Monument of Giuseppe Massarenti, Molinella
Monument of Giuseppe Massarenti (Statua del "Principe dei poveri") in the small town of Molinella is dedicated to the truly outstanding personality of this commune. A simple urban monument conceals the great man who was the embodiment of patriotism behind its modesty.
Historical personality
The monument is dedicated to Giuseppe Massarenti, the Italian politician and trade unionist. At the end of the 19th century, he was elected to the city council, and in the early 20th century became mayor. He constantly fought for the rights of workers and peasants, because he was a convinced socialist. Already after the election of the mayor, Giuseppe became a member of the Masonic lodge. The First World War forced him to leave the post, but after its termination, the politicians elected him mayor again. After the establishment of the fascist regime in the country, Massaranti continued to fight for the rights of the poor, for which he was first sent to prison, and in 1937 – to a psychiatric hospital. Giuseppe died in 1950.
Sculpture
After the death of a socialist, his comrades began collecting funds for the installation of the monument in the spring of 1950. In May 1951, a competition was announced, in which the sculptor from Bologna Luciano Minguzzi won. The statue was opened on March 30, 1953. It is made of bronze, Giuseppe is depicted in full length, in a cloak and hat. The politician is depicted with a raised index finger during one of his speeches in front of the public. The sculpture is crowned by a quadrangular marble pedestal. From all its sides there are inscriptions: on the frontal – dedication, on the rear – a notice that the ashes of the deceased rest inside the pedestal. On the sides there is a quote from Dante's Divine Comedy and a statement by Giuseppe Massaranti himself.
How to get there
The statue is located in the center of the town of Molinella, near the city school, on Piazza G. Massarenti. The municipality is 30 km from Ferrara and 40 km from Bologna. It is the easiest to get there from the latter: you can take the 273 bus, or take the train going to Portomaggiore. The journey time is about 50 minutes, transport runs every hour.
