Guided walk "The Piratello in the Feminine"

On 31 October and 1 November 2025, visit Piratello Cemetery in Imola, Italy, for the guided walk "The Piratello in the Feminine: Noble Benefactors, Devout Women, Partisans, and Scientists".

About the event

As part of the Urban Trekking initiative, Le Guide d’Arte, in collaboration with Area Blu S.p.A., is organising a special guided walk through the Piratello Cemetery in Imola titled "The Piratello in the Feminine: Noble Benefactors, Devout Women, Partisans, and Scientists".

This walk highlights the lives and contributions of women across different eras and social classes. Figures range from devout, family-oriented women to noblewomen such as the tragic Countess Orsola Bandini-Tozzoni and Desideria Pasolini Dall’Onda, founder of Italia Nostra. Participants will also discover women who left their mark in literature and science, including the nonconformist writer Eugenia Codronchi Argeli, known as “Sfinge,” and Giuseppina Cattani, the first woman admitted to Bologna’s prestigious Medical-Surgical Society. Furthermore, the route commemorates acts of courage, from Bianca Bizzi, whose family saved six Jewish individuals from deportation and death, to midwife Delvina Poggi, arrested and imprisoned in the Rocca fortress, as well as the partisans resting in the crypt of the PLH building.

Along the walk, visitors will have the opportunity to admire funerary monuments of particular artistic interest, many notable for their depictions of the female figure.

Location and schedule

The walk begins at the courtyard in front of the offices of Area Blu S.p.A., Via Emilia Ponente 24, 40026 Imola (BO).

Starting times:

• 31 October 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
• 1 November 2015 at 3:00 p.m.

Covering approximately 2 kilometers, the walk lasts around two hours, offering a reflective and visually rich experience.

Registration details

Registration for the event is required using this reservation form. Each participant may book up to two walks to allow broader participation in the Urban Trekking event.

For more information, visit the Sito Ufficiale del Territorio Turistico Bologna–Modena website or contact the organizers on WhatsApp at +39 347 7425404.

*Cover photo source: www.bolognawelcome.com

Naturalmente Imola 2025 at Piratello Cemetery

On 28 September 2025, a guided tour will be held at the Piratello Cemetery in Imola, Italy, as part of the Naturalmente Imola program.

About Naturalmente Imola

Naturalmente Imola (Eng. Naturally Imola) is a cultural and environmental initiative promoted by the Municipality of Imola, Italy. It features guided tours, talks, and other activities designed to highlight the city’s natural heritage and to foster greater awareness of the relationship between people, landscapes, and biodiversity.

Program

As part of the 2025 edition, two events dedicated to the theme of trees and their significance in contemporary society will take place on Sunday, 28 September.

➤ 3:00 PM – Piratello Cemetery
Event: Great Trees at Piratello
Description: Guided tour led by Stefano Tedioli, an arborist with over thirty years of professional experience, lecturer, and specialist in urban tree management. The tour will provide insights into the analysis and care of trees in urban contexts, which are increasingly affected by climate change.

➤ 5:00 PM – Ridotto of the Stignani Theater
Event: The Sun and the Moon, the Roots and the Enigma of Great Terrestrial Trees – Or How Tree-Giants Could Save Us from Time and from Ourselves
Description: Meeting with writer Tiziano Fratus. His work, inspired by encounters with monumental trees, historic gardens, and forests in Italy and abroad, has developed into an original body of thought and literature. Among his central concepts are Homo Radix, Dendrosophy, and the Itinerant Forest, expressed through publications ranging from poetry and prose to children’s literature, exhibitions, and meditations.

The events are organized jointly by the Municipality of Imola in collaboration with CIMS.

The full program of Naturalmente Imola (in Italian) is available HERE.

Reservations required

For more information and reservations, please contact attivita.culturali@comune.imola.bo.it or call +39 0542 602300.

WDEC 2025 in Bologna and the Metropolitan City

Discover the diverse program of events taking place in Bologna metropolitan area during Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2025.

In the Bologna metropolitan area, there are 5 cemeteries recognized as "monumental and historic cemeteries of Emilia-Romagna" under Regional Law 21/2022: the Certosa Cemetery of Bologna, the Piratello Cemetery of Imola, the Casaglia Cemetery of Marzabotto, the Medicina Cemetery, and the San Giovanni in Persiceto Cemetery.

