Italy 1943–1945
Monte Sole Historical Park — Casaglia
Memorial site
The story
The heart of the Marzabotto massacre of 29 September to 5 October 1944. The Monte Sole Historical Park, created in 1989, preserves the ruins of hamlets, churches and farms where about 770 civilians were killed. At the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Casaglia, villagers who had taken refuge with their priest, Don Ubaldo Marchioni, were led into the cemetery and shot.
What to look for
Walk the short way from the road to the Casaglia church ruins and cemetery; longer marked paths link San Martino, Caprara and Cerpiano.
Plan your visit
Park roads are narrow; allow time. The Il Poggiolo visitor centre and the Scuola di Pace Monte Sole offer guided visits — book ahead.
- Open
- Il Poggiolo visitor centre Thu–Sun 09:00–18:00
- Price
- Free admission
- Parking
- Ample parking at Il Poggiolo visitor centre; no public transport (Pian di Venola station ~5 km)
Checked September 2026 from official sources: enteparchi.bo.it. Things change, so check before you travel.
Nearby sites
- Sacrario dei Caduti, Marzabotto · 4 km
- Sacrario dei Partigiani, Piazza del Nettuno, Bologna · 23 km
- Polish War Cemetery, Bologna (San Lazzaro) · 23 km
- German War Cemetery, Futa Pass · 24 km
- Il Giogo Pass and Monte Altuzzo · 32 km
- MuGot — Museo Gotica Toscana, Ponzalla · 34 km
All 96 sites in Italy 1943–1945 →
Into Europe: Italy 1943–1945
A free field guide for your phone: the route, the maps and the stories built in, even with no signal. The places of the Allied campaign in Italy, from the Sicily landings of July 1943 through Salerno, the Winter Line, Ortona, Cassino and Anzio, Rome, the Gothic Line and the final battles on the Senio and the Po in April 1945.
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