Channel Navile is an important channel of Bologna plain, both from the hydraulic point of view, and from the town. origin, with the name "Canal Rhine by the Rhine to the lock of Casalecchio, built in the early Middle Ages with a massive piece of masonry in hydraulic engineering (the lock has a width of 250 m and the intake channel and the drains have a length of 2 km, entirely in brick), one of the largest in Europe at the time (it is thought that the original building dates back to before the year 1000, but according to other authors the starting date of construction is 1191). Repeatedly destroyed by the disastrous floods of the Rhine, has always been rebuilt and is still today one of the greatest examples of existing river intake structure and constructed before the advent of reinforced concrete. First
all'alveo with parallel course of the Rhine, detaches to enter the municipality of Bologna and then bounce into the walls of the 12 port (Degrees) in the historic center, which runs for a distance of about 3 km tomb almost completely from the early years of the twentieth century. On its way underground, very articulated and from these tributaries (such as the Channel Cavaticcio forming a 14 m high waterfall exploited in terms of hydropower with the production of 8,000,000 kWh / year), partly mixes its waters with those Canal and river Savena Aposa. In part, its course is still visible in the center of Bologna and is studying a series of projects to bring in mostly clear sky. In
exits the center, stood until the early twentieth century, the port of Bologna in the Middle Ages, was one of the largest river ports in Italy and linking Bologna (then with a large fleet and of an industrial fabric in the textile value of carats and the European Union) with the Po of the primary and the sea. Even the fleet Bolognese was so important and significant to be defeated in the naval battle of Primaro, that of Venice.
From this point (instead of the bounce in Via del Porto) changes its name to Channel Navile assumes trend from south to north, crossing the plains of Bologna to take up again in Reno near Passo Segni after a distance of 40 km, of which 5.28 by Klause Casalecchio to Bova's Way Blades (output port) . Scheme has partly determined by the regulations bulkheads closed and partly collects rainwater in Bologna and a portion of the plain, so that its ordinary course averages can be estimated in the order of 10 cubic meters per second, the maximum can reach 100 cubic meters per second. In plain and collage with Savena Canal (also called Savena Abandoned).
After removal of the Port of Bologna, its use is exclusively for irrigation and remediation, it is no longer eligible to use waterway. Sometimes, during the floods, flooding the countryside. Bologna and the use of the port system waterway is, however, a number of locks (known as "support"), of which one called the Battiferro (immediately downstream of Bologna), is attributed, according to some, to Leonardo da Vinci.
Its management and its use is subject to both the Consortium and the lock of Casalecchio Channel Savena, both Reclamation Consortium Reno-Palata. The work of
outlet Casalecchio (the lock of Casalecchio) is subject to strict historical protection.
