The Mills Canal

Il Canale dei Molini (The Mills Canal) springs in Codrignano, approximately 9 km from Imola, and flows towards Imola, surrounding the town centre with its two branches.

Then it runs off towards Mordano and Ravenna.

The original function of this Roman channel was probably of town defence, then it was used for the reclamation of marshy lands and for handcraft activities: mills, tanneries, dyers' shops, laundries. 

Itinerary for a bike ride along the Canal:

The route starts on the lawn outside the Rocca Sforzesca. Behind the fortress, to the left of the entrance to the old ‘L. Lolli’ psychiatric hospital, take the cycle path which, after passing underneath viale Saffi, starts to skirt the Canale dei Molini. Following it takes you to the via degli Sminatori in the Pedagna Est district. The path now follows the covered part of the canal that crosses the district before reaching via S. Lucia where the canal reappears on the right. From via S. Lucia continue along via degli Orti and then via Canale, continuing to cycle alongside the canal, clearly visible along this tract.

The 3-kilometre route ends in via Sbago, in the environs of Ponticelli. If you wish to turn back earlier, you can take the cycle path in via Santa Lucia, then follow via Quarantini and the initial stretch of via Tiro a Segno before continuing along the via Delle Lastre cycle path that takes you to via Pirandello.