Mount Bibele, nestled between Bisano, San Benedetto del Querceto and Quinzano in the municipality of Monterenzio, is one of the most fascinating places in the Bolognese Apennines. Rising up from the slopes of the mountain are the remains of an ancient Etruscan-Celtic village, built in the late 4th century BC and mysteriously abandoned two centuries later. In this beautiful natural setting, you can take a journey through time, made possible by the excavations that began in 1979 and are still active today.

This is the only site of its kind in Italy. The old town, a necropolis (on nearby Mount Tamburino) and sacred sites coexist in a single setting, making Mount Bibele an essential reference point for Celtic archaeology. The site's modern history began unexpectedly during the Second World War, when German troops building fortifications along the Gothic Line found the first skeletons of the ancient community's burial ground.

It is not difficult to guess why the Celts chose this place: the abundance of springs – the name itself could mean "drinkable mountain" – guaranteed a constant supply of fresh water, a precious resource at the time.

Visiting Mount Bibele today is easy and pleasant. From the car park at the Monte Bibele Centre, an easy path leads to the archaeological area. A numbered itinerary complete with illustrative panels and storyboards guides visitors through the ancient houses, the large cistern and the sacred spaces intended for divination rituals, including a fascinating area dedicated to the observation of lightning.

The entire site is managed by the association Arc.a Monte Bibele APS, which is committed to protecting the historical and archaeological heritage of the Bolognese Apennines.

Mount Bibele is also a destination on the Bologna Montana ArtTrail, a land art itinerary that hosts one of its most evocative works here: the mighty "Celtic Boar", a perfect fusion of contemporary art and the ancestral spirit of the mountain.

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