During the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, the Città Metropolitana di Bologna (Metropolitan City of Bologna) and Settore Musei Civici Bologna (Bologna Civic Museums Sector), for the second consecutive year, are promoting a coordinated calendar of guided tours and initiatives dedicated to historical, artistic, and naturalistic itineraries in four of these locations.

Bologna

Friday, May 23rd
3:30 PM
Reading Aloud in Certosa
Street names come from the past and the history of our city; they define a web of connections between our lives and those of who came before us. Knowing why these names were chosen, and in which historical moments, leads to a collective awareness of past and ongoing changes, amidst removals, elisions, disavowals, and cancellations: the path we propose in Certosa leads us to rediscover the roots of this collective history.
Organized by the Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking required: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com.
Meeting point: Main entrance (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Free donation (free for members of Associazione Amici della Certosa)

Friday, May 23rd
4:15 PM
Free in the Sky of Glory
Guided tour with Roberto Martorelli.
To remember the men and women who fought for the values of freedom and democracy and contributed to the birth of the Republic, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Italy's Liberation from Nazi-Fascism.
Guided tour organized by the Museo civico del Risorgimento with Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking required: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. A confirmation email of your booking is necessary.
Meeting point: Main entrance (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Full price €10 / Reduced for Card Cultura holders €8 (payment preferably with exact change)

Saturday, May 24th
3:00 PM
Really?! Chronicles from the Certosa of Bologna
Guided tour with Roberto Martorelli.
A walk through the porticoes and galleries of the Certosa, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Illustrious visits, licit and illicit love stories, murders, political demonstrations, secret meetings. In the past, the cemetery was a much less quiet place than you might think.
Guided tour organized by the Museo civico del Risorgimento with Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking required: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. A confirmation email of your booking is necessary.
Meeting point: Main entrance (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Full price €10 / Reduced for Card Cultura holders €8 (payment preferably with exact change)

Sunday, May 25th
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Painted Certosa. Discovering Painters and Museums between the 19th and 20th Centuries
Perhaps you don't know that the Monumental Cemetery of Bologna is also a painting gallery! In the early 19th century, monuments were not sculpted, but painted. Bring a pen or pencil; we invite you to discover some works and their creators starting from the historical-artistic Info Point, where you will find a mediator who will help you navigate within the Certosa, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Porticoes of Bologna" project.
Mediation activity organized by MIA - Innovative and Open Museums for the Museo civico del Risorgimento.
Starting point: Historical-artistic Info Point (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Free

Wednesday, May 28th
4:00 PM
All of Bologna
Guided tour with Roberto Martorelli.
It's time for Big History: a tour dedicated to the most famous people of the 19th and 20th centuries who rest in the Cemetery. Politicians, artists, intellectuals, industrialists, philanthropists who absolutely must be known while strolling through the monumental cemetery, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Guided tour organized by the Museo civico del Risorgimento with Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking required: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. A confirmation email of your booking is necessary.
Meeting point: Main entrance (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Full price €10 / Reduced for Card Cultura holders €8 (payment preferably with exact change)

Thursday, May 29th
3:30 PM
Where Hate Ends - A Contemporary Reflection on War
If the dead could speak, they would still have many things to tell us. The Certosa welcomes everyone, those who lived in peace and those who were overwhelmed by tragic events. But would the voices of those who suffered a war be enough to warn us? A mournful choir of the buried tries to bring its message of peace to those still on earth who are capable of avoiding armed conflict.
Project by Alberto Alvisi.
Screening organized by Associazione Amici della Certosa - Visual Arts, in collaboration with Museo civico del Risorgimento and Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali.
Booking required: amicidellacertosa@gmail.com.
Meeting point: Main entrance (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Free donation / Free for members of Associazione Amici della Certosa

Thursday, May 29th
7:00 PM
101 Things to Know About the Certosa
Guided tour with Roberto Martorelli.
A sunset walk to discover the 101 things you absolutely must know about the monumental cemetery.
Guided tour organized by the Museo civico del Risorgimento with Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking required: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. A confirmation email of your booking is necessary.
Meeting point: Main entrance (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Full price €10 / Reduced for Card Cultura holders €8 (payment preferably with exact change)

Thursday, May 29th, 9:00 PM / Saturday, May 31st, 3:00 PM
Secret Certosa
Guided tour with Roberto Martorelli.
A guided tour to walk in the silence of the cemetery, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hidden rooms, little-explored cloisters, splendid works of art scarcely visible to the distracted visitor. The cemetery's rooms and its monuments tell of forbidden loves, suspicious deaths, and irreproachable lives. A stone book to leaf through.
Guided tour organized by the Museo civico del Risorgimento with Associazione Amici della Certosa.
Booking required: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. A confirmation email of your booking is necessary.
Meeting point: Main entrance (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Full price €10 / Reduced for Card Cultura holders €8 (payment preferably with exact change)

