Canale delle Moline

Bologna is criss-crossed by a network of underground canals. The city centre has as many as five: the Reno, the Cavaticcio, the Navile, the Savena and the Canale delle Moline. The latter is actually a branch of the Reno Canal, which originates near Via dell'Indipendenza and flows below the city centre before flowing into the Aposa, a natural stream. At the end of its journey, the Moline Canal joins the Navile near Sostegno della Bova, not far from the train station.

What is the origin of these canals? The city's water network was built in the Middle Ages, a time when Bologna needed water and energy to cope with its growing economic and commercial development.

The Moline Canal played a fundamental role, namely to power the operation of 15 urban mills, which were used to process silk and wheat. With the advent of the 20th century, the mills fell into disuse and were destroyed, and the Moline Canal, like all the others, was buried as part of an urban reorganisation plan.

Where to see the Moline Canal

Its course, however, was not completely covered. There are two points, in fact, where it is still possible to admire it as it flows open, just as it must have appeared to the Bolognese until the last century.

The first and most famous is the one that can be observed from the famous little window in via Piella. This uncovered stretch runs from via de Malcontenti to via Oberdan, crossing via Piella. Those who look out over the bridges will see the waters flowing peacefully among the old colourful houses of the centre.

The second stretch runs instead between via Capo di Lucca and via Alessandrini, and although it is not visible from the street, it is easy to spot because of the noise caused by the waters flowing from the underground. Between numbers 9 and 25 of via Capo di Lucca are the buildings of 16th-century origin that housed the families of the millers in charge of the mills, built by the University of Moline and Moliture.

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