Il Martignano (former colony of Ferrarese)

LIZZANO IN BELVEDERE, EMILIA-ROMAGNA · 1960s

Il Martignano Library

A municipal library housing 4,500 volumes and serving the communities of the Upper Rhine valley, now relocated to a restored colonial building with cultural programming.

At a glance

Il Martignano is a public library founded in 1979 by the Provincial Public Reading Consortium of Bologna. Originally based in Piazza Betti, it relocated to the Colonia Ferrarese building adjacent to the newly inaugurated park. The facility offers free access to collections, reading spaces, and cultural events organized by local associations.

History

The library was established in 1979 as part of the consortium’s regional service network and initially maintained a reading room in Vidiciatico. The building itself dates to the 1960s and underwent restoration in 1995. In recent years, the municipal administration and local cultural associations reached an agreement—approved by city council—to relocate the library to the Colonia Ferrarese, a nearby structure. This move incorporated a broader vision of cultural management, with associations assuming responsibility for portions of the enlarged space.

What you see

The Colonia Ferrarese is a colonial-era building situated near Lizzano’s new park. The restored structure now houses three reading rooms with a combined capacity of 30 seats, designed to accommodate diverse user needs. The library shares the building with other civic services and cultural organizations.

Cultural significance

Il Martignano serves as an educational and cultural hub for the Upper Rhine municipalities on the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. Its collections and programming reflect local identity—particularly through the Rugletto Association fund of 400 volumes and a regional studies magazine. School visits and exhibitions make it a resource for heritage awareness and lifelong learning in the mountain community.

Key facts

  • Address: Piazza Vittorio Betti 4, 40042 Lizzano in Belvedere
  • Phone: 0534 51822
  • Founded: 1979
  • Building date: 1960s; restored 1995
  • Collections: 4,500 volumes and brochures (700 for children), 50 audiovisuals and audio-cassettes, periodicals
  • Coordinates: 44.16248879008585, 10.892761945724487

Practical information

Admission is free. The library is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities. Services include loans (30-day periods, with exceptions for local history materials), consultation, paper and digital catalogs, interlibrary loan through the “Liberbus” Alto Reno project, and video viewing. Guided school visits and exhibitions are regularly offered.

Getting there

The library is located in Piazza Vittorio Betti in Lizzano in Belvedere, a municipality within the Union of Municipalities of the Upper Rhine in the Emilia-Romagna region. Winter hours: Thursday 10am–12pm; Tuesday and Friday 2:30pm–5pm. Summer hours: Thursday 10am–1pm; Tuesday and Friday 3:30pm–6pm. Contact the library directly for visiting arrangements.

Sources & resources

Editorial text © Cultural Heritage Online. Based on the Cultural Heritage Online legacy archive.

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