Sasso Marconi’s special geographic position along the road across the Apennines to Tuscany, with its Pliocene rock overlooking the valley and providing shelter, has facilitated human settlement here since prehistoric times. Various archaeological finds have brought to light traces of human inhabitation in the area in those early times. Numerous tombs from the Etruscan period (fifth century B.C.) have also been found. There are various important pieces of evidence of the Romans’ presence in this area, from the precious aqueduct that was built to supply water to the town of “Bononia”, to the ruins of a Roman village from the first century B.C.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the area belonged first to the Byzantine Empire and later to the Lombards, who conquered Bologna in 727 A.D... The town was ruled both by the papal state and by various feudal lords during the city-state era, with the city-state of Bologna winning out in the end, in the latter fourteenth century.
In the fifteenth century, Sasso Marconi was ruled by the Bentivoglio family; this was the beginning of a golden age for the town.
Under Napoleon, the centuries-old vicariate of Praduro and Sasso was turned into the District of Sasso Fontana. In 1870 the Town Hall was transferred to the old village.
The current name of the town came into being in 1938 to commemorate Guglielmo Marconi.

Itineraries

Villa Griffone – Guglielmo Marconi tomb – The Museum
This is the birthplace of the famous scientist. It was built in the seventeenth century by the Griffone family and bought by the Marconi family in the mi-nineteenth century. When the great scientist died, the building was donated to the “Guglielmo Marconi Museum Foundation”.
The museum, wich is dedicated to the origins and progress of radio communications, is located in the Villa Griffone, in which this young inventor carried out his first experiments. Thanks to the inclusion oh historical apparatus, the visitor can trace back the events that characterized the inventor’s apprenticeship and life, with particular attention being paid to the years that went from 1985 (his first experiment with wireless telegraphy) to 1901 (the first radio signal transmission across the Atlantic) The museum is home to a set of accurately reconstructed nineteenth century scientific equipment, displayed in different “expository areas”, each dedicated to the various fundamental stages of the history of electricity, to the forerunners of the history of radio, to maritime applications of Marconi’s invention.
The journey continues by accompanying the visitor through some of the most important developments of radio communications of the 20th century, with particular regards to the passing over to broadcasting and radio communications from radiotelegraphy.

The castle Palazzo Rossi
This is a late fifteenth century home that was built by the Rossi family. Various illustrious people have stayed in the house, including Popes and famous artists as TORQUATO TASSO.

Middle-age hamlet of Jano
This hamlet is still intact and located in a wonderful natural landscaped valley.

Villa Colle Ameno and the medieval Village
During the early eighteenth century, this village was ordered built by Filippo Ghisilieri. It was made up of several different buildings where different activities went on. There was a print shop, and a majolica tile factory still working.

Etruscan city of Misa and Museum Pompeo Aria
Close to Marzabotto one can also visit the archaeological excavation of the Etruscan city of Misa.
The museum is situated in the vicinity of the archaeological site which includes the Etruscan town of Pian di Misano and the acropolis of Misanello. It houses various archaeological material from the old collections, mostly dispersed following the complete destruction of the museum during the war which ravaged the area of Marzabotto. On display are sculptures, inscriptions, weapons, coins, architectural and decorative fragments and grave goods dating from the 5th and 4th century BC.