The "Anella" Column
The "Anella" Column (Column of the Rings)
The Anella Column stands at the border of the square, symbolizing both hospitality and the city of Bertinoro.
This column was built under order of Guido del Duca and Arrigo Mainardi, Bertinoro noblemen of the XIII century, who used it to bring peace to Bertinoro’s families competing with one another to offer hospitality to those who decided to stop in town. The traveler, pilgrim or noble knight who tied his horse to one of the twelve rings of the column, which quantity matched as many Bertinoro families, unsuspectingly chose the noble house that would have given him shelter.
However, the hospitality tradition of the city has even more ancient origins. Historical records speak of a Placito Generale (General Decree) held in 995.
In that year, the Fortress hosted a meeting between Romagna's most "influential" people in order to resolve the conflicts that plagued the territory. An agreement was reached through conviviality and dialogue. Hence, Bertinoro's hospitality assumed a friendship and welcoming connotation towards foreigners.
The first Sunday of September the city commemorates the tradition: guests are invited for the occasion and tourists remove one of the many envelopes – tied that same morning to the column rings – and are invited as guests to have lunch with one of the Bertinoro families, which name is found inside the chosen envelope.
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www.comune.bertinoro.fc.it/turismo
