The Ex Colonia Elioterapica di Castel Raniero, perched on the hills of Faenza, is a notable example of Rationalist architecture built between 1926 and 1932. Funded initially through a local fundraising campaign and later supported by municipal funds intended for the World War I memorial, the building also assumed a symbolic role as a monument to the fallen.
In 1932 the structure began operating as a residential colony and was officially inaugurated in 1938. During World War II and the passing of the front line, it served as a civil hospital and headquarters for the Italian Red Cross, hosting both personnel and the wounded.
After the war, ministerial funding allowed repairs of wartime damages, and the surrounding park was restored by the municipal gardening office. For about a decade, it resumed its original function as a Red Cross heliotherapy colony, promoting children’s health and well-being. Later, it became the venue for municipal summer camps for local children, continuing its educational and social mission.
The Ex Colonia offers panoramic views of the Faenza countryside and is the site of the annual music event La Musica nelle Aie.
Although today the building is in a state of decay, it remains a symbol of memory, community, and the social history of Faenza.
