Bologna: 1861 to the present

Continued from Bologna: 1506-1861

Bologna defies the Fascists

In the 19th century Bologna was the birthplace of Guglielmo Marconi, who carried out his first experiments with radio at the Villa Grifone, and of the composer Ottorino Respighi (1879–1936), whose music was popularized abroad by his fellow Emilian Arturo Toscanini.

It was also at this time that Bologna took the lead in the Italian socialist movement, building strong industrial unions in town and prosperous rural co-operatives on the plains – as well as in enduring the brunt of the Fascist reaction in the 20th century, starting with election of the Socialist 'Mayor for a Day' Ennio Gnudo in 1920 and the deadly shoot out at the Palazzo d'Accursio.