Around Monte Sole, about 20km south of Bologna, lies a rural area that the Resistance front passed through and where the partisans were particularly active. In September 1944, the commander of the 16th Panzergrenadier SS Division, Lieutenant General Max Simon, ordered a military operation which sought to ‘destroy groups of partisans’ and ‘clear enemy territory’.

Between 29^th September and 5^th October 1944, the entire area was systematically surrounded and searched by units from the SS, Wehrmacht and Republican National Guard. These activities were carried out with great brutality: houses, schools and churches were blown up or set on fire and 770 people were murdered, mostly women, children, and the elderly. The entire area, with many small farms and villages, was depopulated.

Since 1989, the area around Monte Sole has been transformed into a large memorial park with input from the municipalities of Marzabotto, Monzuno and Grizzana Morandi. Since 2002, the Scuola della Pace di Monte Sole, or Monte Sole Peace School, has also been based here. The aim of its activities, targeted particularly at young people, is to promote international dialogue. It is a gathering place where meetings and seminars on the themes of non-violent conflict resolution, human rights, and international understanding are organised.

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