Canal of Medicina

There are no detailed information on the building of the Canal of Medicina (so called because, despite it originates from the dam in Castel San Pietro Terme, it ends in Medicina), but it is probably a work of the fourteenth century.

Along its 11km long stream, several mills (some still existing) were built, and generally were used for the convenience of the community.
Actually they belonged to the noble families of Bologna, which collected large grist taxes. The families obtained, first by the Bolognese Senate, then by Papal delegates, the permission to control the mills.

One of the largest mills was located in the neighborhood of Castel San Pietro Terme, known as "mill of the gate", which belonged for many generations (from half of the 1500) to the Bolognini family, enriched by this activity in many other communities in Bologna.

The mill then passed to Hercolani family, but, like many other structures, it was destroyed by the Second World War and its activity ceased.