Il Canale Molini - The Mills Canal

more information:
Servizio Gestione Urbanistica - Ambiente tel.0542.602283
Consorzio Utenti Canale Molini di Imola e Massa Lombarda tel.0542.23153

The Canal of the Mills begins on the left of the Santerno River at about 9 km. from Imola , in the area known as Codrignano, and runs parallel to the river, as far as Imola, and then it divides into two branches. Past the town the two branches flow into each other and then run along the left of Via Selice as far as the area of Case di Volta. It passes the township of Mordano and the provincial road of Ravenna, it flows into the Reno River at Bastia, after having flowed for approximately 40 km.

This great hydraulic work probably dates back to the Roman times, and was renovated by the Benedictine Monks who at the beginning of the 6th century used it for the drainage of the marsh lands and also for the crafts connected to it, such as the mills for the grinding of the cereals, olive mills and spinning wheels. Today they are used mainly for irrigation and very few original canals are still visible in town.

The most important and still active is the Mill of S. Cristina in Viale Saffi, just near the fortress. It probably dates back to the13th century and evidence of its existence is documented at the end of the 15th century in the map that was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Today's structure has been renovated and changed and the old stone grinds, as well as the large external wheel, have disappeared but some of the functioning parts are still the original wooden ones. Nearby there is the Lavatoio coperto di S. Cristina (washing area - photo), the last of the many which once were in and around Imola after WW II, and drew the waters from the Canal of the Mills. Out of the town, towards the township of Massa Lombarda, there is the Volta Mill which still is operative. It dates back to the 16th century and was renovated in the 19th century.