Dozza & Giardini degli Angeli in Castel San Pietro Terme- hidden gems near Bologna

28.01.2019.

Just entering Dozza, marvellous hills will welcome you and then the castle. This village is a gallery of its own with beautiful images on almost every wall. It is situated just south od Bologna at the distance of 27 km and only 6 km to Imola. It was a perfect Sunday outside of Bologna where I went with my new couchsurfing friend and her equipe. Just randomly at facebook I found out about Dozza.

Dozza

This picturesque village bursts with the hills, castle and the art. As we wanted to go inside the castle, there was a wedding that lost thousands of rose petals on the floor. What better introduction into Dozza’s scenery could we want? More than that, Dozza offers peace and fun as we tried to fit into some images.

These images have origin in the bi-annual Festival of the Painted Wall taken by famous artists, usually in September. This tradition started in 1960’s. Dozza is also known for the annual Wine festival and more than this, Enoteca will give you the insight. Of course, other products are here in Enoteca just in the celler of the castle Rocca Sforzesca.

Rocca Sforzesca marks its presence from 13th century briefly, more deeply from 15th. It got name by Catherina Sforza, daughter of the duke of Milano as she initiated the design outside. Except bringing up the history in the form of medieval kitchen and furniture, even prison with original prisoner’s grafitti, the castle also shows the painted wall gallery. From the castle and its towers you can admire the beautiful views around Dozza.

Dozza is about one street in circular shape where hundreds of images left their traces. You can also eat good in Dozza. We just took foccacia with ruccola and cream in one big restaurant. Though isolated Dozza is not empty place. Dozza will give you the dose of art that can be incorporate anywhere.  Amazing characteristic of Dozza is the peace it gives, the peace of nature.

Giardini Degli Angeli

I didn’t hear about Giardini degli Angeli (or Gardens of Angels) before visiting them. That gives the place even greater value. That’s the advantage of couchsurfing, the website through which people welcome you in their home, show you the local way of life. This is a heart-shaped garden with figures of angels in the place Castel San Pietro Terme. It was spring, everything was shining and bringing fragnances. The door of lilac welcomed us in the gardens. The bench in the shape of angels, angels hidden in the bushes, butterfly decoration, a locker with books and many decorations and statues gave us smiles and surprise. Of course, the lake and the little cascade cannot be missed. As the lake spreads in front of a meadow, we spread out ourselves also enjoying the Sun, meadow and nature. The gardens left us in surprise and respect which was even bigger when we found on the way out that the meadow has the shape of heart.

The origin of the gardens comes back in 2006. due to the parents of little Sara that passed away at her 14th exactly at this place. The illness of metabolism took her away. Even the image at the entrance was made by Sara. Today the gardens are maintained by the voluntary association Il giardino degli angeli that helps children in illness. These special gardens are nowadays also the point of various cultural events and concerts.

Castel San Pietro Terme

Castel San Pietro Terme is a wonderful place that makes the nature more exquisite and ready to catch up. Though I didn’t see the centre itself, the name of the place says all. The river passes through park of the baths Parco Lungo Sillaro giving it wild appearance but the bridges and statue make it more elegant. There’s also a lake called laghetto Scardovi on the opposite site of the street. It’s just where we wanted to take a drink but it was not open. We found out some other place where I tried the completely new sort of juice (even the ginger beer was such kind of juice). The lake hosts more than 120 bird species and it’s a place of specific plants.

There are many sport facillities around the baths such as tennis or golf giving the town the relaxing atmosphere. The nearness of baths surrounded in the area of parks makes the attractive note of the town, it’s the place of historic meaning.

Being the small place (around 20 000 habitants) Castel San Pietro Terme is rich with events and musical festivals of all kinds.

All in all

Sweet little place like Dozza opens the perspective of art where art becomes more than art. It’s the cohesion with nature, with the way of living, with staying true to history. Dozza is an example how little it takes to make the art so close, to bring tourism to it. Art serves to show that higher meaning.

Giardini degli angeli is a unique place that brings compassion, the sense of identification and art together. In the beautiful place of Castel San Petro Terme it’s a special discovery and well spent day off. Castel San Pietro Terme is not an ordinary place, it’s a way of life. I would recommend all to go beyond the tourist trail and grasp into the unknown.