Sunday, June 1st
10:30 AM
Forever Elegant in the Gardens of the Certosa
Participants will be accompanied to the photography and drawing exhibition to discover the elegance of details created by the most skilled sculptors: details of past fashions sculpted in marble, captured by the photographic lens, or rendered on paper thanks to the course by artist Mara Guerrini.
Guided tour organized by Associazione Amici della Certosa - Visual Arts, in collaboration with Museo civico del Risorgimento and Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali.
Booking required: amicidellacertosa@gmail.com / 345 2699200 (WhatsApp only).
Meeting point: Main entrance (courtyard of San Girolamo Church), via della Certosa 18.
Admission: Free

Exhibition: Forever Elegant in the Gardens of the Certosa
June 1st - 20th, 2025
Monumental Cemetery of the Certosa of Bologna - Chiostro dell’Ossaia o delle Madonne (Ossuary or Madonna Cloister)
Visitors to the cemetery are offered a view of the elegance of details sculpted by the most skilled artists, and the poignant beauty of tombs nestled in the cloisters and galleries. Earrings, lace, hairstyles, shoes, buttons, moustaches, details of past fashions sculpted in marble, captured by the photographic lens, are exhibited alongside monuments, porticoes, plants, and views of the Certosa, rendered on paper. Since 2021, the Monumental Cemetery has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Porticoes of Bologna" project.
Photography and drawing exhibition organized by Arti Visive and T900 of the Associazione Amici della Certosa, and the course "Disegnare la Certosa con Mara Guerrini" (Drawing the Certosa with Mara Guerrini), in collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento and Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali.
The exhibition is freely accessible during the cemetery's opening hours, open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Medicina

Tuesday, May 27th, 6:00 PM / Saturday, May 31st, 10:30 AM
Paths of Medicinese Memories
Two walks from the Municipal Library to the historic Cemetery, discovering some personalities who contributed to the history of their community. During the walk, the cemetery guide, created thanks to Regional Law 21/2022, will be distributed and presented.
Guided tour organized by the Municipality of Medicina with Area Blu.
Meeting point: Library entrance, via Pillio 1, Medicina.
Admission: Free
Info: serviziculturali@comune.medicina.bo.it / 051 6979209

Imola

Sunday, June 1st
5:00 PM
The Monumental Cemetery of Piratello in Imola: A Journey Through Architecture, Sculptural Works, and Centenary Trees
Guided tour with Elena Scheda.
The Piratello Cemetery of Imola was built 3.5 km from the city center to prevent any epidemiological contagion and began to be used in 1822.
During the visit, the architectural evolution of the last 200 years, the main monuments, sacred furnishings, and epitaphs of illustrious personalities who rest here will be illustrated, including, among others, Andrea Costa, many partisans, Giuseppe Scarabelli, Giovanni Codronchi Argeli, Eugenia Codronchi Argeli (Sphinx), Luigi Orsini, Anacleto Margotti, and Francesco Alberghetti. Attention will also be paid to the cemetery's arboreal heritage, composed of about 500 specimens including magnolias and centuries-old cedars of Lebanon.
Guided tour organized by the Municipality of Imola and Area Blu.
Booking required
Meeting point: Entrance of the Piratello Sanctuary of Imola, via Emilia 27, Imola.
Admission: Free
Info: dott.elenascheda@gmail.com / 347 7425404 (WhatsApp only)

San Giovanni in Persiceto

Sunday, June 1st
10:00 AM
The Immortality of Memory in San Giovanni in Persiceto
The guided tour of the city's Monumental Cemetery intertwines memory, art, and symbolism to remember the protagonists of the Liberation from Nazi-Fascism. Individual tombs and collective monuments will be the starting point for retracing a crucial part of our history.
Guided tour organized by the Municipality of San Giovanni in Persiceto.
Meeting point: Entrance of the Monumental Cemetery, Circonvallazione Vittorio Veneto, San Giovanni in Persiceto.
Admission: Full price €12 / Reduced €7
Info: cultura.turismo@comunepersiceto.it / 051 6812955

Literary event at Piratello Cemetery

On September 21, 2024, Imola’s Piratello Cemetery hosted an enchanting evening featuring readings from Valérie Perrin’s novel "Cambiare l’acqua ai fiori".

