Nonantola: an example of solidarity and love of neighbor

Nonantola is a town in the province of Modena, known above all for its key role in resisting the Nazis of World War II. In Nonantola, and in particular at Villa Emma, several Jewish orphan boys of German origin were refugees for a medium-long period and were subsequently hidden in the families of the municipality and helped to escape to Switzerland or other places. The villa, after years of neglect, was purchased and renovated by private individuals and today houses the Villa Emma Foundation, dedicated to peace among peoples. Among the places of greatest interest there is certainly the Abbey of Nonantola, linked to the Benedictine order, which houses the relics of San Silvestro, to whom it is dedicated today and of other saints in the area. In the historic center you can admire traces of the town's medieval past such as the Torre dei Modenesi, dating back to the 13th century and also known as the clock tower; and the Torre dei Bolognesi, built by the Bolognese precisely at the time of the conquest of the town, today houses the Nonantola Museum. The parish church also dates back to the Middle Ages, also called the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo, which houses various valuable works such as the painting with Sant'Anna and the Holy Family, the canvas of the Annunciation and the Transit of San Giuseppe.