According to legend theEtruscan king Ocno (also known asBianore, mythical founder ofFelsina and other cities), lived in the area. There is evidence of Celtic and Etruscan settlement at the Monte Bibele archeological site. The Roman presence in the area is seen in the names of local villages such as Sesto.
Bonifacio of Canossa, feudal lord of Pianoro during the 11th century, used to live in the Castle of Pianoro, subsequently demolished by the inhabitants of Bologna who accused the people of Pianoro of conspiracy.
DuringWorld War II the town was heavily bombed by Anglo-American forces. TheGothic Line was very close and in October 1944 there was a huge battle (in Livergnano) involving German, American forces and localpartisans, leaving on the ground thousands of Anglo-American soldiers. Civil engineers reported that 98.5 percent of the town was destroyed during the battle. Many German soldiers are buried in the German Military Cemetery and War Memorial at theFuta pass, a few kilometers south of the town in the direction ofFlorence.
The town was rebuilt 3 kilometres (2 mi) north of the old site, toward Bologna. The new town is called Pianoro Nuovo (New Pianoro) and the remains of the old are called Pianoro Vecchio (Old Pianoro).
Industries located in the area are primarily in the mechanical engineering and packaging (Marchesini Group, Romaco, MG2) and chemicals (Sayerlack S.r.l., part ofSherwin-Williams) sectors
Pianoro Cricket Club is a very successful cricket team, winning the Serie A tournament and the Italian Goblet several times, and the European Championship in 1995.
Pianoro is connected to Bologna and Florence by National Highway SS65 Futa and is located about 12 km from the former and 88 km from the latter.
Pianoro railway station is served by hourly Regional Trains between Bologna Centrale and Prato, two return trains Firenze Santa Maria Novella-Bologna Centrale and Firenze Campo di Marte-Bologna Centrale, as well as hourly Regional Trains Bologna Centrale-San Benedetto Val di Sambro as part of Route SFM1A of Bologna Suburban Railway Service.
TPER bus services offer frequent connections to/from Bologna, San Lazzaro di Savena and Monghidoro. The routes are the following:
13A Borgo Panigale-Ospedale Maggiore-Bologna Centre-San Ruffillo-Rastignano/Carteria di Sesto (extension to Pianoro on late trips on weekends)
96 Bologna Piazza Cavour-San Ruffillo-Rastignano-Carteria di Sesto-Pianoro (extension to Monghidoro on public holidays)
96A Bologna Piazza Cavour-San Ruffillo-Rastignano-Carteria di Sesto
126 San Lazzaro di Savena-Lago dei Castori-Pianoro
900 Bologna Bus Station-San Ruffillo-Rastignano-Carteria di Sesto-Pianoro-Loiano-Monghidoro
903 San Lazzaro di Savena-San Ruffillo-Rastignano-Carteria di Sesto-Pianoro
904 Bologna Via Azzurra-San Ruffillo-Rastignano-Carteria di Sesto-Pianoro
905 Bologna Via Vetulonia-San Ruffillo-Rastignano-Carteria di Sesto-Pianoro
906 Bologna Bus Station-San Ruffillo-Rastignano-Carteria di Sesto-Pianoro-Loiano-Monghidoro-Castel dell'Alpi