About the event

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, a unique literary event took place at the Piratello Cemetery in Imola, Italy. Alfonso Cuccurullo, an acclaimed Italian actor, director, and voice actor, captivated attendees with readings from "Cambiare l’acqua ai fiori” (eng. "Fresh Water for Flowers"), the poignant novel by Valérie Perrin (Edizioni E/O, 2019).

The readings, which began at 18.30, created an enchanting atmosphere as participants gathered in the serene surroundings of Imola’s historic cemetery. Cuccurullo’s expressive delivery brought the themes of life, loss, and memory from the novel to life, inviting reflection among listeners.

More information about the event can be found HERE.

*Photo source: https://www.culturaimola.it/events/alfonso-cuccurullo-al-cimitero-del-piratello

WDEC 2024 at the Piratello Cemetery

On Saturday, June 1st, 2024, a guided tour will take place at the Piratello Cemetery in Imola, Italy, exploring the theme of women and botany.

About the event

On the occasion of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, a free guided tour will be held at the Piratello Monumental Cemetery on Saturday, June 1st, 2024, at 10 AM and 3:30 PM.

The tour will explore the theme of women and botany in history and art, both in Imola and beyond. This journey through remembrance will uncover the stories of female figures and botanical elements planted and depicted within the Piratello Monumental Cemetery.

Reservations are required by Friday, May 31st, at 12:00 PM. Please call 0542 602609 or email musei@comune.imola.bo.it to reserve a spot. Each tour accommodates a maximum of 25 people.

Meeting point: In front of the Piratello Monumental Cemetery office building, via Emilia Ponente 19A.

The event is organized by Area Blu, the Municipality of Imola, the Museums Sector, the Metropolitan City of Bologna, and the Emilia-Romagna Region.

WDEC 2024 in the Metropolitan City of Bologna

Discover the WDEC program in the cities of Bologna, Imola, Medicina, and Persiceto in Italy.

The Metropolitan City of Bologna and the Bologna Civic Museums Sector for the first time promote a coordinated program of initiatives among the four cemeteries in the Bologna area recognized as "monumental and historic cemeteries of Emilia-Romagna" according to Regional Law 21/2022: the Certosa Monumental Cemetery in Bologna, the Piratello Cemetery in Imola, the Cemetery of Medicina, and the Cemetery of San Giovanni in Persiceto.

Here is the complete programme:

BOLOGNA

Friday, May 24, 2 p.m.
Tombs of the twentieth century: memory and custody
Volunteers from the Associazione Amici della Certosa, together with students from the Liceo Artistico Arcangeli high school, present their testimonies of participation in the "Tombe '900" project that was carried out on 10 monumental tombs. A walk to discover sculptures and architecture from the last century.
Meeting organized by the Associazione Amici della Certosa in collaboration with Museo civico del Risorgimento, Liceo Artistico Arcangeli and Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali.
Reservations required by writing to amicidellacertosa@gmail.com.
Meet at the Info Point at the main entrance (church courtyard, north portico), Via della Certosa 18.
Admission: free

Friday, May 24, 5 p.m.
Diverdeinverde in Certosa | Ornamental greenery and phytomorphic decoration in the cemetery of Bologna
A visit to the Certosa, with Roberto Martorelli, dedicated to the peculiarities of the cemetery's ornamental greenery and phytomorphic decorations, with a symbolic character, found in funerary monuments.
Participation is reserved for Diverdeinverde card holders, with reservations required at www.diverdeinverde.fondazionevillaghigi.it.
As part of Diverdeinverde - Open Gardens of the City and the Hill. In collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento and Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali.
Meet at the main entrance (church courtyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Admission: with Diverdeinverde card

Friday, May 24, 8:30 p.m.
Facts and misdeeds in Certosa: one Cemetery, many stories
In this tour inaugurating Mirarte's summer season, like an ancient book, the Charterhouse opens before your eyes revealing fascinating and incredible stories. Like the different chapters of an ancient text, we will go to explore its many aspects and thus discover a Noir Charterhouse with its crimes, a funny Charterhouse made of surreal anecdotes, a romantic and passionate Certosa, and a Famous Charterhouse with its best-known characters. A journey through silent cloisters and white statues that stand out in the darkness of the night, discovering the magic of this extraordinary place.
Guided tour by Mirarte.
Reservations required at www.mirartecoop.it.
Meet at the main entrance (church courtyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Admission: € 13.00 full / € 8.00 reduced (children 6-12 years, people with disabilities) (for each paying admission two euros will be donated to the enhancement of the Certosa Monumental Cemetery)

