Parco Storico Regionale di Monte Sole

Monte Sole is a protected hill country between the Reno and Setta valleys, where Nazi forces killed 770 people between 29 September and 5 October 1944. Established in 1989, the regional park preserves both the landscape and sites of remembrance.

Why it matters

Monte Sole combines a protected natural landscape with sites that preserve the memory of communities devastated in 1944. The park's purpose joins conservation with the promotion of a culture of peace.

What to notice

The Percorso del Memoriale connects sites associated with the massacre and reaches the summit of Monte Sole, where a stele commemorates the partisans. The landscape includes abandoned settlements, recovering woodland and memorials; roe deer and woodpeckers are among its wildlife. The area is also protected as a Natura 2000 site.

Context and history

Between 29 September and 5 October 1944, Nazi forces massacred 770 people across Monte Sole. The killings continued beyond those days; by the end of the war, 955 people in the municipalities of Marzabotto, Monzuno and Grizzana Morandi had been killed by Nazi and Fascist violence. The 1989 designation created a regional park centred on the area's historical and memorial significance. The Fondazione Scuola di Pace di Monte Sole carries forward its peace-education mission. The park is managed by the Ente di gestione per i Parchi e la Biodiversità Emilia Orientale.