Pianoro

Infobox CityIT
img_coa = Pianoro-Stemma.png official_name = Comune di Pianoro
region = Emilia-Romagna
province = Bologna (BO)
elevation_m = 200
area_total_km2 = 107
population_as_of = december 31, 2004
population_total = 16591
population_density_km2 = 151
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|44|23|15|N|11|20|40|E|region:IT_type:city(16591)
frazioni = Carteria, Gorgognano, Guzzano, Livergnano, Montecalvo, Montelungo, Musiano, Pian di Macina, Pianoro Nuovo, Pianoro Vecchio Rastignano, Sesto
telephone = 051
postalcode = 40065
gentilic = Pianoresi
saint = Santa Maria Assunta
day = August 15
mayor = Simonetta Saliera (since June 2004)
website = [http://www.comune.pianoro.bo.it/ www.comune.pianoro.bo.it]

Pianoro is a town and commune of the province of Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, in the hills of the Tusco-Emilian Apennines (200 m above sea-level). Highway SS 65 connects it to Bologna and Florence crossing the Apennines. Pianoro has a local train station that connects it with Florence and Bologna.

The legend says an etruscan king, named Ocno (also known as Bianore, the same mythic founder of Felsina and other cities) used to live in the area. There are proofs of Celtic and Etrusc settlements in the Monte Bibele archeological site.Clear signs of Roman presence are in the toponomastic names of some villages, as Sesto.Bonifacio of Canossa, feudal lord of Pianoro during the XI Century, used to live in the Castle of Pianoro, later ruined by Bologna inhabitants, who were charging Pianoro with conspiration.

The most important companies located in the area are mechanicals (Marchesini Group and MG2) and chemicals (Sayerlack/Arch Chemicals).

During the World War II the city was heavily bombed by the Anglo-American forces and has been subsequently rebuilt three kilometers north toward Bologna: the new town now is called Pianoro Nuovo (New Pianoro) and the remains of the old are called Pianoro Vecchio (Old Pianoro). The Gothic Line was very close and in October 1944 there was a huge battle (in Livergnano) involving German, American forces and local partisans, leaving on the ground thousands of Anglo-American soldiers.As reported by civil engineers short after the conflict, 98.5% of the town had been completely destroyed during the battle. Many german soldiers now lie in the German Military Cemetery and war Memorial at Futa pass, few kilometers south towards Florence.

A very interesting karstik area, shared with San Lazzaro di Savena, with dolines, badlands and cliffs shaping the landscape is seen in the area of the "Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell'Abbadessa Park".Many trekking roads are provided for a healthy walk.

They also have the most successful Cricket team of late, winning the Serie A 12 Times, the Italian Goblet 14 times and the European Championship once, in 1995.

The mayor is Simonetta Saliera since 2004.

External links

* [http://www.comune.pianoro.bo.it/ Official Site]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bologna,+Italy&ll=44.388242,11.345572&spn=0.023157,0.035306&t=k&hl=en Google
]
* [http://www.parks.it/parco.gessi.bolognesi/Eindex.html Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell'Abbadessa Park]
* [http://www.marchesini.com Marchesini Group]
* [http://www.sayerlack.it Arch Sayerlack Coatings]
* [http://www.mg2.it MG2 website]