Saturday, May 25, 10:30 a.m.
Truth or Lies?
"To see, by reading the inscriptions, so many virtuous, beloved, regretful creatures, one would be tempted to believe that the best half of mankind ascended to heaven and left nothing on earth but rejection." So wrote Basile Joseph Ducos after his visit to the Certosa in Bologna between 1819 and 1820. Together with Roberto Martorelli we will stroll through the cemetery-now a UNESCO World Heritage Site-to find out if indeed epigraphs always tell the truth...
Guided tour by the Associazione Amici della Certosa in collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento.
Reservation required by writing to prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. Email confirmation of reservation is required.
Meet at the main entrance (church courtyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Admission: € 8.00 (payment preferable with cash)

Sunday, May 26, 3 p.m.
Painters' lives - glimpses of Bolognese painting aloud
An itinerary through the monumental cemetery-now a Unesco heritage site as part of the Portici di Bologna-with researchers and readers from the Associazione Amici della Certosa, in collaboration with Mara Guerrini's School of Painting. Discovering and re-discovering the many men and women whose brushes have marked the history of painting in Bologna and beyond. Accompanied by Lucia Vanghi.
Route organized by the Associazione Amici della Certosa in collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento.
Reservations required by writing to amicidellacertosa@gmail.com or 345 2699200 (WhatsApp only).
Admission: free offer (free for members of the Associazione Amici della Certosa)

Wednesday, May 29, 6:30 p.m.
101 things to know about the Certosa
The most fascinating masterpieces, cloisters and galleries, artists and celebrities. A sunset walk with Roberto Martorelli to discover the 101 things you absolutely must know about the monumental cemetery, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
Guided tour organized by the Associazione Amici della Certosa in collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento.
Reservations required by writing to prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. It is necessary to receive an email of successful reservation.
Meet at the main entrance (church courtyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Admission: € 8.00 (payment preferable with cash)

Wednesday, May 29, 9 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 13, 8:30 p.m.
101 things to know about the Charterhouse
The most fascinating masterpieces, cloisters and galleries, artists and celebrities. A nighttime walk with Roberto Martorelli to discover the 101 things you absolutely must know about the monumental cemetery, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bring a led light or turn on the one on your smartphone, you'll need it.
Guided tour organized by the Associazione Amici della Certosa in collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento.
Reservation required by writing to prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. You must receive an email of successful reservation.
Meet at the main entrance (church courtyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Admission: € 8.00 (payment preferable with cash)

Saturday, June 1, 2 p.m. and August 31, 3 p.m.
All the Women of the Charterhouse
The epigraphs of the silent city often remember women as wives, consorts, spouses, sisters. But there are memories of their contribution to society, so we find Brigida, Gualberta, Lina, Tommasina. A walk with Roberto Martorelli through the Monumental Cemetery, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Guided tour by the Associazione Amici della Certosa with the Museo civico del Risorgimento. 
Reservations required by writing to prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com. It is necessary to receive an email of successful reservation.
Meet at the main entrance (church courtyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Admission: € 8.00 (payment preferable with cash)

Sunday, June 2, 3 p.m.
Cemetery bestiary | discovering the Carthusian undergrowth
Cemeteries are areas of high biodiversity; it is not uncommon to come across guardian felines among loculi, squirrels squeaking among yews and cypresses, birds finding refreshment in the silence. Symbology and funerary iconography intersect with the animal kingdom, giving rise to a fantastic undergrowth of stone creatures with adventures and secrets to tell. Among owls and ophids, peacocks and moths, mysterious creatures, explorers and experiments, a walk to discover the cemetery bestiary that animates the Charterhouse. Route also suitable for children with Manuela Capece. 
Meeting organized by thenAssociazione Amici della Certosa, in collaboration with Museo del Risorgimento and Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali.
Reservations required by writing to amicidellacertosa@gmail.com.
Meet at the main entrance (church courtyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Admission: free offer (free for members of the Associazione Amici della Certosa)

MEDICINA

Sunday, May 26, 3 p.m.
Women of the lowlands, large and small stories of the Medicina community
A walk to discover some of the figures who contributed to the History of their community. 
The guided tour was organized by the Municipality of Medicina in collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento di Bologna.
Meet at the entrance of the Medicina Cemetery, Via della Resistenza 322.
Admission: free

