40061 Minerbio (BO) 05119694182
Minerbio, a municipality in the Bolognese metropolitan area, is located in the heart of the Po Valley. Its history dates back to the 15th century and is closely tied to the Isolani family, who received the town as a fiefdom from the Pope in 1414, along with a comital title. Throughout the 19th century, the town experienced slow but steady development. In addition to agriculture, an emerging industrial sector emerged, including a hemp mill (active until 1878), a printing press, and a workshop producing various objects, from watches to firearms. By 1855, Minerbio already had its own doctor for the poor, school teachers, and a postal service, as well as cafes, inns, and various shops.
Towards the end of the century, socialist associative movements began to develop, as in the rest of the Bologna area. In 1871, the Society of Mutual Aid Workers was founded, focusing on educating illiterate laborers, price controls, and managing a loan fund. In 1894, the Bologna-Malalbergo tramline was inaugurated, with a stop in Minerbio, placing the municipality along an important transportation route for both people and goods.
The early 20th century saw the rise of socialist influence in the municipal administration. In 1908, Giuseppe Sabattini was elected mayor, and his administration decided to build a new school building (1912-1914). During the same period, there was also a significant presence of the Catholic movement, which established a nursery school, a vocational school, and a Rural Fund between 1901 and 1907.
The First World War had a significant impact on Minerbio, where the socialist municipality worked to alleviate the population's suffering. The newly constructed school was used as a hospital from 1915 to 1918, with nursing staff provided by local volunteers. Following the war, a monument was erected in 1924, and a plaque was placed in the cemetery to honor the 132 fallen miners, as well as in the Park of Remembrance near the Manzoli Castle in San Martino di Severzano. Additionally, the two fallen from Ca' de' Fabbri, previously an autonomous entity but now a part of Minerbio, were also remembered.
Described in the 1900 volume 'Provincia di Bologna', Minerbio is recognized for its agricultural and industrial activities, including the cultivation of cereals, corn, rice, hemp, fruits, grapes, vegetables, and fodder. Livestock farming, dairy production, and household spinning and weaving of hemp are some of the town's main industries. The municipality also boasts a factory producing pasta, a small printing press, and a vehicle factory. In terms of historical significance, Minerbio has been a crucial part of the Bologna area since the 12th century, experiencing military conflicts during Bologna's struggles with Ferrara and other enemies. From the 14th century onwards, Minerbio underwent various feudal changes and was once a significant property of the Bentivoglio family, rulers of Bologna.