modified and features the original pilasters and windows; the interior has stone columns with ancient capitals. The presbytery houses a crucifix which rests on the fragment of an ancient Byzantine capital.

PIEVE DI SAN PANCRAZIO
Via Franguelline Nuove, 9 (San Pancrazio) – Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00 The parish is located in the village of San Pancrazio, which is about 4 km northwest of Russi, on the main road SP5. It was built at the end of the 8th century, but a legend maintains that it was commissioned by Galla Placidia, daughter of the emperor Theodosius I, in the year 437. The parish was quite transformed when it was repaired in 1945-46. The interior has three naves and on each side there are seven arches supported by columns. The bell tower was rebuilt in 1950 with a proto-Romanesque style.

MUSEO DELLA VITA CONTADINA IN ROMAGNA
Via XVII Novembre, 2/A (San Pancrazio) – Opening hours: Thursday, 15:00 – 18:00, Sunday, 10:00 – 12:00; visits on other days by appointment; closed: 01/01, 25/12 and in August. Free admission – Tel. +39 0544 552172 / +39 335 8339996; e-mail vitacontadina@alice.it
The village of San Pancrazio, in which several rural traditions are still alive, is home to this ethnographic museum about rural life and culture. The extensive collection is divided into themes: wheat and bread, silk worms, milk and cheese, pork and wine. The archive of the museum has benefited from the audio and video publications of the cultural association “La Grama” since 1994.

MAIN EVENTS
Dates are subject to change. For information please visit the website www.romagnadeste.it

From JUNE to AUGUST – Russi Estate – Music, meetings with writers, children’s library events, street shows and Taca Banda
1st of AUGUST – Festival Internazionale del Folklore International folklore festival with live music and dance performances from all over the world – Tel. +39 0544 581290
3rd WEEK of SEPTEMBER – Fira di Sett Dulur / Treppinfira – Traditional feast with acrobats and story-tellers
DECEMBER and JANUARY – Libri Mai Mai Visti International competition and exhibition of prototypes of hand made and artistic books – Tel. +39 0544 580329 / 587641 www.vaca.it

Tourist Information Centre
Via Cavour, 21 – Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 08:30 – 13:00; Thursday also 15:00 – 18:00 Tel. +39 0544 587642/1; fax +39 0544 582237
e-mail cultura@comune.russi.ra.it
www.comune.russi.ra.it
www.romagnadeste.it