Friday, May 31, 8:45 p.m.
Ornamental and symbolic greenery. The presence of plants and flowers in cemeteries
A moment dedicated to the peculiarities of ornamental greenery in silent cities and the symbolism present in funerary monuments. 
Meeting organized by the Municipality of Medicina in collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento di Bologna.
Meeting at the Sala del Camino of the Library, via Pillio 1. 
Admission: free

Sunday, June 2, 3 p.m.
Stories and people of the city of Medicina
A walk to discover the historic center of Medicina, starting from the memories and monuments of the center will reach the cemetery, where interesting memories of local history are preserved.
Guided tour by the Municipality of Medicina in collaboration with the Museo civico del Risorgimento di Bologna.
Meet at the former Lavatoio, Via dell'Osservanza.
Admission: free

SAN GIOVANNI IN PERSICETO

Sunday, May 26, 3:30 p.m.
Stories of women
A walk through the Monumental Cemetery to discover some female figures whose resourcefulness and modernity made them examples to follow in the 19th century. Singers, entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors or artisans, women whose work contributed to the social transformation of San Giovanni in Persiceto from a country village to a city. 
Reservations required at IAT Persiceto: 051 6812955 or cultura.turismo@comunepersiceto.it.
Meet in front of the Monumental Cemetery entrance, Circonvallazione Vittorio Veneto 24.
Admission: € 10.00 / € 5.00 (children from 7 years old)

Sunday, June 2, 3:30 p.m.
Immortal gardens
The ornamental greenery in the cloisters of the Monumental Cemetery of San Giovanni in Persiceto dialogues with the symbolic friezes of lush fruits and flowers, carved or cast in bronze, so beautiful as to suggest the rustling of foliage, the colors and lights, the scent and refreshment of a real garden. The many faces of plants will be told through funerary symbolism, myth and botany.
Reservations required at IAT Persiceto: 051 6812955 or cultura.turismo@comunepersiceto.it.
Meet in front of the Monumental Cemetery entrance, Circonvallazione Vittorio Veneto 24.
Admission: € 10.00 / € 5.00 (children 7 and under)

IMOLA

Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Women and botany in history and art in Imola and beyond
A journey of memory to discover the female figures and botany included and depicted within the monumental cemetery of Piratello.
Guided tour organized by the Municipality of Imola.
Reservations required at 0542 602609 or musei@comune.imola.bo.it by noon on Friday, May 31 (max 25 people per group).
Meet in front of the Piratello Monumental Cemetery office building, Via Emilia Ponente 19A.
Admission: free

Philosophical walk "Say you to the divine"

On 24 May 2023, a philosophical walk entitled "Say you to the divine" will take place at the Piratello Cemetery in Imola, Italy.

About the event

The event "Say you to the divine - philosophical walk" will take place on Wednesday, 25 May 2023, from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm, starting at the parking area of the Monumental cemetery of Piratello next to the via Emilia.

We will take silent and aware steps in a wonderful “waiting place”, to learn to grasp faces in the light of the Face, and in the voices the vibrating of the Voice.

The walk will be guided by Giorgio Sgubbi (philosopher and theologian) and Gianmaria Beccari (teacher of philosophy and Feldenkrais®method).

Reservations required

The places are limited and therefore reservations are required at the email passeggiate.filosofiche@gmail.com or by phone 349 0774117.

Entry is free with voluntary contributions.

The initiative will also take place in case of rain, at the church of the sanctuary of the Beata Vergine del Piratello.

Guided tour "Among the big trees of Piratello"

On 6 May 2023, a guided tour will take place at the Piratello Cemetery in Italy, dedicated to Imola’s notable personalities who took care of the environment.

About the guided tour

The guided tour will take place on Saturday, 6 May 2023, at 2.30 pm, starting at the entrance of the Monumental cemetery of Piratello by the office building (Emilia ponenete 24, Imola).

Guided tour "Among the big trees of Piratello - the personalities who took care of the environment" follows the architectural development of the cemetery from the opening to the latest creations with the identification of the notable essences still present and the burials of personalities who for various aspects (legislative, geological, social) have dealt with development of the environment.

Even deep changes to the natural environment of the place often happen with significant human interventions, but then the built elements and the vegetation together created a new environment.

We will retrace the evolutionary history of the Piratello cemetery both in the monumental part and in the more recent part. Along the way, the botanical aspect will be highlighted together with the architectural one. The development of the tour includes visits to the burials of notable characters who have contributed to the development of today’s concept of environment. Some examples: Scarabelli, Pasolini dall’Onda, Codronchi, Marabini Andrea, Azzi.

