Bomporto
Exploring Bomporto, the municipality in the province of Modena
Welcome to Bomporto, a municipality in the province of Modena in Emilia-Romagna, located in the Po Valley north of the capital. Here you can breathe a tranquil and welcoming atmosphere, ideal for those looking for some peace and relaxation. With its 10,180 inhabitants, the municipality offers different attractions to discover, from natural beauties to historical monuments. In this article, I will take you on a journey of discovery to Bomporto.
Let's discover the physical geography of Bomporto
The Municipality of Bomporto includes the capital, the small towns of Villavara, Gorghetto, San Michele, and Solara, and the hamlet of Sorbara. Sorbara is the most important center of the municipality and has developed on the Abetone and Brennero State Road 12, on the right bank of the Secchia river. The municipality's territory is located northeast of Modena at the point of maximum approach between the Secchia and Panaro rivers, which then move away continuing their course towards the Po. Another important watercourse is the Modena Canal, which comes from Modena, flows between Secchia and Panaro until it flows into the latter precisely in Bomporto. The eighteenth-century river port is one of the most important architectural monuments of the municipality and is also featured in the municipal coat of arms.
The rivers and canals of Bomporto
The name of the center reflects the importance of waterways in the development of this small territory. Once the town was called "Buon Porto". The territory of Bomporto is rich in rivers and canals that have been very important throughout its history. The Panaro runs through Bomporto and Solara, acting as a border with the municipalities of Nonantola and Ravarino. The Secchia, on the other hand, runs through Sorbara, acting as a border with Soliera. The Modena Canal is an artificial canal that, starting from Modena, reaches Bomporto, where it flows into the Panaro. The Minutara Canal is a channel that flows into the Modena Canal just before Bomporto. The Argine Canal, on the other hand, is a canal that flows into the Modena Canal a few hundred meters before the Minutara and acts as a border with the municipality of Bastiglia (Italy). The San Clemente plain meadows are an expansion box of the Modena Canal, located between the Minutara and the Argine Canal and are located between the border of the municipality of Bomporto and that of Bastiglia. Finally, the small artificial Fiumicello canal runs through Gorghetto and is used to irrigate the fields.
Let's discover the history of Bomporto
The hydraulic reclamation of the swampy lands of Bomporto and Sorbara is due to the monks of the Nonantola Abbey in the 9th-10th centuries. In the 11th century, the territory is part of Matilda of Canossa's great fiefdom, who defeats the allies of Henry IV of Franconia in the struggle for investiture in Sorbara, namely the bishops Everardo of Parma and Gandolfo of Reggio Emilia. The only architectural testimony of the Romanesque period is the Matildic parish church of Sorbara, which has been enlarged in the subsequent centuries, going from one to five naves. In the following centuries, Sorbara and Bomporto link their history to that of the Municipality of Modena and the duchy of Modena and Reggio.
Conclusions
Bomporto is a municipality rich in history and nature, where water has always played a fundamental role. One of the major attractions of the municipality is the eighteenth-century river port, which testifies to the importance of waterways in the development of the town. The municipality also has a vast network of rivers and canals, which have had an important influence on its history. If you are looking for a peaceful place to enjoy nature and history, Bomporto is the right place for you!
