Attraction, Bologna
The renowned Finestrella di Via Piella opens onto one of the canals that cross Bologna's historic centre, the Canale delle Moline, part of a network of underground waterways that once flowed under the open sky. Until a few decades ago, Bologna had a river port, an infrastructure needed to manage the network of trade and exchanges that took place on the water at the time.
The area of Via Piella is certainly one of the most characteristic of the city, and not only because of the little window. On the street, one can also admire one of the few Torresotti still existing in Bologna, that is one of the gates belonging to the second circle of the city walls.
The Moline Canal originates from a derivation of the Reno Canal, a derivation itself of the river of the same name, which in the Middle Ages was diverted at the imposing Chiusa di Casalecchio, the oldest functioning hydraulic work in Europe.
The canal's name derives from the mills that overlooked the waterway until a few centuries ago, and which were able to transmit the energy necessary for the processing of wheat and silk, of which Bologna was one of the largest producers along with Milan. With the passage of time, the mill wheels were destroyed or lost; however, some examples can still be seen in the Museum of Industrial Heritage.
Today, the canal is periodically emptied to carry out essential cleaning work and to check that it is working properly. It is precisely during these periods that it is possible to take part in a guided tour that allows you to explore the canal bed on foot and observe Bologna from a very special perspective.