The tour will be guided by Daniela Martelli and Marco Pelliconi.

Reservations required

The places for the guided tour are limited to a maximum of 25 people.
Information and reservations at the email attivita.culturali@comune.imola.bo.it or by phone 0542 602300.

The event is organized by ANPI Imola and CIDRA.

Stories of the great women of Imola

On 11 March 2023, a guided tour will take place at Piratello Cemetery in Italy, dedicated to the great women of Imola.

A.N.P.I-IMOLA - C.I.D.R.A and Ass. Perledonne organise a guided tour at the Piratello Monumental Cemetery to tell the stories of Imola’s Great women - important figures in local and Italian history.

The event already took place on 4 March and will now be repeated on 11 March 2023, at 10.00am. Meeting place is at the “porticato basilica di Piratello” west side (towards Bologna).

The tour will be guided by:

• Marco Pelliconi, for the biographies
• Daniela Martelli, for the architectural heritage

Free attendance upon reservation on the email imola@anpi.it and by phone 0542-23131 or 3331229152.

A voluntary donation to the anti-violence center is welcome.

The guided tour will be carried out in group of a maximum of 25 people.

The first regional law in Italy to promote the recognition and enhancement of historical cemeteries

On 15 December 2022, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Italy, approved the law enhancing regional cemeteries and expanding user gratification. The new law provides for everything from multimedia productions to tourist routes and funding for restoration and conservation projects, cataloging, exhibitions, and programs.

The monumental cemetery of the Certosa in Bologna and those in Ferrara and San Cataldo in Modena, plus the Villetta in Parma, accommodate simple tombstones, grandiose chapels, and absolute masterpieces. This long list has about eighty culturally “significant” cemetery sites in Emilia-Romagna, which can rely on an additional tool beginning today.

The law approved by the Legislative Assembly was put forward by the Regional Council for the Recognition and Enhancement of Monumental and Historical Cemeteries. The goal, in short, is to ensure the enhancement, preservation, and promotion of these assets, encouraging their use by citizens.

Mauro Felicori, the regional councilor for Culture and Landscape, stated, “Through this law, the first of its kind in Italy, the Region intends to recognize significant cemeteries as elements of the regional cultural heritage to be safeguarded and enhanced, as a tool for the cohesion and cultural growth of communities and all visitors. Also, the law will support a shared path through which a series of public and private players in the area can work to expand the enjoyment of this part of our regional cultural heritage, going beyond memory while simultaneously placing it within a European-wide perspective.”

Under the new law, membership in the “Monumental and Historical Cemeteries in Emilia-Romagna” network will provide the structures with national and international visibility through multimedia productions made by the Emilia-Romagna Region’s Cultural Heritage sector (publications and a website on significant cemeteries), as well as all communication materials distributed by the Region itself. They will also be included in a unique cultural tourism route marked with signposts and a logo.

Above all, Emilia-Romagna’s “significant” cemeteries will be able to take advantage of regional funding for restoration and preservation projects of the sites’ architectural, decorative, and monumental structures. Furthermore, the enhancement projects will consolidate knowledge of the cemetery site, its relations with the community, and historical-artistic emergencies.

Specifically, heritage cataloging and study activities, exhibitions and cultural programs, digital and multimedia projects, intercultural inclusion, residential projects for artists and researchers, school visits, and historical and cultural education will be eligible for funding. Lastly, staff involved in managing and enhancing Emilia-Romagna’s monumental cemeteries will have access to training courses.

The text of the law (in Italian) is available here: https://bur.regione.emilia-romagna.it/dettaglio-bollettino?b=7a44412f02cc42438c2acabc26a38edb.

WDEC 2022: Guided tour at Piratello Cemetery

Discover the historical and architectural relevance of the Piratello Cemetery (Imola, Italy) on June 4, 2022.

"Under the shadow of a beautiful flower"

On Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 10am, a guided tour will take place at the Piratello Cemetery (40026 IMOLA via Emilia Ponente 24/a) on the topic "Under the shadow of a beautiful flower".

In the company of Daniela Martelli and Marco Pelliconi we will discover the historical and architectural relevance of the Piratello Cemetery and the well-known personalities who are buried there.

The event is curated by ANPI Imola and CIDRA.

