Castel Maggiore


Castel Maggiore is an Italian comune in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, central Italy, located north of the centre of Bologna. Literally, its name means Great Castle, but the name is derived from the earlier name Castaniolo Maggiore.

History

The first documents conveying the existence of the Comune, in ancient times called Castaniolo date back to the 10th century. The legend narrates that the name comes from a big chestnut trunk that should have floated into the territory of the comune through the Canale Navile.
Afterwards Castaniolo was marked by the nickname of Maggiore in order to distinguish it from a homonymous hamlet of the comune of Bentivoglio.
The name was changed into the one it still carries nowadays during Napoleon's era, in 1818, in which jurisdiction on today's hamlets has been recognised.
The town underwent heavy bomb attacks during World War II because of the passage of the railroad linking Bologna and Padua.

Twin towns — sister cities

Castel Maggiore is twinned with: