Firenzuola rises on a hill placed in the valley extending along the left bank of the Santerno river. It was founded by Florence in 1332 (Castrum Florentiole) in order to defend the city by the coming of the Ubaldini's troops. At that time a fortified fortress was built along the important road that joined Firenzuola to the city of Bologna and around the fortress the local community started to gather and built its houses, developing the first economic activities based on the "serene stone" mining and manufacturing activities.
The Fortress of Firenzuola is a late medieval fortification, completed in 1410 under the direction of Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio. Destroyed during the Second World War, it was reconstructed in the postwar period, following the native configuration of the building.
Among the religious building, we mention the San Pietro in Moscheta Abbey, founded in 1034 by the Blessed Rodolfo dei Galigai, and the Parish church of San Giovanni Battista decollato, a Romanesque style structure, restore during the XIX century.
We also suggest to visit the Museum of the serene stone, in theinterior of the undergrounf of the Fortress.