Reservations required

The tour can be attended by a maximum of 25 people. Reservations are required by phone 0542 23131 (on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 to 11.30 am) or via email imola@anpi.it.

Guided tour at Piratello Cemetery (May 2022)

Join us on a journey through the botanical revelations of the Piratello Cemetery (Imola, Italy) on May 14, 2022.

Encounters in the green

On Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 10am, a guided tour will take place at the Piratello Cemetery (40026 IMOLA via Emilia Ponente 24/a) on the topic “Encounters in the green”.

In the company of Daniela Martelli and Marco Pelliconi we will take a journey through the major and historical botanical relevance in the cemetery, supplemented by biographies of well-known personalities who are buried there.

Reservations required

The tour can be attended by a maximum of 25 people. Reservations are required via ioPrenoto app or attivita.culturali@comune.imola.bo.it.

200th Anniversary of the Piratello Cemetery

Imola's monumental cemetery is organizing special guided tours in honor of its 200th anniversary.

Inauguration of the commemorative plaque

On Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 15.45, you are invited to the inauguration of the restored commemorative plaque which marks 200 years from the blessing of the first cloister at the Piratello Cemetery. The inauguration will start at the old part of the cemetery and will then continue in the sanctuary of Piratello.

You can find the official invitation in Italian HERE.

Guided tours at the Piratello Cemetery

Also in honor of the 200th anniversary of the cemetery, ANPI and CIDRA is organizing guided tours on the memorial site where are cherished testimonies from prominent citizens relevant to the local and italian history. The guided tours will take place:

• on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at 14.00
• on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 11.00

You can find the official invitation in Italian HERE.

Attendance to the inauguration and to the guided tours is free prior reservation. You can make the reservation at the email imola@anpi.it.

The Piratello Cemetery (Imola, Italy)

The 200 years old Piratello Cemetery is one of the seven cemeteries in the city of Imola.

About the cemetery

The Piratello Cemetery was built 3,5km away from the city centre. Back then, that location was chosen to avoid any epidemiological contagion. A plaque located on the arch connecting the Garden-Cloister with the North-West cemetery reminds us that on 29th October 1821 the land designated to become the Cemetery of the City of Imola was blessed. The cemetery then started to be in use on 1st February 1822. Today it reflects the history of the city through its most illustrious people and bears witness to the architectural evolution of the last 200 years.

At the beginning of 1978, a project was drawn up, aiming to enlarge the cemetery eastwards. The first graves were placed in the new part in 1985. The various segments continued to be added with no interruptions within the framework of a single project that was accomplished in 1995. The latest ones can be found south of these structures and were formed between 1999 and 2002. This architectural portion was granted acknowledgement awards and was described in several specialized publications. Several arcades can be found all over the cemetery. The green grassy expanses, the geometrically-cut edges of laurel and the magnificent cedars and cypresses create extremely rich, harmonious and valuable green spaces.

Main parts of the cemetery

The Garden-Cloister is the main and oldest core of the cemetery. This former cloister of the Franciscan monastery is a very evocative place. Under its arcades lie graves of Imola’s noble families with outstanding works of art. The simple inner garden features centuries-old trees.

The Gran Campo (Great Camp) dates back to the seventies of the 19th century and is surrounded by a tall arcade with dome-shaped pavilions. The eastern dead-end pavilion represents the Famedio where popular, well-deserving and donor citizens were buried, as well as the mayors of the town. Here are the graves of very well-known people, such as Giuseppina Cattani and Andrea Costa, whose epigraph engraved on the tombstone that contains his ashes was written by Giovanni Pascoli.

The Monumental Camp, built in 1916, houses the families’ funerary chapels. Access to this area is provided by a wide staircase, on top of which there is the Shrine of the Fallen during the 1st World War. The sculpture of the Victory over the funerary crypt was made by the artist Cleto Tomba. The crypt dedicated to the fallen partisans who joined the Resistance movement during the 2nd World War is located in the southern end of the Monumental Camp, inside a building with arcades and polychrome windows, started before the 2nd World War and finished in 1955. 

Starting from 1944 the occupying German troops arranged the graves of the fallen German soldiers. They stayed here until the winter of 1961/62 when the tombs were moved to the war cemetery at the Futa Pass.

Contacts

Phone: +39 0542 40006
Email: servizicimiteri@areablu.com

Opening hours

Winter time: from 7:00 to 18:30
Summer time: from 7:00 to 19:30

Basic data

Number of graves: 35.411
Cemetery size: 127.887m2
Cemetery type: Municipal and civil